The lineout could be a real weapon for us with Clarke in there, and with Browne, Heenan is rangy, Muldowney, Naoupu we've got some good jumpers.

We should be targetting opposition lineouts and making our own a real strength. If we can do this then we can play smart rugby, and Parks can pin teams back when it needs to happen. This all singing all dancing stuff is not going to work. We have to be intelligent. Our lineout can become an area of strength and if we can disrupt the opposition, the territory game should be played when it's needed.

I'm all for throwing the ball around when we can. Stopping the constant garryowens is a positive. But when the ball needs to go off the or there is nothing on around midfield after a few phases and we're in danger of coughing up a pen or worse turnover possession, give it back to Parks and let him knock it into the corner

Absolutely beat out the gate. Fishing for positives I'd highlight Wilko, Heenan, Henshaw and Poolman. Again Heenan was our best player, he's an absolute gem of player from the looks of it. Don't be fooled by the 2nd half display. We got within 3 points because the Ospreys took their foot off the gas and when they were in any daneger, they just flicked the switch and walked in more tries.
We are still over complicating things. Why do management think we want to see this run from anywhere any throw the ball around 7's style rugby. It won't work, especially when we try and run from our own 22. People have already mentioned our defense, so there's no point repeating that.

Heenan has certainly looked quality thus far. Willie is a big loss but to have a quality replacement like Jakes great. Henry lineouts were mainly decent. Its so frustrating that we're so bloody close to getting it right but the defence is driving me cracked. If I were told we'd have a 26 point haul vs the Ospreys id have think we'd be laughing....not so much

First try was an interception.
One try came directly after a knock-on by Heenan.
Another directly after a box-kick by Marmion that went straight into touch.
Basic errors that led to tries.
I think that while there is reason to be disheartened, I think that the reason to be optimistic also. Much more than last weekend.
I think that his knock-on notwithstanding, Heenan is a class act. Connacht Clan boy, Healy had a good game until he retired injured (no clan logo on big screen when he was introduced before match). Henshaw, Griffin and Pooleman had good games today as did the front row. Henry was good in lineouts until he tired towards the end and missed a few. Wilkinson did well, and White was as dependable as ever. Clarke was good and Muldownney was good when he came on.
I worry for the Saracens match as they will capitalize on every single error but that won't make or break our season.
I don't think Lam has decided on his first choice team yet, and when he does it'll make for a more stable outfit.

Thought this evening was more disappointing than anything. Pack decent......kudos to Wilko in particular. But Christ the defence was horrendous. The Ospreys looked like they could walk in at will when they went wide. How the hell can a professional team not have a defence coach? Lam really needs to put the foot down on this....budget overruns or not - if they're serious about progression its a must.The line speed was abysmal. First up tackles were abysmal. Fair play to Danie.......he can pick a line. Id find a place for him every time. How often do we run onto the ball at pace? The pass is generally a foot behind the receiver. Get the basics right and we've a decent back row......without the basics not so much. 10/12 are big problem areas and we hevent better alternatives.

Craic Head wrote: I know that they get breasted in training, but just one word ...... Tackle. Basic technique, go low first and foremost if you can't get a two man tackle. Get big guys down quicker by chopping their legs.

Brian Murphy, 14 stone and tackles like he is a 17 stone flanker. keith Matthews was the same.Some lads need to take a leaf out of their book. Put the shoulder to the wheel

I know that they get breasted in training, but just one word ...... Tackle. Basic technique, go low first and foremost if you can't get a two man tackle. Get big guys down quicker by chopping their legs.

While there are some positives, I found this evening extremely dispiriting. In the last few years we had made ourselves harder to beat most days but really at least 4 of the tries this evening were scored with embarrassing ease and really I felt Ospreys could score when they needed to. Ospreys took their chances well but they really didn't have to work awfully hard for their tries.

There were some good cameos and we played some good stuff in attack at times but once again at the breakdown and defensively we were atrocious.

I dread to think what Saracens will do to us in 2 weeks time.

we badly need a defence coach. 26 would win most pro12 games.

ronaldson, dead leg, should be ok

swift is out of the treviso game, I HEARD, im not a doctor tho

rael got injured in the cool down the subs do after the game, walked of saying ''did something to my leg''.

well said porterbelly

how could gav not stop walker getting that try is beyond me i had a birds eye view of it he should have bundled him to touch

marmion looked jetlagged have to say so did muls - he got the ball poached from him which is unusual for him

clarke was solid at lineout

ronaldson had a woeful start but 4/5 aint bad and he continously attacks the line more to come from him

merchantdon wrote: I would completely agree with porterbellys assessment and also add that even though swifty was captain, clarke was running the show! Every set piece the pack looked to Clarke.

Ya very noticeable. Swifty was looking to him for direction in the first half

And it was definitely Clarke who ordered Parks to kick to the corner before Marmion scored his try

I would completely agree with porterbellys assessment and also add that even though swifty was captain, clarke was running the show! Every set piece the pack looked to Clarke.

Darragh507 wrote: would a start for o'donoghue be good for marmion....give him a break, but also see how pod goes.

Possibly. Next week the best time to do it. POD was effective off the bench v Zebre and Cardiff

would a start for o'donoghue be good for marmion....give him a break, but also see how pod goes.

Defence was atrocious. Some of our first up tackles were laughable. Tebaldi streaked in unapposed from 22 metres out with 4 of our lads looking at him. Not good enough. Any time Ospreys got on the front foot they looked like they'd score. We have to hit harder in the tackle and commit.

The only good thing here is that I don't think it's any real system malfunction. We just have to make our first up hits and stop teams getting front foot ball. At the minute we're way too east to score against.

Plenty of positives imo. We really stuck to our task. Got 2 very good tries. Poolman showed real intelligence for both tries and picked a beauty of a line for his try. Scrum was very solid, Wilko gave as good as he got with Adam Jones. Healy looked dangerous again. Heenan again performed well, Browne did well, our lineout looks like a weapon with Clarke in there.

Concerns are Duffy doesn't look up to it anymore. Couple of poor knock ons, should have put Walker into touch for their 3rd try and no real penetration hitting the line. I'd like to see someone else at 15 next week. I think Muldowney has earned a start, I'd put him in ahead of Swifty. Marmion was caught a few times too many around the ruck, he has to be sharper.

We showed this evening that for large parts we were good enough to compete with the Ospreys. But we've got to sort our defence out.

Also listening on the www.

Sounds a little more promising than last week.

Error rate high.

At least we are scoring.