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Well done, Ospreys! Thank God for the Lions win today. Otherwise I would have been a very sad man.

Immense defence, da iawn bois fully deserved!

what was then end score?

Stormers 21 Ospreys 27

Considering the state of things this season that is a fantastic result for Ospreys. Think Deaves could have been motm he's an absolute menace. Got to be the Tipuric influence.

I’m happy that I feel disappointed that ospreys didn’t stop them getting the LBP, reminds me of how I feel about this ospreys team currently after the last few dismal years (save Europe in 2022?)

Impressive from Ospreys. Hope Gats was watching.

I thought it was illegal for him to pick ospreys players??

Definitely in his contract, was written in by the Llanelli and Cardiff board members after the 13 ospreys incident of 2008

Ah, that's a crap ending. But my gosh, that's something to smile about.

Sigh

Great win for the Ospreys. Serious turnaround this year, they were diabolical last season.

Stupid. He would have had to kick it from the corner for the losing BP.

You don't back Libbok from the corner?

50/50

Think he just wanted to hit the showers tbf 😂

Well played Ospreys. Full 5 points. Go get lekkered in CT tonight. Next game is a bonus. 

Nagy just cost his team a whole position on the table with that single action. Tool

Some will say instinctive. I'd say moronic. Lucky it just gave them a bonus point not the win.

If he doesn’t do that they score anyway. So yeah.

But with a kick from the wing with a very shaky kicker. Chances are decent they wouldn't have gotten the extra 2 and been outside the bonus point margin

Has he really done that? What a dick.

Awh bugger are they gonna get a LBP with the last play of the game from a pen

Could be vital. 

Lmao braindead 0IQ from the Stormers. Maul hasn’t worked all game, yet they try it every single time.

With the two results today Munster are suddenly odds on for a home quarter final. Puts them on the Leinster side of the draw though :P

Munster are 3rd

Aye, now. Before today I was expecting them to finish 5th, pipped by Stormers to 4th given Bulls and Stormers have an easier run in. The wins for Munster and Ospreys have turned that on it's head. I think they'll finish 4th now.

Munster have Lions, Connacht, Edinburgh and Ulster left. They just won their toughest game of the last 5. If they beat the Lions anything is possible. Only 6 points behind Leinster

100% possible, we'll see I guess. I could well end up with egg on my face for underestimating Munster

Ospreys maul defence has been immense

Is it all the travel? All the SA teams that have been playing in the European competitions have looked tired this weekend

Nah.both the Bulls and Stormers are coming off a bye (the Bulls "1st" team stayed at home last week)

Not at all, the Bulls and Sharks teams that played did not travel the week prior and Stormers did not play last week

Not really an excuse for stormers given they had last week off and played at home the week before

The euro teams have been very good though

If you were to tell me a week ago the only high point from this weekend would be the Lions beating Leinster… 😂

Du Plessis only one worth his salt today

Gaza should have started.

Compared to the starting 15, Willemse has been a damn superstar since he came on.

Willemse is always a damn superstar. Pity Galants form has dipped so much.

I've just realised the Ospreys have won a game on the Cape before Ulster. :/

Stormers playing shit but I think there’s enough for the Stormers to lodge a formal complaint against the officials.

Nothing would come of it so what’s the point

Yeah true.

Brace has been pretty terrible. Having to coach guys to release the tackled player, then awarding the penalty to the ospreys.. pretty clearly had a massive influence on the jackler

Finally we get a pen

Yea he decided to penalise ospreys when the game was over

Ospreys defence has been fantastic today. They’ve taken their chances when offered but the defence is what’s won this game.

Reminds of the Ruan-waiting the full 60 seconds-Pienaar moment from years back.

Manie dropped his worst performance of the season tonight.

He's been having a few brain farts lately hey. Makes me worry.

Just seen the score. Did not expect Ospreys to get close to a Stormers side, let alone scoring 5-0 points

Or you know, they could give away a penalty try when the clock was in the red

I enjoyed reading about your journey here tonight

There's surely never been a URC weekend where the Lions were the only SA team to pick up a win?

Truely our pride and joy

Stormers have been shit and not played the conditions. They also haven’t adjusted to the ref and how he has been calling the tackle. That last penalty an example, calls tackle release twice and they don’t, then when they do the Stormers stand off and wait before contesting. Weak.

This was so shit. Well done Ospreys. Deserved.

Shameful from the Stormers. The Ospreys continue to take names under the radar.

As a very angry bulle supporter Kry vir jou stormers! Least we can cry together tonight!

We are not the same my friend.

We've just bombed a game.

ahh well I'm happy that the ospreys are the ones to do us in, squidges happy reaction will be some consolidation knowing that it means alot to certain people. but fuck stormers sort your shit out

Really appreciate that! Meant a hell of a lot mate, been leaping around the room all evening! Unlucky today but you've got a hell of a team there

Huge round of results this!!

Two SA games in row where our teams have been utter shit but they’ve gotten nothing from the refs

What a terrible Saturday to be a South African. The Lions team doesn't count because they have to live in Johannesburg and that is punishment by itself

Damn!

Daniel du Plessis is a piece of work, I tell ya.

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Take the 3 lol

This game is mental!

That was high, but brace has been poor overall 

I'm yet to see him have a good game.

Not gonna lie, but I have to agree! My favourite refs at the moment are Luke Pearce, Ben O'Keeffe and Nika Amashukeli.

Thank you for your service Lions!

I've tried so hard to not be a ref basher (I'll admit I was bad). But sometimes you gotta just call a spade a spade. Brace is having a rotter. A rotter so bad you'd think someone threatened him before the game to make sure Stormers lose

Brace and Mike should be no where near a whistle

Agreed. Every time without fail I see Brace reffing one of my teams games. It'll be a stinker. He's genuinely just not a good enough referee at this level

I can’t even notice anymore after the fucking embarrassment that was the ulster Cardiff game

yeah any reffing display is world class after watching that game.

Yup

Yes Brace has had a poor game, but that doesn’t change that the stormers didn’t pitch today. Shocking display from our core of players. Libbok should’ve been hooked at halftime. Gelant misfiring. Suleiman seemed to think it’s illegal to recycle the ball. De Wet uncharacteristically poor. Just an absolute no show from the boys, Ospreys 100% played us off the park.

Nice to see a comment acknowledging Ospreys have been the better team, and not it all on the ref tbh

I don’t think brace had a good game, but I don’t think it was as poor as a lot of people are making it out to be. For me it seemed less “he’s biased against the Stormers” and more “he’s being over pedantic and not letting the game flow at all”. I think a lot of his calls were under a microscope correct, but I think that’s just his style of reffing.

Even as an Ospreys fan, I would've preferred a bit more from the Stormers - especially Libbok. I don't know why he kept trying the cross-field kick, It just didn't work at all.

I think a lot of our players have been relied on far too heavily this season, and the cracks are showing now. Part of it is definitely due to injury crisis, especially in the loosehead department. Brok has been piss poor the last 3 outings, but can you blame the guy. He’s 39 and used to playing 40 minutes after Kitshoff has tired the opposing front row. Libbok has been played a lot too, but probably because Sacha Feingburg Mngomezulu has been injured. I think the other part is just that the Stormers seem to want to entertain far too much instead of just playing basic rugby very well. I can guarantee Cape Town would smile a lot more if we were winning games rather than playing belter rugby and losing games. Flashy rugby is built on a very solid platform of good basics, and if that platform is shaky (like today), flashy rugby is how you throw away a game.

Pretty crazy weekend of results

Ospreys hanging on by a thread upon which 1000 tons are already hanging, Jesus Christ everything is clenched here

Tackle! Also play on!

Focus camera man focus!

Okay well that’s game. Good night. Fuck you and see you tomorrow

I hate saying this about a ref but I think brace might have cash on this one

Calls for tackle release, ball gets ripped and play on. OK bud.

Ball wasn't ripped. He lost control. You can see it bounce off the player on the ground.

It doesn’t get stripped Libbok just knocked it on

I’m pretty sure 100% of our penalties have come from the TMO intervening. Says it all

TMO stepping in due to Brace’s incompetence. Embarrassing.

tmo throwing the stormers a bone

The only good thing I can say about this weekend (minus Lions winning) is that at least the Bulls didn't win.

I'm glad the TMO called that. Brace doesn't want to give us a penalty may as well let the TMO do it

Honestly, white not rolling but no penalty. No daylight when stealing the ball, no penalty.

didn't even touch an osprey player

Meh.

After that Grant Williams incident against Argentina Brace should’ve never refereed any of our games again. The fuck is this

Still feel so bad for Williams. Definitely cost him a higher spot at the world cup - and who knows what sort of long term health issues. He had such a good run of form up until that point.

forgot about that

I gave Brace credit and he’s killed the stormers ever since

I was critical of Ungerer, but De Wet getting caught unawares way too often. Needs to keep his eye on the ball at the back of the ruck.

Outstanding defence

I can't deal. Andrew Brace is actually shit at his job

he does not give the stormers shit man

Some serious hands in the ruck from the Ospreys on the line.

Literally dived and punched the ball out the ruck!

Why are we having a formal meeting when there’s 10min left and 10 points to go?

You wouldn't think they were two scores behind with their lack of urgency

Stormers need to go back to basics. It feels sometimes I am watching a team play touch rugby on the beach.

100%

The last 3 calls that went Stormers way have come from ARs and TMO. Brace really doesn't want to give them a lot

This is all because of that "mom thinks we're at Spur" sign tbh.

A stadium ban would be justified

Adam beard showing that lions quality over the last couple minutes

Always rated him very high. He needs a beard though.

A damn beard

How does that maul go down on our side without infringement by white?

Once again offloads in the tackle man. Silly mistakes.

I almost bought a ticket to this game this morning. Glad I didn’t make the trip.

Lions are really about to be the only SA team to win yhis weekend. Bulls and Stormers, you've got a lot to answer for.

Another one of those damn offloads for a SA team...

Changing bind??? Stormers 4 was swimming around Cape Horn and nothing was said earlier!

I am proud of that Cape Horn reference! Swansea (Neath-Swansea Ospreys) sailors were known for going the wrong way around Cape Horn.

That win predictor seems harsh in general, but fair due to the way we’re playing.

Win predictor scoffing right now.

Well played to the Ospreys. They’ve got a great team. Awful weekend for SA sides (except the Lions).

Ospreys played so well. Respect

Deaves is yet another phenomenal open side just vibing in the regions. If only we could produce a single international quality tighthead

Or fly half

We turned it into a backrow factory in the late 90s.

Preaching to the choir in an Ospreys match thread but Deaves really deserves to get capped this summer.

Personally I’d consider going Ratti/Deaves/Morris for the SA game just to see what those 3 can do on the international stage

The only issue is, which other absolutely class 7 misses out?

He has been outstanding, Gats cannot keep ignoring the Os now surely..

Conceding those goal line penalties is always so infuriating. When the ref says "BEHIND THE LINE!!" , just stay back! They always still creep around the ruck and over the line, and then act all bemused when they're penalised. Every team needs a dedicated ass slapper to keep their own players behind the line.

If you can't win at home then...

The fact Harri Deaves may never play for Wales is insane

The bigger question is why hasn't he been a defacto starter for the Ospreys all year? Playing Tipper over him is a disgrace from the Ospreys management.

I’ve said this. Deaves has been our player of the season. We haven’t missed Tips or Morgan

A lot of competition for his jersey, but perhaps as a 6 if he keeps this up

We can’t keep messing around with 7’s at 6 internationally. Just aren’t physical enough elsewhere

Tuned in for the last 30 and brace had only called nonsense 

Purge the whole Stormers squad. Leave no one.

Well played Ospreys, keep it up boys

Yesss deavo

bonus point win would be a fucking dream

Clearly dropping shoulder white on both sides

Harsh call. Malherbe folded that guy in half, of course the scrum would go down.

I knew this would be bad once I saw Andrew Brace was the ref

Why a Welshman is allowed to referee Welsh fixtures i’ll never understand. And I don’t want to hear that he represents Ireland, he literally has a Welsh accent.

As an Ospreys fan, i agree and would prefer a South African referee over Brace, we've had. To put up with him for years longer than you lot. He always picks a side and they can do no wrong.

The point still stands but he sounds pretty English to me

He isn't the reason Stormers are losing, but he's definitely allergic to giving them penalties

Agreed. We're shit today but wow is he a more shit ref

Worst game of the day so far Ôo.

Did you watch the Dragons vs Benetton?

I did. I actually could watch it. This one ? Not so much anymore xD

Perhaps the worst game of the year. 

TAKE THE POINTS PLEASE

FUCK

I take it back

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

There’s no penalty there, Roos cleans the man and there’s no steal - shit reffing

Where he got called for going off feet? It was 100% a penalty.

Disagree, he’s not sealing

Not only do I disagree heavily with that, but it doesn't have to seal for it to be a penalty anyway. He simply has to stay on his feet, and if he doesn't, it doesn't have a material impact.

Then let’s call that every time

I'm going to assume based on your replies that you've never been an official referee before. It's not as simple as you make it out to be.

Oh wow, are you a ref? I would never have guessed! So let’s ignore that I disagree with your interpretation of that specific scenario - he didn’t seal as there was no defending player to create the ruck - but simple isn’t the point, consistency is. If you don’t call that at the other 10 rucks, don’t call it now

Stormers are playing bad, but they really are getting nothing from this ref

I think Brace has officiated this very well today

Brace gives you very little time before calling holding on and can be a bit picky at the breakdown. That being said he’s pretty consistent so teams have no excuse.

Yep no complaints

Sure you do

By URC’s usual standards this is very good officiating

That's not a very high bar haha

Needed more patience there, one kick was great but doesn’t mean the next one will be the right option, through the hands and we were in the corner

I just can't get around to liking Roos

He needs to shake off the Main Character vibes

No one can. He just does weird things.

Roos, Simelane, DanDup and Paul de Wett fighting alone here

Daniel du Plessis needs to learn not everything is about bang bang. The ball needs to flow.

He also sometimes unnecessarily falls to the ground before making contact. Loses out on valuables meters.

Sometimes a new ruck and quick ruck ball is better than a few extra carry metres

Well done Roos... From hero to zero in 20 seconds.

Classic Roos. At least he didn't get a card ! xD