Wednesday, April 16, 2008
EDF Energy Cup Final - Ospreys vs Leicester
A superb all-round performance from James Hook inspired the Ospreys to a fine victory in the EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester at Twickenham.
The fly-half had a hand in both Ospreys tries, setting up Andy Bishop for the opening touchdown on 22 minutes before finding Alun Wyn Jones on 47 minutes.
Hook converted both scores, as well as kicking over three penalties.
Leicester never settled in the game, with all their six points coming in the first half from the boot of Andy Goode.
The victory avenged the Ospreys's 2007 final defeat by Leicester and was the perfect response after their disappointing loss to Saracens in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup last weekend.
Posted at 10:05 am | 21 comments
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Viewing 21 comments
jon April 16, 2008 9:50 am
i watched the match, and have thought all the praise for James Hook has been slightly over-board. He did play well, without doubt, but does anyone else think that Justin Marshall totally ran that game for the Ospreys? Personally, I thought he was the stand out player
Eric April 16, 2008 12:41 pm
Loffreda is making his first steps in a professional team, give the guy a chance...By the way, nice tackle of shane wiliams on tuilagi, i thought he wouldnt have the guts.
mat n April 16, 2008 12:52 pm
soory but isnt James Hook a bit over-rated, he did a switch and got a couple of flukey kicks
Anonymous April 16, 2008 1:04 pm
haha finally the ospreys perform!!!well done ladsmarshall was supurb holah was incredibleluved shanes bursts of pace around the fieldis it true they are signing isia toevea??wow all good
geraint April 16, 2008 1:34 pm
mat n:-soory but isnt James Hook a bit over-rated, he did a switch and got a couple of flukey kicksI take it your a leicester fan, or at least someone who doesn't like the ospreys then. Flukey kicks? So does that mean whenever someone else makes a good kick that's flukey as well? He also made 3 or 4 good breaks and set up both tries.
jon April 16, 2008 3:02 pm
i wouldnt say hook was over-rated, i just think that in this game his performance was. Leicester were woeful, and the ospreys played very well, but more through marshall than hook. Marty Holah also had a very strong game
Bezzlie April 16, 2008 4:08 pm
tbh i've watched james hook devolope from his early years at neath and he has impvored leaps and bounds i wldnt say hews over rated hes a fantastic player
David April 16, 2008 5:09 pm
yeah was good technique by shane williams on Tualangi, wouldn't take any chances tho, good job the little guy had help!I agree James Hook played very well, the guy has great hands.
No.7 April 16, 2008 11:16 pm
hmmm im really stillnot sure about Tuilagi.....yes he is big and quick, but i have seen him lacking in defence on more than a few occasions and the try the big osprey's lock got was partly in tuilagi's defensive area, the lock was being tackled but tuilagi was still watching the outside man......obviously its very easy to say when you see the replays and such but still, im not so sure about him!
No.7 April 16, 2008 11:24 pm
meh, i dunno actually, watching it again i guess it wasnt his fault. but i still dont particularly rate him.(doesn't id like to tackle him while he's going full tilt!)
Osprey Rich April 17, 2008 8:00 am
Ospreys were as good as Leicester were bad. Leicester seem to be having some kind of crisis.Hook is class plain and simple. Great for a region to win
Anonymous April 17, 2008 6:02 pm
well im an ospreys fan and i wouldnt mind taking tuilagi off you tigers fans hands if you dont want him hahawhat he lacks in defensive logic he makes up for in his explosive attacking gamehes a lot like lomu world class but lacks the rugby intelligence
Hamish M April 17, 2008 8:54 pm
Did it go to uncontested scrums? At about 5:15 they show a scrum, and from the front row body positions it doesn't look like they're pushing...
Anonymous April 18, 2008 3:45 pm
Hmmm im inclined to agree with no.7 Although tuilagi is a great runner, it is nothing without the intelligence. but idk i guess i cant think of anyone to replace him, and one on one he is very likely to run over a player than get wrapped up.
Chazza June 03, 2008 4:30 pm
I also Agree with No 7 he lacks in Defencive stratagy if you look at many other clips you can see he is always drawn to the players outside him and dosent help someone small tackle a big lock!!! though he is a great player
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