Do the Ospreys care about the ML?

[Rugby Nick]

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/3359.php

got to laugh at the RJ quote

The match against Viadana is probably the biggest game of the season so far for the Ospreys.

they rate the ML that highly that a game against some italian minnows is far bigger than beating munster!

Originally Posted by Mr Wall

they rate the ML that highly that a game against some italian minnows is far bigger than beating munster!

But if it is the competition that they are targeting then surely ANY HEC match is more important than ANY pre play-off ML game

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Originally Posted by Mr Wall

http://www.ospreysrugby.com/news/3359.php

got to laugh at the RJ quote



they rate the ML that highly that a game against some italian minnows is far bigger than beating munster!

You are playing for your survival in the competition though and you could really do with 5 points. Beating Munster's just another 4 points.

[Rugby Nick]

Originally Posted by Eugene Wrayburn

You are playing for your survival in the competition though and you could really do with 5 points. Beating Munster's just another 4 points.

playing for survival is a bit strong, we are unbeaten!

tbh it would be shock if we got anything less than 5 points, if you look at it the way you are suggesting does any one game in the ML matter? do any games matter?

from a fans perspective i care far more about munster than this one, or leinster, or any derby. this one is a hiding for nothing for the players because of expectations - but i think it is very dramatic to say biggest of teh season so far - even if you considered HEC the only one that mattered either of the previous games were bigger

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Originally Posted by Mr Wall

playing for survival is a bit strong, we are unbeaten!

tbh it would be shock if we got anything less than 5 points, if you look at it the way you are suggesting does any one game in the ML matter? do any games matter?

from a fans perspective i care far more about munster than this one, or leinster, or any derby. this one is a hiding for nothing for the players because of expectations - but i think it is very dramatic to say biggest of teh season so far - even if you considered HEC the only one that mattered either of the previous games were bigger

I don't think any individual ML game matters that much at this stage of the season, particularly with play offs at the end. Wasps have shown that year after year.

In contrast in the HC any slip up can mean you are out and failing to get 5 points in a group as tight as this one is likely to be might well be a slip up. I agree with kol in any event, if you are targeting the HC any game in it is more important.

[Rugby Nick]

Originally Posted by Eugene Wrayburn

I don't think any individual ML game matters that much at this stage of the season, particularly with play offs at the end. Wasps have shown that year after year.

In contrast in the HC any slip up can mean you are out and failing to get 5 points in a group as tight as this one is likely to be might well be a slip up. I agree with kol in any event, if you are targeting the HC any game in it is more important.

which is why i am asking the question - do the ospreys care about the ML (see also team sent out vs Blues) or do they only really care about the HEC?

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Originally Posted by Mr Wall

which is why i am asking the question - do the ospreys care about the ML (see also team sent out vs Blues) or do they only really care about the HEC?

To care more about 1 competition doesn't mean that you don't care about the other. i'd find it hard to believe that any club would not care about the potential financial gains of getting to the play offs.

[Rugby Nick]

Originally Posted by Eugene Wrayburn

To care more about 1 competition doesn't mean that you don't care about the other. i'd find it hard to believe that any club would not care about the potential financial gains of getting to the play offs.

theres not caring and there is caring very little, which is generally what i am wondering about. of course the ospreys are far from the only side. but with weakened teams sent out in one of the big derbies of the season i would suggest it shows they are less bothered by the ML, whilst the see the HEC as some sort of holy grail

they've won the ML before so I imagine that HEC is their biggest aim now.

[Eugene Wrayburn]

Originally Posted by Mr Wall

theres not caring and there is caring very little, which is generally what i am wondering about. of course the ospreys are far from the only side. but with weakened teams sent out in one of the big derbies of the season i would suggest it shows they are less bothered by the ML, whilst the see the HEC as some sort of holy grail

Originally Posted by jmeasdf

they've won the ML before so I imagine that HEC is their biggest aim now.

i think there's a fair amount in what jmeasdf says. If they want to be one of europe's major sides as I think they have claimed in the past then they'll need to do well in the HC. i don't think rotating in the cardiff game necessarily shows a disregard for the ML - arguably it shows that it's not all about the derbies and so the ML as a whole is more important than any particular match.

I wonder whether sponsors direct which competitions are important to them whether explicitly or through bonuses.