OSPREYS HEINEKEN CUP fate was left hanging by the thinnest of threads after they were overpowered, first time out, against Leinster at Liberty Stadium.
Away defeats against Northampton and Castres made short work of that thread and the financial parachute known as the Amlin Challenge Cup.
A paltry crowd of 8,347 showed up to watch Ospreys succumb to George North and Saints last weekend. Pride, and a chance to put one over their Pro12 rivals, are the motivating factors for the Welshmen this evening.
“You’ve got to bounce straight back and there’s no better way of doing it than in Leinster, straight away,” said Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric. “It’s a great place to go and we’ve a good history [of] turning them over so hopefully we can give something back to our fans.”
Between September 2011 and November 2012, Ospreys beat Leinster four times in a row. One of those victories was in devastating manner as Shane Williams stole over for a 78th minute try — converted by Dan Biggar — in the Pro12 Grand Final. Leinster have won two of the last three outings but Ospreys are confident of silencing the RDS crowd.
Tipuric commented, “After seeing our game [against Northampton], they are probably thinking about a bonus point but we have to make sure we go over there, front up and fight.”
The flanker, who did not feature in the British & Irish Lions squad until the third Test with Australia, has recently become a father to a baby girl but insists his recent sleepless nights will not impinge on another committed performance for his club. With four other Lions in their starting XV, Ospreys will fancy their chances of causing their old foes a some sleepless nights of their own.
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C’mon Leinster, let’s put this bogey team behind us and try for an all irish quarter final!
Poor delusional ospreys, they need to raise their game 5 levels just to avoid being killed in the collision areas, too many of them will be thinking of wealthy courtiers abroad to bother showing up against an impressive Leinster set up
Well… It hasn’t stopped them kickin our asses in previous seasons!
Not gona be easy(it never is against The Ospreys) but confident we will get the result required to get a last 8 spot. Both teams have good strong teams named so will be a good game as always when these two teams take the field.
get on leinster too win with bonus pts. ospreys have nothing too play for but leinster have all too play for. prob have 3 tries by h/t. and 3 more by full.
Phil are you ok?
never better just pissed that no matter what happens this weekend the frenchies will all get home Q/F’s. ye will get 5 pts and we will get 4 i think. and you n me agree that sean cronin is m..k but that strauss is some push on too ireland/leinster.
I never thought I’d live to see the day that Philip wrote a comment without abusing Leinster. Great to see, best of luck to all 4 provinces this weekend.
What is it four or five Lions in the pack. Hopefully Leinster will win but with Poite on the whistle anything could happen
All AB’s motto, ” your never a failure until you start blaming someone else”.