The Ospreys are looking to build on last week’s performance against Leicester Tigers when they tackle ASM Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup on Sunday at Liberty Stadium (KO 12.45pm).
Ospreys head coach Sean Holley feels that dispute letting a golden opportunity for victory against Leicester Tigers last week slip through their grasp, the Welsh side haven’t been given credit for a battling effort.
Holley said: “Sunday’s game gives us a chance to build on the two points we earned up at Leicester last weekend. The initial reaction to the draw was one of disappointment, we realised that we’d had a clear chance to get a great away win, but looking at it in the cold light of day you realise that it’s not such a bad result.
“We haven’t perhaps had the credit that we deserve for some aspects of the performance, and for ensuring that, on paper, we have had a better start to the group than we did last year. I’d expect the group to go down to the wire, like it did last season, so ultimately, being just a point behind Leicester at this stage could prove to be hugely important.
“Of course, the hard work that we did at Welford Road will count for nothing if we don’t follow that up and deliver the right performance against Clermont Auvergne on Sunday. They got off to a flying start against Viadana, and are doing well domestically, so we realise the size of the challenge that we face.
“We’ve seen signs in recent weeks that we are starting to come together, some of the things that we are working on in training day-to-day are starting to have an impact, and I’d expect that with another week under our belts we’ll take another step forward this weekend.
“We can expect them to bring an uncompromising pack, big fast wingers and a real intent to challenge for the competition this year, just as they are in their own league. They have one of, if not the strongest squads in Europe, and it should be an intriguing match.
“There’s everything to play for, for both sides, and we know that we will have to be on top of our game. Hopefully there’ll be a decent crowd present, we all saw the importance of the supporters for Leicester last week, I think their fans gave them a real lift in the last 20 minutes and I’d like to think that our fans will be able to do similar for us this weekend.
“We’ve seen before, on European nights against Gloucester and Leicester for example, what a difference they can make, and we would love to see something similar again on Sunday.”
Ospreys: 15 Barry Davies 14 Nikki Walker 13 Tommy Bowe 12 James Hook 11 Shane Williams 10 Dan Biggar 9 Mike Phillips; 1 Duncan Jones 2 Huw Bennett 3 Cai Griffiths 4 Alun-wyn Jones 5 Jonathan Thomas 6 Jerry Collins 7 Marty Holah 8 Ryan Jones (capt)
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard 17 Paul James 18 Craig Mitchell 19 Ian Gough 20 Filo Tiatia 21 Jamie Nutbrown 22 Andrew Bishop 23 Sonny Parker
