OSPREYS PREPARE FOR CLERMONT

The Celtic League champions, have struggled in this year’s Heineken Cup. With injuries to key players such as Ryan Jones and Gavin Henson, they have found life tough at the top – despite a Round 1 win over the pink shirted Stade Français Paris in their new 20,000-seater Liberty Stadium.

But a 34-14 Round 2 defeat to this weekend’s opponents, and back-to-back losses to Leicester Tigers, means the Ospreys are at the bottom of the Pool and out of the running for a quarter-final berth.

ASM Clermont Auvergne are in a similar position. With just six points from their four matches played, they cannot qualify for the last eight.

Ospreys Head Coach, Lyn Jones said:  “It is disappointing that we are playing our penultimate game of the Heineken Cup and we are already out of the tournament.  However, the players have responded magnificently over the last few weeks in the training environment. 

“We now have to start building a positive winning mentality to take us through to the end of the season and that starts this Saturday.  We have picked our strongest available side and we will be going all out for the win

“They taught us a few lesions in our game earlier this season.  It was a physical competitive encounter where no quarter was asked or given and I am sure that will be the case on Saturday. 

“The players themselves are disappointed with our recent performances and are determined to put things right, starting this weekend against Clermont”.