Having picked up a crucial bonus point in Sunday’s narrow defeat in Limerick, the region’s Heineken Cup fate goes on the line when Munster make the trip across the Irish sea for the return leg.
The Ospreys proud European record has seen them go 14 games unbeaten at the Liberty Stadium in the competition, a record that stretches back to December 18th 2005, exactly five years to the day of the Munster match.
That last gasp defeat to Leicester is the only defeat the Ospreys have suffered in the 16 Heineken Cup games played at their home ground since moving in ahead of the 05/06 campaign, and Director of Coaching Scott Johnson says he has no intention of seeing that impressive unbeaten run going up in smoke.
“People talk about impressive European records, and places being a fortress, but I don’t think we sometimes get the credit we deserve for our record here. There’s been some bloody good teams have been here and not got the win. Leicester twice, Stade Francais twice, Perpignan, Sale, Gloucester, Clermont Auvergne, none of them are pushovers.
“It’s going to be real toughie on Saturday, as tough as any of the games before have been, but we’ve got belief in ourselves to do a job.
“We’ll need everyone to pull together if we are going to get the performance right and get the result, and I mean everyone. We need this place packed, and we want it rocking. Our fans have to leave everyone in no doubt where they are and what this means to us. Let’s blackout the place, get here early and make some noise. Every little bit will help on Saturday, together we are stronger.”
