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Three-time winners Leinster begin their quest to reclaim the Heineken Cup with a tricky away clash against the Ospreys in Pool 1. - 08/10/2013 10:59
Three-time winners Leinster begin their quest to reclaim the Heineken Cup with a tricky away clash against the Ospreys in Pool 1.
The Celtic duo have been drawn in the so-called ‘Pool of Death’ alongside French champions Castres Olympique and Northampton Saints, and will be desperate to kick-off their campaign with a victory.
Alun Wyn Jones has admitted his Ospreys side have been perennial underachievers in Europe – the Swansea-based outfit having only reached the knockout stages on three occasions and never gone beyond the quarter-finals.
But the Welsh region have made an impressive start to the season in the Pro12, only losing their unbeaten record with a slender defeat at the hands of Ulster at the Liberty Stadium last weekend, and they have already been to Dublin to face the reigning Amlin Challenge Cup champions and come away with a draw.
They boast a formidable pack, containing five summer tourists with the British & Irish Lions, and will have Dan Biggar pulling the strings at outside half. Expect a battle royal up front.
But Leinster, even without the injured Brian O’Driscoll, will be determined to prosper once again in Europe’s top-tier tournament, having failed to reach the knock-out stages for the first time in five years last season.
They have stuttered at the beginning of their season, winning just two of their five league matches to date under new head coach Matt O’Connor. But they lay claim to an equally star-studded squad with seven former Lions within their ranks.
The two sides have never met in European competition, but they have shared a fierce rivalry in domestic action. Twice the Ospreys have conquered the Heineken Cup heavyweights in domestic Grand Finals.
When they clashed in round two of the Pro12 this season they shared a 29-29 draw at the Royal Dublin Showground. And Saturday night’s showdown promises to be another thrilling encounter.
Match Notes
Saturday, 12 October 2013 Kick-off: 18:00 Liberty Stadium
Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Assistant Referee 1: Tim Wigglesworth (Eng) Assistant Referee 2: Paul Dix (Eng)
TMO: Geoff Warren (Eng) Citing Commissioner: Shaun Gallagher (Eng)
TV: Sky Sports, Sky Italia Ospreys are meeting Leinster in the Heineken Cup for the first time.
- The Welsh region have played Irish clubs on seven occasions in this tournament, winning three and losing four.
- Ospreys were undefeated in this tournament last term (W2 D1) at the Liberty Stadium.
- Leinster have won their last 11 Heineken Cup matches against Welsh regions.
- Despite failing to make it out of the pool stage, Leinster had the best tackle success rate (92%) in the Heineken Cup last season.
- Leinster averaged fewer kicks from hand (17.5) than any other side in the Heineken Cup in 2012/13.
- Only two players (Napolioni Nalaga and Wesley Fofana of Clermont) beat more defenders than Ospreys’ Eli Walker last season (23).
- Justin Tipuric totalled nine turnovers for the Welsh club last season – only Rory Best of Ulster Rugby (14) secured more in the 2012/13 tournament.
- Leinster have lost just two of their last 10 away games in this competition (W7 D1) with both defeats coming at the hands of Clermont.
- Ospreys have lost just one of their last 22 home games in this tournament (W19 D2).
New Leinster coach Matt O'Connor admitted there had been some "pretty robust conversations" after last weekend's defeat to Munster. Whatever was said it worked because the three-time champions overpowered their arch-rivals. - 12/10/2013 22:54
New Leinster coach Matt O’Connor admitted there had been some “pretty robust conversations” after last weekend’s defeat to Munster. Whatever was said it worked because the three-time champions overpowered their arch-rivals.
It a match of huge physicality it was the blue defensive line that triumphed as they repelled wave after wave of Ospreys attacks. The only try of the game came from Ireland and British & Irish Lions flanker Sean O’Brien.
It was a bust by Sean Cronin that set up the try and O’Brien ran off with the Heineken Man of the Match award as well. But the best moment of the night for the visitors came when they forced the home side to concede a penalty in front of their own posts in the dying moments and Jimmy Gopperth was able to step up and kick the penalty that stripped them of a losing bonus point.
Wet weather and difficult conditions meant a repeat of the high-scoring draw when the two teams met last month in the PRO12 was always unlikely but the intensity of the encounter was never in doubt.
Dan Biggar kicked three penalties for the Ospreys, but they now face a tough task to qualify for the quarter-finals from a Pool that also includes 2011 Heineken Cup finalists Northampton Saints and reigning French Champions Castres Olympique.
The Ospreys boasted five British & Irish Lions in their pack, including Ryan Jones who returned following a calf injury but they were unable to flex their muscle up front. But although they started brightly they were rocked by the strength of the visitors’ defence and could find no answer to their problems.
There were 14 points from the boot of summer signing Gopperth, as well as one try saving tackle on replacement wing Jeff Hassler, and the 2009, 2011 and 2012 champions are back up and running in the Heineken Cup
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