Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
- 20/12/2005 15:30
Ospreys, 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”.
- 20/12/2005 15:30
The Ospreys lifted themselves from the foot of Pool 3 with a six-point win over ASM Clermont Auvergne.
Stefan Terblanche grabbed the Ospreys crucial second try as the Welsh region claimed their second French scalp at the Liberty Stadium.
Springbok Terblanche went over on the stroke of half-time after Richard Mustoe had also crossed to clinch a 26-12 victory over Clermont-Auvergne.
The Ospreys had already beaten Stade Francais, who they face next Friday night, in Swansea but the win was not enough to claim a quarter-final place.
However coach Lyn Jones will still hope this win can turn his team’s season around following a dismal run of results and the loss off Lions trio Gavin Henson, Ryan Jones and Brent Cockbain for the near future.
Shane Williams was another injury concern and was left out of this game but the Ospreys other wingers – Terblanche and Mustoe – proved enough to beat a Clermont-Auvergne team badly missing the assuredness of crocked Stephen Jones.
Mustoe pounced when Clermont dropped the ball trying desperately to run the ball out of defence in the 35th minute. The in-form youngster hacked ahead before picking up for an easy finish under the posts.
Clermont finally hit back through centre Pierre-Manuel Garcia before bursts from Duncan Jones and Adrian Cashmore ended with Terblanche squeezing over in the corner. Cashmore went on to add 16 points with the boot.
Both teams were reduced to 14 minutes during a scrappy second half. Ospreys outside-half Shaun Connor was first to the sin bin following a scuffle before Gonzalo Longo followed seven minutes later.
Sam Broomhall crashed over on the hour mark but the Ospreys defence held firm before Cashmore rounded off a solid solo and team display with a late penalty.
LIVE - TEST - Commentary