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Les auvergnats doivent confirmer leur beau succès à Bordeaux le week-end dernier (28-10) lors d'un nouveau déplacement sur la pelouse des Ospreys vendredi (20h45). Objectif: un nouveau quart de finale
Ospreys’ Welsh international full back Dan Evans knows his side will have to find a way to curb the attacking talents of England duo Dave Strettle and Nick Abendanon if they are to beat table-topping ASM Clermont Auvergne and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup quarter-finals from Pool 2.
Strettle steamed away from two crucial tries in the 34-29 home win over the Welsh Region before Christmas and Evans knows that Abendanon’s trickery from full back is another major catalyst for the Top 14 side.
“Dave Strettle has played well all season and we will have to be on top of our game to nullify him. Nick Abendanon was the top player in the tournament last year and he is still playing the same rugby,” said Evans.
“But they have two world class full backs to pick from with Scott Spedding in the squad as well and it is going to be an interesting challenge whoever they pick. They are one of the best teams in Europe and we know they will punish any mistakes we make.
“It’s about us putting pressure on them and playing in the right areas. We need to put them under pressure and make them feel uncomfortable.
“We have a point to prove on the performance front after losing to Leinster at home last weekend. But we are buzzing and fully confident.
“It would be massive to get through because this is the biggest tournament in which we play and every pool is so competitive.”
Evans’ big left boot will join forces with master tactician Dan Biggar’s right foot in trying to pin back Clermont and squeeze out a result that will leave the pool wide-open moving into the last round. The Ospreys scored four tries in Clermont, so they should have little or nothing to fear going into the game.
The Ospreys also have a proud, unbeaten against French opposition at the Liberty Stadium to defend that stretches back to 2005. This will be their 13th home game against a Top 14 club and twice Clermont have arrived in Swansea and been sent home with their tails between their legs.
Clermont's 28-10 win in Bordeaux last weekend in the re-scheduled match showed what they can do on the road, making it three away victories in a row, but they have lost five of their last 10 games in the all competitions. With only four points splitting the top three teams in the pool a win this weekend is vital in the battle for a ticket into the last eight.
Clermont are without their Canadian lock Jamie Cudmore, but have everyone else fit and firing as they attempt to reach the quarter-finals for the sixth time in the past seven seasons.
Match Facts
- This will be the sixth meeting between these sides in the Champions Cup with Clermont holding the advantage so far with three wins.
- All five of the previous meetings have seen the home side on the day emerge victorious.
- Ospreys have lost just one of their 14 home games against French opposition, their first ever such match back in 2004 against Toulouse (W11, D2).
- Ospreys have won two games this season in the Champions Cup, the last time they won three pool games was back in 2010/11.
Ospreys took a big stride towards their first European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final in six years as they edged Clermont Auvergne 21-13 to move top of Pool 2. - 15/01/2016 21:56
Ospreys took a big stride towards their first European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final in six years as they edged Clermont Auvergne 21-13 to move top of Pool 2.
Replacement fly-half Sam Davies was the hero, kicking 15 second-half points to add to two Dan Biggar penalties as the hosts secured a famous triumph.
Clermont scored the only try of the game through centre Wesley Fofana, with scrum-half Morgan Parra adding eight points with the boot, but they will wonder how they let what looked a comfortable seven-point lead vanish in such spectacular fashion.
A win over Exeter next weekend will be enough to put the Ospreys in the last eight as pool winners, with Clermont now reliant on other results if they are to claim top spot.
The Ospreys were protecting a proud Liberty Stadium record against French sides, with no team from across the Channel having won in 13 attempts at the Swansea venue.
But Clermont made the ideal start with a sixth minute try. Fly-half Camille Lopez made a lovely snaking break in the Ospreys 22 and Fofana was on hand to take the final pass and roll over the lines, with Parra converting.
The Ospreys replied with a Biggar penalty to settle them after a nervy start with their quarter-final hopes on the line, and the Wales fly-half was soon lining up another shot at goal after an unusual offence from Clermont flanker Viktor Kolelishvili.
The Georgian pushed referee Wayne Barnes as the official stood near the French side’s defensive line and earned himself a stern telling off from the Englishman.
Biggar knocked over the three points, only for Parra to immediately reply in kind after Eli Walker had tackled David Strettle in the air at the restart.
The hosts then had a big opportunity when Kolelishvili was binned after a confrontation with Alun Wyn Jones, but their decision to kick the penalty to the corner ended in disappointment as they were turned over.
To compound the missed chance Biggar then struck the post with one penalty, and then missed another on the stroke of half-time, while Parra kicked a penalty of his own.
The French scrum-half was off target early in the second half but it looked a long way back for the Ospreys when Biggar limped off to be replaced by Davies.
However, the youngster started the recovery with a penalty and then quickly added a well-taken drop goal to put the hosts back within a point.
Clermont began to feel the heat, and a break from skipper Jones forced Clermont to desperately infringe, with replacement hooker John Ulugia seeing yellow for straying offside.
Davies kept his nerve to put the hosts ahead for the first time and then added another penalty for good measure.
Clermont were clinging on for a bonus-point, but it slipped through their fingers as further ill-discipline allowed
Davies to strike what may prove a critical blow.
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