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Forwards coach Chris Gibbes has warned the Ospreys their strong start in Pool 2 of the European Rugby Champions Cup will count for nothing if they do not back it up against Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday. - 09/12/2015 09:47
Forwards coach Chris Gibbes has warned the Ospreys their strong start in Pool 2 of the European Rugby Champions Cup will count for nothing if they do not back it up against Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday.
The Welsh region currently sit top of the standings having beaten Exeter Chiefs in their opening fixture and then picked up a pair of bonus points despite losing to Clermont Auvergne.
It means they are in contention to reach a first European quarter-final since the 2010 season as they prepare to host Bordeaux at the Liberty Stadium in the first leg of their double-header.
But Gibbes is mindful the region have made promising starts to previous campaigns, only to fall away. The 2011-12 campaign proved particularly painful as, after picking up six points in their opening two games, three defeats in the remaining fixtures ended their hopes.
Bordeaux will be looking for their first win in the pool, having lost their only game so far against Exeter, and the Welsh side are expecting a stern examination.
“I see this group going down to the wire, and I hope we are right in the thick of it,” said Gibbes, whose brother Jono is on the coaching staff of pool rivals Clermont.
“But the reality is in 2011-12 we were in a similar situation and we ended up coming third in the pool, barely winning another game from this point on.
“So we are very clear as a group that where we stand today doesn’t mean anything if we don’t get the job done this Saturday.
“We have an opportunity but we are going to have to be very good and accurate; we are going to have to hold onto possession and make sure our penalty count is low, because these guys will put you under a lot of pressure.
“We have a massive assignment ahead of us, but we’re clear of what we need to do to win this game. They have been in good form in France, they beat Stade Francais away, and they won on the road in the play-offs just to reach this tournament so we are under no illusions as to how tough it will be.”
Match Facts
- Ospreys have not won any of their last three against French opposition in the competition, but have never gone four games in a row against French sides without a win.
- Ospreys have won 22 of their last 29 home games in the Champions Cup and have drawn a further three of those matches (L4).
- Bordeaux-Begles have won only one of their five Champions Cup fixtures away from home (L4), their one win coming in their first ever away fixture in the competition.
- Ospreys have conceded the fewest turnovers per game this season, averaging just nine per game so far.
- Bordeaux-Begles are the only team in the competition to boast a 100% lineout success rate so far winning all seven on their own throw.
The Ospreys were made to work for every inch as they edged to a 19-16 triumph against a 14-man Bordeaux-Begles. - 12/12/2015 19:16
The Ospreys were made to work for every inch as they edged to a 19-16 triumph against a 14-man Bordeaux-Begles.
The result puts the Liberty Stadium side in a strong position in Pool 2 with 10 points from three matches. Dan Biggar scored all 19 points for his side after being floored by a Jean-Baptiste Dubié swinging arm, with the Bordeaux man seeing red. The French side never gave up, and pushed the Ospreys all the way despite having 13-men at one point.
The Ospreys got off to a perfect start with Biggar booting his side in-front after three minutes. But the visitors equalised almost immediately with a penalty of their own from Pierre Bernard. The two hitmen continued their kicking duel with a penalty apiece before Ospreys talisman Alun Wyn Jones allowed the French side an advantage.
The Wales lock entered a maul from the side and was shown yellow by JP Doyle. And Bordeaux did not waste time in making their man advantage count. Centre Le Bourhis spotted the overlap caused by Jones’ absence and ran an outside arc to score. Bernard converted to put the French side 13-6 up. But Biggar was on-hand to rein in the lead once more with his third penalty from three attempts.
The game turned with the Ospreys trailing by a point after the break. Biggar collected a high ball and chipped ahead before Dubié planted a late, swinging arm on the playmaker’s chin. Referee JP Doyle went to the TMO, and the officials agreed the challenge warranted a red card.
And Biggar picked himself up off the turf to spot a gap in the Bordeaux defence and dot down at the corner before nailing the touchline conversion. But the Ospreys made hard work of the second-half and edged home 19-16.
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