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Ashley Beck wants the Ospreys to make their mark in the European Rugby Challenge Cup as they prepare to feature in the tournament for the first time. - 12/10/2016 12:14
Ashley Beck wants the Ospreys to make their mark in the European Rugby Challenge Cup as they prepare to feature in the tournament for the first time.
The Welsh region have played in the European Rugby Champions Cup throughout their 13-year history, but they missed out after a difficult Guinness PRO12 campaign last term.
It means Steve Tandy’s men, who came agonisingly close to a quarter-final place in the Champions Cup last term, are looking to re-establish themselves as European contenders.
They are among the favourites to lift the trophy in Edinburgh in May and centre Beck, back in action after several injury hit seasons, wants to live up to that billing starting with their Pool 2 opener against Newcastle Falcons at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night.
“It’s about going out there, enjoying ourselves and showing we don’t just want to be a force in the PRO12. We want teams to start looking at us in Europe, too,” said the Wales international.
“It’s a great competition. You are in the PRO12 all the time, playing against the same teams. In Europe it’s a chance to play against some of the best players in the world.
“It is not just the Champions Cup, in the Challenge Cup there are some really good players and it’s a chance to test ourselves. Sometimes, these European matches can be as close to playing in an international Test match as you can get.
“If you look at Newcastle’s squad they have someone of the calibre of Vereniki Goneva. He is a player a lot of sides would like to have in their ranks. That is how tough a test it is.
“To play against the likes of him, David Wilson from Bath and others will be great, especially for some of the younger boys who are doing so well for us at the minute.”
The Falcons have enjoyed an encouraging start to their Aviva Premiership campaign, and enter European competition off the back of a win over Bristol.
“We always enjoy the European Rugby Challenge Cup and the exposure it offers our players,” said director of rugby Dean Richards.
“Our pool sees us face quality opposition and we know there will be testing fixtures home and away.”
Match Facts
- This will be the first meeting between the clubs in European competition.
- The Ospreys are competing in the Challenge Cup for the first time having played 13 consecutive seasons in the top flight.
- The Ospreys have won just one of their last 11 against Premiership clubs in Europe (D1, L9) although their one win in came last season against Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup.
- Newcastle have won all three of their away games against Welsh opposition in the Challenge Cup.
- Dan Biggar needs just six points to reach 500 in European competition.
Ospreys enjoyed a dream debut in the European Rugby Challenge Cup as they ran-in seven tries to thrash Newcastle Falcons 45-0. - 14/10/2016 20:50
Ospreys enjoyed a dream debut in the European Rugby Challenge Cup as they ran-in seven tries to thrash Newcastle Falcons 45-0.
The Welsh region turned on the style from the start in their Pool 2 opener to command through Welsh half-back pair Dan Biggar, who notched his 500th Eurpoean point, and Rhys Webb, before Ashley Beck dotted down to make it 19-0 at half-time.
And Newcastle had no answer when Steve Tandy’s side ran riot after the break. Scott Baldwin was shunted over to bag the bonus-point try, before Justin Tipuric scored a stunning solo try. There was still time for 18-year-old wing Keelan Giles to bag a quick-fire brace to send a statement to the Ospreys’ Pool 2 rivals.
Despite their long trip south, it was the Falcons who had the better of the opening exchanges. Olympic silver medallist Marcus Watson caused unrest in the Ospreys defence, but the visitors failed to turn their early dominance into points.
But Webb showed them how it was done after 20 minutes when he produced a moment of magic to sent half-back partner Biggar past 500 European points. The Wales star pulled off a trademark snipe to go past Newcastle prop David Wilson, before sending Biggar in under the posts. The outside-half converted his score to put his side 7-0 up.
Webb took things into his own hands five minutes later to put the Ospreys in control. The 22-cap international collected his own delicate chip over the Falcons defence to crash over, with Biggar converting for a 14-0 lead.
And there was still time before the break for a third try. Centre Beck received an offload from Keelan Giles and darted down the wing to score and give the hosts a 19-0 half-time lead. It took 14 second-half minutes for the hosts to bag the bonus-point when Baldwin was shunted over from a driving lineout, before Tipuric scored a contender for try of the season.
The Wales flanker broke clear on halfway before kicking ahead and racing past the Newcastle defence to collect and score. And it got even worse for the faltering Falcons when Giles found space on †he wing to chip ahead and score.
He was at it again moments later, receiving a scoring pass from debutant Rhodri Jones to dot-down at the corner to make it 45-0.
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