Ryan ups the ante ahead of Euro showdown

Nov 16 2007 by Andy Howell, Western Mail

DEAN RYAN has turned up the heat ahead of Gloucester’s massive Heineken Cup clash with the Ospreys tonight by declaring, “We’ll need a bit of luck.”

The West Country giants’ coach was clearly attempting to put the pressure on the similarly big-spending Ospreys as they go head-to-head in front of a 16,500 full house at Kingsholm in a potential Pool 2 humdinger.

Gloucester conquered Ravenhill with a crushing 32-14 bonus-point triumph over Ulster in the opening round of games, while the Ospreys stuttered to a 22-15 victory over Bourgoin in Swansea.

The ambitious Ospreys know they have to improve considerably – despite the claims of the canny Ryan.

Believe his soothing words and Magners League champions Ospreys face the possibility of falling into a cleverly laid trap.

“The Ospreys are a totally different proposition to Ulster and they have great try-scoring ability,” Ryan warned Gloucester.

“We'll need a bit of luck and we'll need to play well – we cannot just throw flair at a game like this. We need to understand what they are trying to do and be intense about what we do.

“My experience is that every minute matters in this competition. The moment you lose track you risk a result that knocks you out.”

The former England back-rower and renowned hard-man even went as far as to plead with Gloucester’s fans to get behind the Cherry and Whites.

“We need 16,000 people screaming us on because games are won and lost on small margins. This week will be an enormous challenge. They have some great players.

“It will be a real firecracker of a game and something we are very much looking forward to.

“We'll deal with this game and then see where we are but the group will be alive well beyond Friday,” he predicted.

Despite his claim, Ryan knows the Ospreys will be in the driving seat for a quarter-final place if they can stand up to the Gloucester pack and – by English standards – an exciting back division.

The Ospreys have suffered a considerable blow with lethal finisher and counter-attack catalyst Shane Williams ruled out by a thigh injury.

Jonny Vaughton takes over on the wing with Scotland international Nikki Walker being given the task of containing Lesley “Volcano” Vainikolo, who was dubbed the world’s best rugby league player before switching codes.

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones pointed out, “Gloucester have a dangerous backline and our defence will have to be right on top of its game if we are to succeed.

“This is one fixture where it is particularly true to say that the team who makes the least number of mistakes will come out on top.

“Whilst we were pleased to start the competition with a solid win last weekend against a highly motivated Bourgoin side we recognise that our accuracy and overall performance levels will have to improve this weekend.

“There will be no complacency on Friday night. Like us, Gloucester have ability throughout their side and there will be a lot of good rugby players on show.

“The crowd at Kingsholm create a passionate, partisan environment and whilst we travel in a very confident frame of mind, buoyed by our past form on the road in England, we recognise the size of the task that awaits us.”

Former England coach Andy Robinson, boss of Bath when they lifted the Heineken Cup and now in charge of Edinburgh, told the Ospreys and the other Welsh regions they have to get their act together on the road to have any chance of being crowned kings of Europe for the first time.

“No side will look forward to playing in Wales. Everyone knows how difficult it is to play there,” he acknowledged.

“But it all depends on how many away games they can win. That will decide whether they qualify or not.

“We’ve all seen the tremendous back play the Welsh regions have had in the past few seasons. But to win tight games you need to control it up front and the Welsh forwards need to put their hands up and be counted.”

And Robinson stressed, “The Welsh sides are full of potential. I think they can do well in this tournament.

“You need to win your away games so that you can come top of your group. That way you get a home draw in the quarter-finals and then the Welsh sides will really have a chance.”

British Lions and England legend Dean Richards, whose team Harlequins take on the Blues at The Stoop in Pool 3 tomorrow, said, “Both the Ospreys and Blues are flying high. They are pretty good sides.

“You only have to look at what the Ospreys did to Worcester to see what they are capable of. They totally demolished a side that, while they hadn’t won yet, had been pushing sides close and playing good rugby.

“The Ospreys certainly put one over on them and they will be a difficult side to beat.

“Then you look at Blues, who again are another side doing extremely well. We believe they will be the two most difficult sides we will come up against this year (Harlequins face Ospreys in the EDF Energy Cup), other than probably Stade Francais.

“Blues are one of those teams with a lot of quality and talent within their side. Sometimes they haven’t delivered but certainly in the Heineken Cup they will.

“We are expecting a really hard, dogged game against them because they are a quality side. They will be a very difficult team for us to play against.

“Blues are one of those sides that blow hot and cold. But certainly when it comes to the big occasions they turn it on.

“The Heineken Cup is extremely important for every team. It’s the top club competition in the world and you want to do as well as you can. There’s no easy game,” stressed Richards, a past winner with Leicester.

“Ospreys and Blues are both capable of doing well in this competition. I honestly think the Welsh teams will do very well in the Heineken Cup. Every game is up for grabs. It’s always the same with these Anglo-Welsh derbies. They are always full of blood and thunder.”

Your at-a-glance guide

Gloucester
I Balshaw; J Simpson-Daniel, M Tindall, A Allen, L Vainikolo; R Lamb, R Lawson; N Wood, O Azam, C Nieto, P Buxton (capt), M Bortolami, A Strokosch, L Narraway, A Qera. Replacements: A Titterrell, C Califano, W James, G Delve, M Prendergast, C Paterson, O Morgan.

Player to watch – Ryan Lamb: Being touted as England’s next outside-half, the youngster was man-of-the-match in Ulster last weekend.

Ospreys
L Byrne; N Walker, S Parker, G Henson, J Vaughton; J Hook, M Phillips; D Jones, H Bennett, A Jones, I Gough, I Evans, J Thomas, F Tiatia (capt), M Holah. Reps: R Hibbard, P James, A Jones, H T-Pole, J Marshall, S Connor, M Taylor.

Player to watch – Marty Holah: The New Zealand flanker needs to get the better of the tackle area against Fiji hit-man Akapusi Qera if the Ospreys are to prosper.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Form guide: Gloucester prompted the resignation of Ulster coach Mark McCall with their Ravenhill demolition job. Ospreys beat Bourgoin but never hit the straps.

Andy Howell’s verdict: I can’t wait for this clash. England v Wales and two star-studded squads. On paper, Ospreys can win but home advantage swings it Gloucester’s way for me, perhaps by 10 points.