Talented Ospreys packing a punch

Apr 6 2008 by Scott Quinnell, Wales On Sunday

EXPECT a real show of strength from the Ospreys against Saracens this afternoon.

Whatever Sarries think about this Heineken Cup quarter-final, it is all about the Ospreys.

All eyes will be on them to see if they really have the credentials to go all the way and become the first Welsh side to lift the Heineken Cup.

It may be too early to say their name is on the cup, but if they dispatch Sarries, it could well be their year.

Saracens will play with a fear factor following the drubbing they took in the EDF Energy semi-final, but I don’t expect that to be enough.

Any side that can afford to lose Mike Phillips and replace him with Justin Marshall is going places.

It’s hard to think of another side in Europe which can match their strength in depth.

But you only have to watch the Ospreys to see the X-factor you need to win the big games in Europe.

They are a side playing with utter and almost unshakeable confidence. I don’t think the Ospreys are the finished article, but they are close to it.

The key to their success has been the fact that they have built a pack as good as anything in Europe.

To be crowned European champions you need a dominant pack – forget about everything else. That is the difference in Europe.

Having the likes of James Hook, Gavin Henson and Shane Williams, who is having his best season, always help, but a dominant pack of forwards is vital. Think of the Leicester, Toulouse and Munster sides and they all have one thing in common – a pack of forwards who could mix it with anyone.

Those sides could play an expansive style, as well as having the ability to out-muscle sides.

The Ospreys, I believe, have that. They remind me so much of the dominant Leicester Tigers side of a few years ago.

They have the ability to just grind sides into rugby oblivion and a steely edge which sides cannot cope with.

Why and where did this come from? I think Wales’ Grand Slam success has boosted the confidence of the players.

But the Ospreys do have a big, physical, heavy and abrasive unit. England’s success in the late nineties and the 2003 World Cup was built on the same thing.

The likes of Lawrence Dallaglio, Martin Johnson and Jason Leonard knew how to really turn the screw – and so do the Ospreys.

The Blues, meanwhile, are being written off by everyone; but I am not sure about that.

Toulouse are playing two scrum-halves – Byron Kelleher and Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde – at half-back. The Blues will certainly look to exploit any weakness there and will look to get right in their faces and really pile into Toulouse.

The French giants are certainly not the force they were and could be there for the taking this afternoon.

This game certainly isn’t a gimme for Toulouse and I expect the Blues to make a decent fist of it.

And don’t be surprised if they pull off the shock of the quarter-finals.