Ospreys out to end graveyard shift in France

Jan 16 2008 by Andy Howell, Western Mail

LYN JONES has pointed to history being on his side as the Ospreys seek the win in France required to book a last-eight Heineken Cup spot.

France has proved a graveyard for most Welsh sides over the years with our clubs and regions managing only three victories there in the 13-year history of the Heineken Cup.

But Ospreys chief Jones heads back to Bourgoin this weekend with fond memories of a European Shield tie there in the 2001-02 campaign.

As coach of Neath, Jones savoured a late Lee Jarvis drop goal which secured a rare Welsh success across the channel.

“All we have to do is go to France and win a game of rugby,” said Jones, who knows that victory will see the Ospreys through at least as a second-best qualifier.

“It sounds really easy – but in practice it is very, very difficult.

“I have coached a team who have won once in France – Neath at, of all places, Bourgoin – and if you want to do well in this tournament, you have to go to France and win.

“It is really quite simple, we have to go there and win and it would be fantastic for Welsh rugby if the Blues and ourselves could both qualify.

“It is all there to play for and that is the beauty of the Heineken Cup, it is right on a knife edge from start to finish.”

The Ospreys came good when it really mattered last weekend, ending the last 100 per cent record in the tournament by overwhelming Guinness Premiership leaders Gloucester.

Gloucester, two points clear of the Ospreys and with a home match against Ulster on Saturday, remain favourites to win Pool 2.

But Jones believes the Ospreys are in great shape to end a losing run in France which includes defeats to Stade Français (twice), Toulouse, Castres and Clermont Auvergne.

“I was delighted with the performance against Gloucester,” said Jones.

“After Ulster in round three, we knew we needed three victories to take us to 21 points.

“Gloucester’s dream start in this tournament meant they have pulled too far away for anyone to catch them, so we have to try and come through as a best qualifier.”

Former All Blacks scrum-half Justin Marshall was named man of the match against Gloucester and said, “There is no worse position to be in than to have other teams controlling your destiny and we have to go out to France and win.

“Our forwards were outstanding against Gloucester, they competed everywhere and got us going forward.

“That makes the scrum-half’s job so much easier when you are playing off the front foot against a very good side.

“If they front-up like that again in Bourgoin, then we are a pretty good side.”

Hooker Richard Hibbard hopes to make the trip to the Stade Pierre Rajon after being hurt in the act of scoring a try against Gloucester.

“There will be no problems for Bourgoin,” said Hibbard, who feared he had suffered a rib injury.

“'The wind was knocked out of me against Gloucester and it did concern me for a while.

“As I went over for the try, I put the ball down and landed on the knee of a Gloucester player.

“It caught me around the stomach area and did take my breath away. But within an hour or so I was all right.”