Tigers out to increase Ospreys’ woes – Hipkiss

Apr 11 2008 by Andy Howell, South Wales Echo

LYN Jones has been warned his hold on the top coaching job at the Ospreys could become more tenuous after tomorrow’s EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester at Twickenham.

Pressure has been mounting on Jones following the big-spending Welsh region’s shock exit from the showpiece Heineken Cup at Saracens last weekend.

With their defence of the Magners League title in tatters, their only hope of a trophy this season is in the Anglo-Welsh tournament. And, with 13 of Wales’ Grand Slam winners in the Ospreys squad, Jones has to deliver some form of silverware to enhance his prospects of staying at the helm with a full-scale review of rugby operations already under way.

England centre Danny Hipkiss warned Jones holders Leicester Tigers won’t be taking any pity or him or the Ospreys in a repeat of last year’s EDF final. The Tigers, still in the Guinness Premiership title hunt, are out to retain the league and cup double won in such historic fashion last season.

Hipkiss insists they are fired up for part one of their quest, declaring: “It is our trophy and we are determined to retain it.”

Leicester beat Ospreys 45-31 in a fantastic encounter last year and a repeat would leave the Welsh glamour club with nothing to show for a season that held such promise only six days ago.

Hipkiss believes that defeat at Saracens last Sunday will have stung the Ospreys and made them a much tougher proposition at Twickenham.

“It was a great victory last year and we are determined to reproduce that,” he said.

“Wasps in the semi-final were a big test and this is another one – we know we will have to be at our best and match them all over the park.

“They have improved leaps and bounds from last year. They have developed a real resilience and strength in their forwards, which they didn’t have.”

Leicester suffered a blow last night when Hipkiss’ hard-charging centre partner Seru Rabeni had his ban reaffirmed.

Rabeni, who ran riot for Fiji when they put Wales out of the World Cup in Nantes last autumn, had his appeal against a 14-week ban for making illegal contact with the eye area of Saracens hooker Andy Kyriacou dismissed last night by the RFU.