AS LEINSTER HEAD to the Liberty Stadium for a 6pm kick-off this evening, Scott Quinnell will be a particularly interested spectator.
The former Lions and Wales No.8 says that Steve Tandy’s side are in their best position ever to make a charge at the European title and become the first Welsh side to claim the Heineken Cup. This first hurdle against Leinster will be crucial though, as the 41-year-old highlights the necessity to win at home.
“The Ospreys have a good opportunity. I don’t think there’ll be a better opportunity for them. They’ve lost a couple of players over the last few years, but you have to look at the form that they’ve brought back from the Lions, especially up front. I think they’re going to be a tough side to beat.”
Indeed, the likes of Adam Jones, Justin Tipuric, Alun-Wyn Jones and Richard Hibbard give the Ospreys real grunt in the forwards, and Leinster’s pack will need to greatly up their aggression levels after the feeble showing against Munster last weekend. Tipuric in particular will be the key, and Leinster’s training this week involved much work on targeting the openside.
The ‘Galacticos’ era at the Ospreys is well and truly a thing of the past, but just two wins in the Heineken Cup last season was an unacceptable return. Quinnell feels that they have improved greatly since last season and that advancing to the quarter-finals is half the battle for them.
“Steve Tandy has brought a pragmatic edge to them, where they’re very physical, they’re very big. You kind of know what they’re going to do but they’re very good at it. I think it’s an opportunity for them.
“If they come out of that pool, they’ll be in good shape. They’re playing particularly well. There seems to be a togetherness within the Ospreys.”
First up for the Welsh side is the visit of three-time champions Leinster, and Quinnell acknowledges the enormity of the task at hand. While Matt O’Connor’s side have been inconsistent in the early stages of the season, they can still count on quality players all over the pitch. Quinnell says that it’s not surprising to see the Irish province suggested as trophy contenders yet again.
“It’s not really when you look at the quality on the pitch. Especially with Matt coming in and taking over as coach, there’s renewed vigour there to improve. Brian O’Driscoll leaving at the end of the year is a massive motivation for the players around him. They need to give a great servant to Irish rugby a send-off at the end of the season.
“Jonny Sexton has left so there’s motivation for Madigan and Gopperth to fill in there. There’s so much motivation for Leinster.”
Despite the continuing strength of Leinster, Quinnell is confident that the Ospreys can start with a home win and get their European quest underway. While Ireland, England and France have served up six winners each in the Heineken Cup’s history, Wales have contributed none.
Quinnell hopes that this season will see that record broken, and says that Leinster will need to be ready for an onslaught from the Ospreys this evening.
“It’s going to be a tough challenge at the Liberty because the Ospreys are playing well. I think we couldn’t have started with a bigger game.”
