OSPREYS HEINEKEN CUP fate was left hanging by the thinnest of threads after they were overpowered, first time out, against Leinster at Liberty Stadium.
Away defeats against Northampton and Castres made short work of that thread and the financial parachute known as the Amlin Challenge Cup.
A paltry crowd of 8,347 showed up to watch Ospreys succumb to George North and Saints last weekend. Pride, and a chance to put one over their Pro12 rivals, are the motivating factors for the Welshmen this evening.
“You’ve got to bounce straight back and there’s no better way of doing it than in Leinster, straight away,” said Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric. “It’s a great place to go and we’ve a good history [of] turning them over so hopefully we can give something back to our fans.”
Between September 2011 and November 2012, Ospreys beat Leinster four times in a row. One of those victories was in devastating manner as Shane Williams stole over for a 78th minute try — converted by Dan Biggar — in the Pro12 Grand Final. Leinster have won two of the last three outings but Ospreys are confident of silencing the RDS crowd.
Tipuric commented, “After seeing our game [against Northampton], they are probably thinking about a bonus point but we have to make sure we go over there, front up and fight.”
The flanker, who did not feature in the British & Irish Lions squad until the third Test with Australia, has recently become a father to a baby girl but insists his recent sleepless nights will not impinge on another committed performance for his club. With four other Lions in their starting XV, Ospreys will fancy their chances of causing their old foes a some sleepless nights of their own.
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