BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE PAYS BASQUE V OSPREYS - HEC round 6 - Sunday 22nd

Scott Johnson wrote:
The focus among our group has been excellent this week. It's a big challenge that we face, but we know what we've got to do. There's no margin for error on Sunday. We'll know by kick-off time what we are playing for, if it's a Heineken Cup place or an Amlin place, but one thing you can guarantee is that we'll be giving it everything.

Biarritz is always a difficult place to go, any French club is the same, particularly when we're in a straight shoot-out for a qualification place. There's a little bit of history between us after that magnificent quarter-final match a couple of years ago, and I'd expect another good match. They are a damn good team, but so can we be if we get our jobs right on the day.

It's important that we represent the region well, our fans will be looking to see that last weekend wasn't a one-off. It was good to get some tries under our belt against difficult opponents that can be bloody tough to put away. We looked sharper, more clinical, but there's plenty of room for improvement yet and no one is under any illusions that we can get anything in Biarritz if we under perform. Everyone will have to be on top of their game, play well, know their roles, and if we get that right, we'll be hopeful of extending our European season into the knockout stages. I'm sure all our fans will be behind us on that score.

gowales wrote:Technically yes... But we have team spirit

Knackeredknees wrote:

gowales wrote:Technically yes... But we have team spirit

Vodka? Gin? Rum?

maestegmafia wrote:A bonus point win and a Saracens loss to Treviso with no LBP is the only way the Ospreys would go through.

All the games are going in our favour so far... Maybe all those trips to Chapel this week were worth it after all.

Cari wrote:Ospreys to nick a win.

maestegmafia wrote:A bonus point win and a Saracens loss to Treviso with no LBP is the only way the Ospreys would go through.

All the games are going in our favour so far... Maybe all those trips to Chapel this week were worth it after all.

majesticimperialman wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:A bonus point win and a Saracens loss to Treviso with no LBP is the only way the Ospreys would go through.

All the games are going in our favour so far... Maybe all those trips to Chapel this week were worth it after all.

It is a shame when one team as to rely on another team to either lose or win their match, for the Ospreys to go through.

Biaritz to win, especialy at home.

Western Mail wrote:SCOTT JOHNSON has told Richard Hibbard to “stop letting himself down” if he is to emulate the call-ups of Ospreys pair Ashley Beck and Rhys Webb.

Hooker Hibbard has been left out of Warren Gatland’s Six Nations 35-man training squad that will travel to Poland next week as well as the Ospreys team to face Biarritz on Sunday

And Johnson admitted Wales had held Hibbard’s physical conditioning against him.

“I have got a real soft spot for Richard because he is a tough raw-boned rogue,” said the Ospreys director of coaching.


“As a rugby player he should be in the team on his ability because he is a wonderful player and a great scrummager.

“But physically sometimes he lets himself down. He has to understand there is a physical requirement that has to be acknowledged all the time.

“Richard sometimes ebbs and flows regarding that. He won’t mind me saying that because I am on his back all the time about it.

“You give people an excuse and they have the right to take it but don’t look at anyone else.

“Just concentrate on what you are doing.”

And Johnson is delighted the in-form Beck and Webb are among the six uncapped players named in Gatland’s party.

“It is fantastic and goes to show what we have been trying to do here with these players now hammering at the door,” he said. “Those kids are going to be special international rugby players and they are local boys as well.”

Johnson admitted he was unsure whether Webb would make the grade but he now believes he is destined for Test honours.

“Rhys is a real surprise to me,” he said. “When I first got here I was in better nick than him!

“I looked at him and people were trying to convince me he was a rugby player and a number nine.

“I thought, ‘Forget it, this is ridiculous and it can’t happen.’

“Look at the kid now, he is in fantastic shape and has all the gifts. He is made for Test rugby.”

Meanwhile, Beck has emerged as the in-form Welsh centre in regional rugby.

“Ashley used to remind me of a kid who was told he had 1,000 words at birth but was sitting on 999 and was afraid to use that last one,” said Johnson. “But he has started to emerge and is a true 12. He has got wonderful feet and is a beautiful passer of a rugby ball. What he lacks in genuine gas he makes up for because he always has time on the ball.”

Johnson also predicted stand-in Ospreys skipper Justin Tipuric could emerge as an alternative to the World Cup back-row trio of Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau and Sam Warburton.

“Justin has got every skill you could want for a seven and reminds me of an old French openside,” he said.

“He is the perfect blend between Martyn Williams and Sam Warburton.

“If you were playing touch footy he would be the one of the first you would pick.

“He has also got heart and is a great lineout forward, so what more do you want from a seven?”

While Tipuric has made Gatland’s squad, Ospreys team-mate Dan Biggar has been omitted with Rhys Priestland and James Hook as the specialist outside-halves and Gavin Henson providing cover.

“I maintain Dan was born in the wrong country and is not appreciated in Wales,” added Johnson.

Huwball wrote:What an embarresment..... the players don't look as if they give a sh!t!

I feel sorry for the wealthy die hard osprey fans who paid to go and watch them out there!

Is it the players contempt for the coaching staff?

It looks currently that the 6N are going to be a long drawn out affiar - lets hope the blues can shine a light for the Welsh!