Ospreys v Connacht, Liberty stadium, 7.35pm
Connacht are a point behind the Ospreys who are in the vital fifth spot in Conference A for the Champions Cup play-off (the Cheetahs lie third in the table but the South Africans are not allowed enter European tournaments just yet).
The Ospreys, with a game in hand, look odds-on to be guided back into Europe by interim coach Allen Clarke, thus all but ending Connacht’s season in the process.
“We are at the point of the season where every game matters now,” said Clarke, the former Ulster and Ireland U-21 coach now working in the Welsh system.
“We respect the importance of this fixture to our aspirations for the season and understand that while the bigger picture is important we have to focus one game at a time. Get too far ahead of ourselves and we’ll come unstuck. We know that Connacht are a good team, well-prepared and with threats all over the park so they have our utmost respect. We have to make sure we are at the level we were against Leinster. That is the benchmark for us for the rest of the season.”
The Ospreys caught Leinster’s returning Irish Grand Slam players clearly off their usual standard a fortnight ago, dominating exchanges with Justin Tipuric particularly effective.
Tipuric is unavailable tonight after linking up with Wales Sevens at the Commonwealth Games but, with Bundee Aki sat down and Connacht reeling after losing to Gloucester in the Challenge Cup last weekend, this game has perhaps arrived too soon.
“Ospreys are in the driving seat in terms of that final Champions Cup qualification spot,” said Connacht defence coach Peter Wilkins. “We see the season as very much alive, but we need to make sure we perform and put them under pressure.”
It being Dan Biggar’s last game at the Liberty, before joining Northampton, the Wales outhalf is expected to prove the difference under whatever pressure is exerted on him.
OSPREYS: D Evans; J Hassler, K Fonotia, A Beck, H Dirksen; D Biggar, T Habberfield; N Smith S Otten, D Arhip; B Davies, A Wyn Jones (capt); G Mercer, S Cross, J King. Replacements: I Phillips, R Jones, M Fia, A Beard, M Morris, M Aubrey, S Davies, O Watkin.
CONNACHT: T O'Halloran; N Adeolokun, E Griffin, P Robb, M Healy; J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, S Delahunt, C Carey; U Dillane, J Cannon; S O'Brien, J Butler (capt), E McKeon. Replacements: D Heffernan, P McCabe, D Robertson-McCoy, G Thornbury, J Muldoon, C Blade, C Ronaldson, D Leader.
Referee: B Whitehouse (Wales).
Verdict: Ospreys
