Ospreys face Aironi Rugby
The Ospreys will hope to put in a good performance and beat Aironi Rugby on Saturday in the fourth round of games in the Magners League. The Italian side visits the Champions and will be hoping to put in a good performance knowing that the odds are stacked
against them winning away from home.
The Ospreys have been disappointing this season and will be looking for not only a win, but a bonus point from this encounter.
After an indifferent start to the season, the Ospreys will be hoping to show why they were crowned as the Magners League Champions last season. The Ospreys beat Leinster in the final last year and a number of players have yet to reach the same heights and
perform to the same standards.
Wales captain Ryan Jones could line up for his first appearance of the new campaign. Jones has been out with a knee injury. Adam Jones and Richard Hibbert may also feature having come on as substitutes in the match against Munster at Thomond Park.
The Ospreys lost the match against Munster 22-10, but there was no shame in the defeat to Munster who have one of the best home records in club rugby. The Welsh side outscored Munster in tries with Tommy Bowe and Richard Fussell scoring a try a piece. Munster’s
only try came from New Zealander Doug Howlett, but Ronan O’Gara’s place kicking proved to be the difference.
In their first match of the season, the Ospreys narrowly lost to Ulster by a single point and beat Benneton Treviso 32-16 in their second round of matches.
The Ospreys have a number of injury concerns at present. Influential scrum-half Mike Philips is yet to feature and players such as James Hook, Sonny Parker, Barry Davis, Tom Smith, Rory Pitman and Tom Isaacs all missed the match against Munster.
Nevertheless, the Ospreys will be overwhelming favourites for this clash and it will be a huge upset if Aironi takes anything from the game.
Coach Ian Holley was not concerned about the Ospreys' start to the season stating that, “We are the champions of this competition, we know we’re a good team, but we’re just quite not there yet.”
The Ospreys have not been beaten at the Liberty Stadium in nine games and their last loss at home was to Leinster.
Aironi’s debut in the Magners League started with a credible loss away to Munster. The Italian outfit scored a try and Ludovic Mercier kicked penalties in a 33-17 defeat. However, they were then beaten at home by Ulster 15-22 and were well beaten 49-10 in
their last game away to the Scarlets with Nick Williams scoring the Italian side's only try. The French out-half Mercier will need to have an outstanding game and kick all his penalties if Aironi are to upset the odds. The forwards will hope to starve the
Ospreys of as much ball as possible and disrupt the play. If the Ospreys can dominate the Aironi pack, their world class back line will score plenty of tries.
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