EDF Energy Cup - : Ospreys aim to seize final chance for silverware

In form Shane Williams will be looking to add to his tournament-leading try haul

Ospreys aim to seize final chance for silverware

11 April 2008, 11:40 am

By Dan Pritchard

After Welsh delight in their RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam triumph, many of those same heroes are back at Twickenham to take on the English once more in this Saturday's EDF Energy Cup final.

But the season took a major nose-dive for the Ospreys after they crashed out of the Heineken Cup to Saracens, who the Welsh side had so comprehensively beaten just weeks earlier in the EDF Energy Cup semi-final.

And now Gavin Henson, man-of-the-match in that 3-30 semi-final victory at the Millennium Stadium, is out for Saturday’s final, which kicks off at 2.30pm and is live on BBC1.

Henson suffered minor ligament damage to his left ankle during the second half in last weekend’s defeat against Saracens.

Head coach Lyn Jones is already without Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips (knee) and Scotland winger Nikki Walker (ankle).

So, out of Europe and well off the pace in the Magners League, the EDF Energy Cup final against Leicester Tigers is Ospreys’ last chance of silverware this season. The Liberty Stadium side will also be keen to avenge last season’s final defeat to the Tigers, who beat them 41-35, despite a strong second-half come back from the Welsh side.

But with that shock defeat to Saracens in the Heineken Cup, surely the pressure is on for a team who have the likes of RBS 6 Nations Player of the Tournament Shane Williams and James Hook in one of the strongest squads around?

Head coach Jones said: "What's important is that (the Heineken Cup) disappointment is behind us and we are moving on. We have learned a huge amount since last year's EDF Energy appearance when we just got pipped in a great contest. We have gained a lot of experiences, highs and lows, from playing them."

He added: “"Saturday is another big day, another landmark occasion in the short history of the Ospreys and everybody in the camp is looking forward to going back to Twickenham to face Leicester Tigers in a repeat of last years classic encounter.

“Conceding 28 points in one half, is a freak event for any professional side and being a little wiser to the demands Leicester will place upon us, memories of last year will help drive us on to the goal of becoming the first Welsh side to win the EDF Energy Cup.

"Leicester are a very wise side who have been there and done it many times over the last 11 years. They may not have made it into the latter stages of the Heineken Cup this season but we still regard them as one of the big four in Europe. It's going to be a real test of our physical and mental stamina, following on from the boys Six Nations success and then the disappointment of last weekend.”

Commenting on being without Henson, Jones said: “It’s disappointing news that we have to go into the game without Gavin Henson, who is still suffering from the ankle injury he picked up at Saracens.

”As is always the case, his absence provides someone else with an opportunity and in Andrew Bishop we have a talented youngster who has a considerable amount of experience for a 22 year-old and as part of the matchday squad who lost out to Leicester last season, he is looking forward to the opportunity to put the record straight.

"It's another big occasion for the supporters who will be there in their thousands. They provided tremendous backing last weekend, as they always do and I'm sure it'll be no different again on Saturday.”

Whichever Ospreys turns up on Saturday, they will be cheered on by a sizeable contingency of fans, with the club hoping to pass last year’s total of 12,000 supporters.