Gaffney relishing Ospreys test
Tue, 18 Mar 2008 23:48
Saracens Director of Rugby Alan Gaffney insists that his side is up for the challenge of taking on Welsh glamour club the Ospreys in the EDF Energy Cup semifinal at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.
It will be the first of what promises to be two fantastic clashes between the two sides - who will also meet in the Heineken Cup quarterfinal at Vicarage Road next month.
With much of the Ospreys squad going into the game on the back of a Grand Slam victory with Wales, it's sure to lift the region and Saracens look set to be taking on the entire country at the Millennium Stadium in the EDF Energy Cup semifinal.
But Gaffney insists the players are looking forward to the challenge and that he will be naming as strong a side a possible for the clash.
"When you look at it, we've only got a guaranteed seven games left so there are no thoughts in our minds about saving players for other games," he said on the club's website.
"We want to go to Cardiff and win what is a very important game. It's a great opportunity of making a cup Final and it's an important game for us – and also for the Ospreys.
"We're playing a pretty hot side and although the Ospreys may not have played together as a group much lately, their players have been in pretty good form for Wales. They are the Grand Slam champions and I'd imagine that will give them a tremendous fillip going into the game."
A simple look through the Ospreys line-up reads like a who's who of current Welsh rugby with the likes of Shane Williams, Gavin Henson, James Hook and Ryan Jones to name but a few.
He added: "Looking at the Welsh backline the other day puts everyone in the picture with No.9, No.10, No.12, No.13, No.14 and No.15 all involved in that France game and all Ospreys players.
"Williams has been one of the players of the tournament and has shown you cannot give him any space or time. Hook has also matured into a dangerous flyhalf and the combinations with him, Gavin Henson and Mike Phillips at scrumhalf have really been one of the cornerstones of the Welsh side in the Six Nations.
"Added to the backs, they also have the Jones boys up front and three international locks. So while the Ospreys have only played three games since January, their units have been playing together pretty regularly."
Of course, the two teams meet again on Sunday April 6, when the stakes are even higher in the quarterfinal of the Heineken Cup.
"Both matches will be fiercely contested and it's the start of a very exciting few weeks for Saracens – arguably the most exciting time in the club's history," added Gaffney.
"It's an opportunity for the players to achieve something very special – both for Saracens and themselves. We've seen a steady improvement in our play in the past few weeks and I thought our attack against Leicester was very good. These are things that we can take into the Ospreys game. It's a massive challenge, but we have a squad that is capable of rising to it."
