Preview: EDF Final - Ospreys v Tigers
Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:21
Top Tiger: Leicester captain Martin Corry
We have a replay of last year's EDF Energy Cup Final, when Leicester Tigers - the reigning Cup holders - take on Ospreys, having beaten them 41-35 in the 2007 version. Will we have another classic encounter like that at Twickenham?
We may well get it.
The teams have talked up a storm and they are loaded with international stars.
The Tigers currently lie in fourth place in the Guinness Premiership table, as they contest their 12th Cup Final.
Leicester have won their last eight matches against Welsh teams, since losing 15-24 against Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade in the EDF Energy Cup on 30 September 2005.
Last season's losing finalists in the EDF Energy Cup, Ospreys, are in sixth spot in the Magners League table, and have lost just once in the EDF Energy Cup since October 2005.
The two teams have met on three previous occasions since Ospreys came into existence in 2003, with Leicester victorious in each instance.
Tigers captain Martin Corry is confident of lifting his third piece of silverware in two seasons, but the back row forward knows his side will have to be at their very best if they are to beat the Ospreys in this mouth-watering Final.
"They've certainly improved leaps and bounds from last season," said Corry, who led Tigers to Guinness Premiership glory in May last year, a month after the EDF Energy Cup became the club's first trophy since 2002.
"They've developed a real strength and resilience in their forward pack. They've got a very good side. Everyone talks about their attacking flair, but to hold a team like Saracens to just three points in the semifinal of this competition shows how hard they are to break down.
"They've got an excellent line-out, which Alun Wyn Jones runs very well. I'm a massive fan of Marty Holah and Ryan Jones is going from strength to strength this season. They've got plenty of explosive power on the bench as well and it's going to be a real test, not just of our team, but of our whole squad."
Saturday's game is the first of three vital fixtures in eight days for Tigers and Corry is fully aware of the challenge ahead of him and his teammates.
"We've got a Final on Saturday, a massive league game at Bath on the Tuesday and then another huge game against Bristol next weekend. We've got a fair few injuries so there could be some players who are playing in all three games. It's going to be test of fitness, resilience and mental toughness. This is the time where you've got to show all those qualities."
Ospreys coach Lyn Jones acknowledged the challenge facing his team against a side with heaps of finals experience.
"Saturday is another big day, another landmark occasion in the short history of the Ospreys and everybody in the camp are looking forward to going back to Twickenham to face Leicester Tigers in a repeat of last years classic Final," Jones said.
"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."
Road to the Final:
Leicester Tigers:
Pool B:
Bath Rugby (13) 20 Leicester Tigers (11) 14
Leicester Tigers (9) 42 Cardiff Blues (6) 20
Leicester Tigers (10) 32 Sale Sharks (3) 8
Semifinal: Leicester Tigers (13) 34 London Wasps (12) 24
Ospreys:
Pool C:
Worcester Warriors (6) 16 Ospreys (21) 47
Ospreys (20) 51 London Irish (16) 16
Harlequins (3) 8, Ospreys (6) 19
Semifinal: Ospreys (8) 30 Saracens (0)
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Prediction: This will be a cracker, as is most Twickenham games and all finals. The occasion alone makes it a must see. But the two teams are quality outfits, which will ensure a game worthy of Final status. Ospreys' season is running the risk of going pear shaped and the Welsh glamour club could walk away with nothing, despite all the players' exploits in the Six Nations. We feel the Tigers' experience will count and they will sneak another win. Tigers by less than 10 points.
Teams:
Leicester Tigers: 15 Johne Murphy, 14 Ollie Smith, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Ben Herring, 6 Martin Corry (captain), 5 Ben Kay, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Boris Stankovich.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Julian White, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Sam
Vesty, 22 Tom Varndell.
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Johnny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Filo Tiatia, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Ryan Jones (captain), 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Ian Gough, 19 Jonathan Thomas, 20 Gareth Owen, 21 Jonathan Spratt, 22 Aled Brew.
Date: Saturday, 12 April
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Touch judges: George Clancy (Ireland), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
