Champions Cup Pool 2: ASM Clermont Auvergne v Ospreys, 22 November

PREVIEW: Jones ready for Clermont test
Ospreys captain Alun Wyn Jones reckons his men can face Clermont Auvergne with confidence as they look to end one of the most formidable home records in rugby.

The Welsh region opened their European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 2 campaign with a 25-13 win over Exeter Chiefs, thanks to a powerful second-half display from their pack.

The forward battle will once again be key when they take on last season's beaten finalists, who will be playing their first game of this season's competition following the postponement of their opening fixture against Bordeaux-Begles, at Stade Marcel-Michelin.

Clermont have not lost at their home fortress since 2008, and the Ospreys do not have the best of records in France having won just once in 14 trips across the Channel.

But with morale boosted by a fine victory over a Chiefs side who are flying high in the Aviva Premiership, Wales and Lions lock Jones is eagerly-awaiting the challenge ahead.

"We can travel with confidence, it has been a good start for us," he said. "It will be tough out there in a difficult environment and with the quality of the squad they have and the rugby they play. But we came through an opening game that could have gone either way so it gives us something to build on."

Head coach Steve Tandy believes his men travel with the pressure off their shoulders having taken four match points and denied Exeter a losing bonus point in what promises to be a very tight pool.

"We had opportunities in the second half which we took and remained the ascendancy and kept ourselves ahead, which is a good sign," said the former flanker.

"Everyone knows how important it is to win your home games and now it is about seeing what you can pick up on the road.We did not give Exeter a bonus point, which was a boost, and we want to go out there, score some points, and see where that takes us."

Match Facts
- In the four matches between these clubs in the Champions Cup, each has been won by the home team (two wins each).

- ASM Clermont Auvergne won the last meeting between the sides and are aiming to win consecutive matches against the Ospreys for the first time in the Champions Cup.

- The Ospreys' two victories over ASM Clermont Auvergne are the only defeats the French side have suffered in their last 12 matches against Welsh opposition (W10).

- Clermont have won their last 23 games at home in the Champions Cup.

mikey_dragon wrote:

wayne wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:This is why Lloyd Peers will never be a good player.

What happened for you to make this comment? His selection in the team and as captain though, is now even leading their supporters to question Tandy. They have two good overseas forwards, one at TH and another at lock. If he's not yet permitting them to play at this level then let them play for the premiership select because that Ospreys team really needs some quality players!

If you are talking about Bernardo and Fia, the former is still wearing a boot that covers his leg up to his knee, and according to Fia he will be available next week, it is NOT Tandy stopping either of them, it is the Medical team.

It was them I was talking about. You said Fia was available weeks ago so not sure why he's being held back. Do you have any more locks in the squad? Peers would have looked like a gnat next to Cudmore.

mikey_dragon wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:This is why Lloyd Peers will never be a good player.

What happened for you to make this comment? His selection in the team and as captain though, is now even leading their supporters to question Tandy. They have two good overseas forwards, one at TH and another at lock. If he's not yet permitting them to play at this level then let them play for the premiership select because that Ospreys team really needs some quality players!

VinceWLB wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:This is why Lloyd Peers will never be a good player.

What happened for you to make this comment? His selection in the team and as captain though, is now even leading their supporters to question Tandy. They have two good overseas forwards, one at TH and another at lock. If he's not yet permitting them to play at this level then let them play for the premiership select because that Ospreys team really needs some quality players!

I made this comment when Peers made a knock on with 5 or 10 to go when there was absolutely no pressure.

And yes Thornton is still very green but he already looks like a much better player than Peers.

mikey_dragon wrote:Wayne just watching highlights, what do you think of the disallowed try for Arhip? Looked like it was clearly on the line to me.

mikey_dragon wrote:It's a shame Beard is injured, but he and Thornton are probably better players than Peers/Ashley - he also occasionally carries the captain arm band so now I guess they have to play him.

If you're using those competitions for development then it isn't going very well results wise. Also none of the players look capable of stepping into regional rugby. If you look at the Dragons select then it has a very good balance to it. The Blues and Scarlets Premiership Selects also have that balance right IMO, but result aren't going their way, particularly for the poor Scarlets who are grouped with two of the top English championship teams.

mikey_dragon wrote:Wayne just watching highlights, what do you think of the disallowed try for Arhip? Looked like it was clearly on the line to me.

Cardiff Dave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Wayne just watching highlights, what do you think of the disallowed try for Arhip? Looked like it was clearly on the line to me.

Link?

Scarpia wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Wayne just watching highlights, what do you think of the disallowed try for Arhip? Looked like it was clearly on the line to me.

Link?

http://www.s4c.cymru/clic/e_level2.shtml?programme_id=529917760

mikey_dragon wrote: To my knowledge three of the regions are doing that. Looking at the Ospreys Premiership Select it seems to me that only one player (Otten) has potential to go anywhere/make the Ospreys regional team. That's compared with several on the other three teams; you'll probably disagree with this. Also bringing them through in an environment where they are constantly losing is also no good for development purposes

Risca Rev wrote:It surprises me somewhat that most Ospreys fans are just seemingly settling for the two points, when in reality they should have got five from it. Even if one of the two Arhip incidents is given, then they win and then when you consider the one Clermont try when Rougerie did his double tackle, that he should've been penalised after the first one for making zero attempt to roll away. Just hope they don't get knocked out of the group because of those three extra points they should've had.

Scarpia wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Wayne just watching highlights, what do you think of the disallowed try for Arhip? Looked like it was clearly on the line to me.

Link?

http://www.s4c.cymru/clic/e_level2.shtml?programme_id=529917760

VinceWLB wrote:This is why Lloyd Peers will never be a good player.

VinceWLB wrote:I saw that Wayne, at least it was in appalling weather conditions unlike Peers' knock on!