EDF Energy Cup - : Welsh aim to do double over England

Ospreys lost to Leicester Tigers in last season's final

Ospreys lost in a thrilling EDF Energy Cup final in 2007

Welsh aim to do double over England

20 February 2008, 3:30 pm

By Dan Pritchard

Ospreys are relishing the fight as they start to look ahead to their EDF Energy Cup semi-final date with Saracens at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, March 22.

The game comes just a week after the RBS Six Nations concludes and Ospreys’ dominance of the international side could be key to the clash.

More than a dozen players will return from international duty and, if fit, should be back in contention for the mouth-watering semi-final against their English counterparts.

Head coach Lyn Jones is looking forward to tackling Saracens in what will be the first of a double header of fixtures against the Watford-based side, with a Heineken Cup quarter-final to follow just two weeks later. But Jones says that the Ospreys will be focusing very much on one game at a time.

“The EDF Energy Cup is a very important tournament for us and we are keen to go that one step further this year after losing to Leicester Tigers in last year’s final in what proved to be a very close match. It was a memorable day out nevertheless - for coaches, players, management and fans alike - and it will be nice if we can secure a return trip to HQ.

“The squad is another year older and another year more experienced now -they’ll be looking to set the record straight. Any thoughts of a second trip to Twickenham or of bringing silverware back to the Liberty Stadium will have to wait, though, as we have a difficult semi-final at the Millennium Stadium to get through first.

“Saracens will present us with a stern challenge and we have to be focused on that match, taking absolutely nothing for granted. They are doing well in the Guinness Premiership and like us have progressed to the knockout stages in the Heineken Cup so they will be confident of coming to Wales and getting a result.

“As the only Welsh side still in the tournament, we’ll certainly be flying the flag for the country and I think the fact that the semi-finals are being played at the Millennium Stadium will help to make sure there’s a good crowd and a good atmosphere on the day.”

Ospreys’ recent good form continued with a convincing 37-7 win over Connacht in the Magners Celtic League on Saturday, with scrum-half Mike Phillips released for the match by the Wales management and scoring one of his side’s four tries. Head coach Jones hopes that form continues.

“We have a very good record in this competition and against Guinness Premiership opposition in general over the last two seasons, having won 10 of our last 12 matches against English sides. That’s a record that we’ll be looking to extend against Saracens at the Millennium Stadium.”

The other semi-final sees EDF Energy Cup holders Leicester Tigers take on Heineken Cup holders London Wasps.

Both sides are already out of this season’s Heineken Cup and, with Wasps seventh in the Guinness Premiership, the EDF Energy Cup could be their best chance of silverware this season.

But Tigers will be determined to retain the trophy they won after beating Ospreys 41-35 in a thrilling final at Twickenham last season to try to keep their dream of a league and cup double, for a second year running, on track.