Tonight’s Heineken Cup action

OSPREYS boss Lyn Jones has predicted “an encounter to remember” when his star-studded Welsh challengers tackle English champions Sale Sharks in a mouth-watering Heineken Cup clash this evening.

Sale, unbeaten since an opening weekend league defeat against Leicester, will parade a line-up containing 14 internationals. But the Ospreys can virtually match them man for man, including two intriguing all-Lions battles — Gavin Henson versus Charlie Hodgson and Shane Williams against Mark Cueto.

Jones claimed: “This is without doubt the toughest group in this season’s Heineken Cup. It contains three of the biggest packs in European rugby, and it will take a super-human effort from us if we are to progress. I watched Sale demolish London Irish last weekend, and I was really impressed with the way they are playing. They didn’t just beat the Irish, they manhandled them into submission.”