Ryan ready for Ospreys clash

GLOUCESTER boss Dean Ryanbelieves today’s Heineken Cup showdown against a star-studded Ospreys side “falls right into the top bracket” of European club rugby.

The Guinness Premiership leaders head to Swansea chasing a victory which would secure their quarter-final place with a game remaining.

Even if Gloucester lose, a bonus-point home win against struggling Ulster on Sunday week would still guarantee top spot in Pool Two.

Ryan though, is looking no further than today’s mouth-watering encounter between two of the pre-tournament favourites. He said: “This game represents what the Heineken Cup means across Europe. There are some huge contests, and ours falls right into the top bracket.

“These are the sort of games you want to be involved in.”

Ryan welcomes five internationals back to the side — full-back Iain Balshaw, wing James Simpson-Daniel, scrum-half Gareth Cooper, hooker Andy Titterrell and number eight Gareth Delve — but new England squad member Lesley Vainikolo was not considered following the death of his father in New Zealand.

Gavin Henson is back for the Ospreys six weeks after breaking a bone in his left hand during the EDF Energy Cup victory over Harlequins.

Henson features just two days before Wales coach Warren Gatland announces the squad for this season’s RBS 6 Nations Championship. Gatland will unveil the squad on Monday, the same day as Henson is due before Cardiff magistrates to answer a charge of disorderly conduct. The charge arises from alleged incidents on a London to Cardiff train following Ospreys’ win against Quins six weeks ago.

Henson partners Sonny Parker in midfield, with Wales back-row forward Ryan Jones captaining an Ospreys team that also includes Shane Williams.

Leicester’s Heineken Cup hopes could be extinguished this weekend.

The Tigers, champions in 2001 and 2002, must beat Edinburgh at Murrayfield today to keep alive an outside chance of progressing from Pool Six.

But if Leicester lose and group leaders Toulouse defeat Leinster in Dublin, they will probably be eliminated by tonight.

Tigers call up prop Julian White and flanker Brett Deacon replaces injured England forward Lewis Moody.

Saracens, chasing a first Heineken Cup quarter-final appearance, will edge closer to that goal if they beat 2006 runners-up Biarritz at Vicarage Road today. Biarritz know victory is paramount or a rare pool stage exit beckons.

Glasgow, firmly in the Pool Four qualifying picture ahead of hosting Saracens next Friday night, visit Italian strugglers Viadana today, but the Guinness Premiership club are currently two points clear.

Saracens rugby director Alan Gaffney said: “If we win, we have a great chance of making the quarter-finals, while Biarritz know they have to win or face being knocked out of the tournament.”

London Irish’s quest to win Pool One should continue at the expense of understrength Dragons at Madejski Stadium today. Exiles rugby director Brian Smith makes two changes from the side that ended Sale Sharks’ three-month unbeaten Premiership run last weekend, calling up full-back Peter Hewat and scrum-half Peter Richards. Smith said: “It will be a test of our mental toughness to see if we can front-up for the second week in succession.”