Exiles clash the ultimate test for Ospreys, says Williams
And Wales’ record international try-scorer knows the Ospreys cannot afford another defeat after a late Paul Sackey score edged a tense 19-14 Pool Three verdict for Toulon last weekend.
With twice European champions Munster also in the Ospreys’ group, Williams and company must get it right when the Aviva Premiership leaders arrive at Liberty Stadium.
“It doesn’t get much bigger really, does it?” he said.
“We’ve got the in-form team in England at the Liberty Stadium in a must-win Heineken Cup game. That is the ultimate test.
“They will be full of confidence after a big win over Munster and they will want to cement their place at the top of the group, so we know that it is going to be a tough evening.
“We are starting from behind given that we only picked up a point in Toulon, but there is a long way to go in this group and a lot of rugby still to be played. We don’t lose many games at home, and we want to keep it that way.
“If we want to progress in the competition then we have to win on Friday night, it’s that simple.
“We need to hit our standard, play as a team and we should get our reward.”
The Ospreys show a solitary change from Toulon, but it is an intriguing one, with Wales captain and back-row forward Ryan Jones selected at lock alongside Alun-Wyn Jones.
Ospreys coaching director Scott Johnson said: “Jonathan Thomas has started the year at eight as Ryan was unavailable for a period of time. He was asked to fill the void because of Ryan’s injury, and in fairness to him he has done exceptionally well.
“Saying that, we have certainly missed Ryan’s contributions, so we wanted him in the team.
“We feel that balancing one change rather than the two it would be if they swapped positions is better for the team given the short turnaround and preparation time for the week.
“Ryan is a great team man, he has no issue at all with doing this for the team, which is exactly the kind of response we expected from him.”
Irish, fresh from beating Munster five days ago, are without full-back Delon Armitage, who is rested due to England elite player squad requirements, so Topsy Ojo wears the number 15 shirt and 19-year-old Jonathan Joseph starts on the wing.
There is also an opportunity for New Zealander Dan Bowden, who features in midfield alongside Seilala Mapusua, while Chris Hala’Ufia replaces Declan Danaher at openside flanker.
Cardiff Blues will be without 95 times-capped Wales flanker Martyn Williams for their testing Pool One appointment with Castres at Stade Pierre Antoine tomorrow night.
Williams is serving a two-week ban imposed following his citing for kneeing Chris Paterson in the face during last Saturday’s European clash against Edinburgh.
Sam Warburton takes over in the back-row, with other changes seeing fly-half Ceri Sweeney replacing Dan Parks and lock Deiniol Jones starting instead of Paul Tito.
“We didn’t play anywhere near where we would have liked to last weekend,” said Blues head coach David Young, reflecting on an 18-17 home win against Edinburgh.
“The performance against Edinburgh will not be good enough in Castres. It’s a step up, but we know we are capable of that.”
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