Gaffney plots Ospreys revenge

Alan Gaffney hopes his Saracens side can give the Ospreys food for thought in tomorrow’s Heineken Cup quarter-final showdown at Vicarage Road.

A fortnight after Saracens were smashed 30-3 by Shane Williams and company in the EDF Energy Cup, both sides’ European ambitions are now on the line.

Neither team has previously progressed beyond the Heineken Cup’s last eight, and despite having home advantage, Saracens will start as underdogs.

They have drifted away from the Guinness Premiership play-off pace during recent weeks, while their opponents this weekend are still chasing silverware on domestic and European fronts.

Gaffney said: “We didn’t do ourselves justice against the Ospreys two weeks ago and we want to put that right.

“There is no doubt we are the underdogs for the game, but the determination is to go out there and put on a performance.

“We have to give the Ospreys their due, because two weeks ago they took their chances well and were the better team.

“We were on the back foot from the opening minutes, and it stayed that way for the majority of the game.

“But we are going into the game confident we will play a lot better than two weeks ago – we have to.

“We also have to play a lot cuter. The Ospreys are a side who have grown together over a number of years and are very professional in how they play in all areas of the pitch.”

Gaffney has recalled international trio Andy Farrell, Cobus Visagie and Richard Hill, but the Ospreys have been dealt a second injury blow.

Scotland wing Nikki Walker is expected to be sidelined for a month after suffering a stress fracture of his right fibia.

He joins Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips, who is nursing a serious knee injury, in missing the Ospreys’ trip to Watford.

Phillips will not play again until next season, while Walker will also sit out the EDF final against Leicester at Twickenham next weekend.

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones said: “Sunday’s game is sure to be a cracker, with two good sides fully aware of what is at stake.

“It is always a strange situation when you face a side twice in such short succession, but it’s fair to say that we won’t be taking anything for granted, despite the manner of our victory at the Millennium Stadium two weeks ago.

“The message that we’ve been getting across to our players all week is that they must stay focused, keep their confidence in check to avoid any complacency and forget what has happened in the past.”

Cardiff Blues include former Toulouse back Gareth Thomas in midfield for their tough semi-final clash against the three-time European champions at Le Stadium tomorrow.

Thomas forms a centre partnership with Tom Shanklin, while Dai Flanagan has been handed the key fly-half role as the Blues target a surprise victory.

Toulouse have named France scrum-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde in the number 10 shirt – he will be partnered at half-back by Byron Kelleher – with veteran lock Fabien Pelous captaining the team.

In the European Challenge Cup tonight, Newcastle can book a semi-final trip to Worcester or Montpellier if they beat Kingston Park visitors Castres.

Falcons fly-half star Jonny Wilkinson said: “It is knockout rugby, and this is the last chance we’ve got to lift something this season, which is ultimately what you are judged by.

“To have a trophy to show for our efforts and to achieve Heineken Cup rugby for next season would be huge for us, and the focus this week has been excellent going into this one.”