The Ospreys are the sole Welsh representative in the European knockout stages this season.
Following wins over Benetton and Perpignan, Toby Booth’s side sealed qualification with a comeback win out in Johannesburg against the Emirates Lions in January.
In the URC, the Ospreys sit seventh following a bonus point win over the Lions in Swansea last weekend. Attention will now turn to the Challenge Cup as they welcome Sale Sharks in the last 16 at the Dunraven Brewery Field.
Sale are in eighth place in the Gallagher Premiership after 14 rounds but are only five points adrift of Harlequins who are in the final playoff spot following a convincing 41-5 win over Exeter Chiefs last Sunday.
Alex Sanderson’s dropped down to the competition following defeats to Leinster, Stormers and defending champions La Rochelle in the Champions Cup.
So, can the Ospreys keep Welsh hopes alive for at least another week in Europe?
Team News
The Ospreys welcome back Wales international Nicky Smith back to the squad following a rib injury as he starts on the bench with Wales loosehead Gareth Thomas starting.
Following his 150th Ospreys appearance last Saturday, Sam Parry starts alongside Tom Botha in the front row.
James Ratti moves into the second row to partner Adam Beard as Rhys Davies has picked up an injury.
Whilst Harri Deaves joins captain Justin Tipuric and Morgan Morris in the back row, Keiran Williams starts at outside centre as South African centre Evardi Boshoff is cup-tied. Youngsters Morgan Morse and Dan Edwards feature on the bench.
Sale have made 11 changes from their win over Exeter last weekend and will head to Bridgend without English internationals George Ford and Manu Tuilagi.
Tongan International Telusa Veainu starts at fullback whilst former Osprey Tom O’Flaherty starts on the wing.
South African fly-half Rob Du Preez is at 10 for the rested Ford as brother Jean-Luc starts at number 8.
Ben Curry captains the side from blindside flanker, Argentine international Agustín Creevy starts up front with England U20s prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Ospreys kicking game
A part of the game which will be vital in deciding the outcome of the tie would be the kicking battle between the two sides.
The Ospreys kicking game has gone well in recent weeks, with scrum half Reuben Morgan-Williams box kicking seems to be causing trouble to opponents alongside a solid defensive chase.
Although when they enter a kicking exchange, teams tend to cover the corners to avoid a 50/22, leaving plenty of space in the traditional fullback position.
A couple of times this season where fly-half Owen Williams has spotted space in the middle of the back field and has kicked there, one example where it didn’t go to plan was against Munster, which saw a kick bounce over the dead ball line.
Yet against the Lions it seemed to work with Booth’s side pinning the South African side inside their own too and winning the territory battle as they only spent 10% of their possession inside their own 22.
Booth mentioned in this week press conference that Ford is one of the best game managing 10s and the introduction of Du Preez into Sale’s side will bring added physicality.
So, it’s vital that the Ospreys halfback pairing and fullback Walsh can kick accurately whenever in kicking exchanges.
A chance to end the European losing streak?
Despite qualifying for several knockout stages in both European competitions over the years, the Ospreys have never won a knockout match.
Their last European knockout defeat came against Saracens 12 months ago in which they led at halftime following tries from Michael Collins and Keiran Williams.
Whilst their last Challenge Cup defeat came against Newcastle Falcons in 2021 after racing into a 14-0 lead.
It will be a tough ask despite Sale making several changes.
Whilst internationals Ford and Tuilagi are missing, Sale bring several strong players with internationals such as Creevy and Veainu involved, there are still a number of battles set to play out at the Brewery Field.
The scrum-half battle between Morgan-Williams and Raffi Quirke will be interesting, with the inform Jack Walsh up against Veainu.
A test for the Ospreys second rows who will be up against Hyron Andrews who starts his first game for Sale since joining from the South African Sharks and the head-to-head between Morgan Morris and JL du Preez could be the one to watch.
It is set to be a physical encounter in Bridgend with both sides hoping to gain an advantage at set-piece, although, this season has showed that the Ospreys are a team that don’t give up easily, they will need to find a way on Saturday evening if they are to progress to the last eight.
I think this will be the year where Booth’s side do end their European knockout duck, but it will be very close between two evenly matched sides – Ospreys by 6.
Openside Blog 