Ospreys v Toulon: Teams
Ospreys director of coaching Scott Johnson has challenged his side to bounce back from their Heineken Cup exit by toppling Toulon.
Last Updated: 21/01/11 5:16pm
Ospreys director of coaching Scott Johnson has challenged his side to bounce back from their Heineken Cup exit by toppling pool winners Toulon.
The 24-12 defeat to London Irish ended the Ospreys' hopes of reaching the last eight - and things will not get any easier against the big-spending French side.
However, with the carrot of possible qualification to the Amlin Challenge Cup, Johnson insists his side will be going all out for the win.
Johnson, said: "It's been a difficult week, there's no getting away from it. There's been a lot of looking inward and identifying where things went wrong last Sunday, but it's a good thing that we can get straight back on the horse to play a damn good Toulon side who will want to finish in style.
"At this level the difference between success and failure comes down to the finest of margins. A dropped ball here, a missed overlap there, split second decisions can have such huge implications. We've got to get that right, we've got to be making the correct decisions if we want to win these important games.
"Toulon have shown over the course of this pool that they are quality team and it should be great game on Saturday on many different levels.
"We will be determined to begin the process of redeeming ourselves, to show the true Ospreys, and who knows, maybe bag an Amlin Cup place, while Toulon will want to try and secure a home quarter-final so there is plenty for both teams to play for."
Toulon scum-half Matt Henjak will captain a much-changed side at the Liberty Stadium.
Director of rugby Philippe Saint-André has made 14 changes following the win over Munster, with only fly-half Jonny Wilkinson retaining his place in the starting XV.
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Nikki Walker, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 James Hook, 11 Richard Fussell, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 1 Duncan Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 3 Craig Mitchell, 4 Ian Gough, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 6 Ryan Jones, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Jonathan Thomas
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Jerry Collins, 20 Marty Holah, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Ashley Beck, 23 Shane Williams
Toulon: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Benjamin Lapeyre, 13 Geoffroy Messina, 12 Mafi Kefu, 11 Thierry Brana, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Matt Henjak (c), 8 Fotu Auelua, 7 Thomas Sourice, 6 Olivier Missoup, 5 Dewald Senekal, 4 Jocelino Suta, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Jean-Philippe Genevois, 1 Saimone Taumoepeau.
Replacements: 16 Mickael Ivaldi, 17 Benjamin Basteres, 18 Mehdi Merabet, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Joe El Abd, 21 Tom May, 22 Laurent Magnaval, 23 Kris Chesney.