GUNNERS TOLD TO GET OVER IT
RUGBY EDINBURGH v OSPREYS PRO14 BUILD-UP GAME OF THRONES
RICHARD COCKERILL is confident his suffering Gunners can shine in their new Pro14 campaign after enduring back-toback misery.
Edinburgh face Ospreys at Murrayf ield today determined to wipe away the memory of the defeats by Ulster and Bordeaux.
Coach Cockerill insists the minds of the players will be in the right place.
He said: “The attitude will be right and we know we are good enough to put these results behind us.
“We’ve had some harsh words and reviews around where we want to be.
“Though these losses were disappointing and frustrating, we have still been doing some really good things.
“We are a decent side who have played some great rugby and we’ve developed our style out of sight over the past 12 months.
“I haven’t really had to pick the players up. They have learned that tiny margins in games can make a huge difference.
“Having faced Glasgow twice and then Ulster and Bordeaux we’ve effectively had the toughest possible pre-season we could have
TODAY, 7.35pm MURRAYFIELD STADIUM
BY RODDY DUNCAN
had.” Gunners will be without flanker Jamie Ritchie, who is steering clear of Murrayfield as a Covid precaution.
Cockerill said: “He has been in the company of a family member who is self-isolating due to a potential contact. He has not tested positive, but we’re being extra careful and we are following a l l the Scott i sh Government protocols.”
Newly appointed Ospreys chief Toby Booth revealed he has massive admiration for opposite number Cockerill.
He said: “I know Richard very well from my time in the English Premiership.
“He’s a very, very good coach and produces very, very good teams.
“He’s had a massive impact at Edinburgh and they’ve become a very competitive force.
“That’s no surprise to me at all. Richard did well at Leicester and Toulon and now Edinburgh are reaping the benefits.”
SIMONA HALEP exacted brutal revenge on American teenager Amanda Anisimova to reach the fourth round of the French Open.
Anisimova dethroned champ Halep in the quarter-finals at Roland Garros last year but she managed just one game in a 6-0 6-1 hammering that lasted just 54 minutes.
Romanian top seed Halep said: “I took the game in my hands.
“When she has time and she has the ball in the right position, she is very, very dangerous and she plays great. Today I think I did a great job changing a little bit the tactic. I am much better in many ways since last year.”
Anisimova admitted: “It’s been one of the worst matches I have played in a while. I was just making mistakes all over the place. I’ll definitely learn from it.”
Ukrainian third seed Elina Svitolina reached the last 16 with a 6-4 7-5 victory over Russia’s Ekaterina Alexandrova.