Ospreys positive despite poor run
OSPREYS back row forward Olly Cracknell is confident his team can put their woeful domestic form behind them as they begin Champions Cup action.
Steve Tandy’s men have lost five of their first six PRO14 fixtures this term and face French heavyweights Clermont Auvergne at the Liberty Stadium this afternoon.
Despite being drawn with defending double European champions Saracens, last season’s runners-up Clermont and English outfit Northampton Saints, Cracknell is confident the Ospreys can give a good account of themselves on the big stage.
“It’s a very difficult start, but it’s a great challenge and an opportunity for us,” said 23-year-old Wales hopeful Cracknell.
“There aren’t many better sides to get our first result against than last year’s finalists. We’ve already been written off, especially considering the group we are in, but it’s a fresh competition and there is a fresh feel to things.
“The feeling in the camp isn’t all doom and gloom. Obviously we aren’t in great form, but we are working hard and, hopefully, the result will come this weekend.
“We’ve lost a few games in a row, but we are all pretty determined to turn it around.”
Ospreys are firm underdogs against Clermont, but head coach Tandy has been boosted by the availability of Wales and British & Irish Lions pairing of Rhys Webb and Justin Tipuric.
They have brushed off calf and back problems respectively, while AlunWyn Jones captains the side and Owen Watkin begins in the centre.
Clermont are led by French scrum-half Morgan Parra. Greig Laidlaw is on the bench, while full-back Nick Abendanon is out injured.
English-born Cracknell, who qualifies for Wales through his grandfather, was included in Rob Howley’s squad for last season’s Six Nations.
He is yet to win a cap, but hopes impressing against sides of the calibre of Clermont can help him catch the attention of Warren Gatland.
“Regardless of who is watching you want to play well against the big teams to give yourself the best chance of international selection,” Cracknell said.
“I want to be playing in these big games and it will give me a lot of confidence if I’m playing well against big teams like Clermont.
“As a pack we’ve been building things up and getting better, but it was scant consolation against the Scarlets because we lost the game.
“That was pretty disappointing for us as a pack of forwards. But I still think there’s a good atmosphere in the pack and we will be taking a lot of confidence into this game.”