Ospreys plan to present a pack of problems for powerhouse prop Slimani
HE is the most fearsome scrummager in France and memories are still fresh of how he helped bulldoze Wales to a Six Nations defeat that is still being probed by tournament organisers.
The mind’s eye can still see Rabah Slimani sprinting onto the field to replace Uini Atonio, the man had earlier replaced him, as the recent championship encounter in Paris came to its chaotic and protracted finale.
Six Nations chiefs continue to investigate how Atonio came to require a head injury assessment which forced him out of the game, just seconds after apparently telling referee Wayne Barnes he had a sore back, but was OK.
Whatever, Slimani took the field and caused a Welsh scrum that contained Nicky Smith big problems in those final seconds which ultimately led to a decisive converted try.
Now it is the Ospreys’ turn to take the Slimani challenge, with the 27-year-old expected to be named in Stade Francais’s side for the European Challenge Cup quarter-final at the Principality Stadium on Sunday evening.
Up against him this weekend is again likely to be Smith. So what’s the plan? “They are very different situations – this weekend and the cauldron of a Test match and the time it was in that game,” said Ospreys forwards coach Chris Gibbes. “But it’s a good challenge. “Nicky is a keen young man and he’s keen to get out there and have a crack.
“He’s going to have his hands full, but as long as the system, our pack and our processes work we’ll be able to put his strengths across.”
Smith faced only two scrums against Slimani at Stade de France, but Wales were under immense pressure at the time with a pack that had Taulupe Faletau operating behind the Osprey in the second row.
Slimani had earlier posed huge challenges for Rob Evans as well.
But the Ospreys feel a collective effort this time can help counter a player who has a reputation as one of the best scrummagers in the world.
“We have to be on the money as a pack in general,” said Gibbes.
“If one of us isn’t, there’s the potential there (for problems), isn’t there?
“We just have to make sure we cover off our detail. We can’t go individual against these guys.
“As a pack, we have to make sure we don’t come off second-best.”
The Ospreys have two international loose-heads on their books in Smith and the vastly-experienced Paul James, so it isn’t as if they are short on quality or experience.
But they will be without the injured Alun Wyn Jones this weekend, while Bradley Davies is a long-term casualty and so is Adam Beard.
How those absences affect the region’s scrummaging performance remains to be seen.
“It’s pretty easy – we have to replace Alun Wyn,” said Gibbes.
“We have exposed boys all the way through the season and the off season, this year and last, and the guys who have to fill that gap have to step up.
“All those around them have to play their parts, too. “That’s how it goes. “It’s hard to replace a guy like Al. “But we have to do it.” Steve Tandy’s team also need to bounce back mentally from the crushing disappointment of losing to Treviso.
“What we learned from that game is that you can train the house down during the week, but if you don’t turn up mentally to play you get exposed,” said Gibbes.
“Treviso were the better team and deserved their win and we were on the back end of it.
“It’s an understatement to say it was disappointing. It wasreally gutting.
“There have been some hard discussions and reviews.
“The boys have taken criticism on the chin and we move forward.”