Johnson Looking To A Black Day

Scott Johnson is urging Ospreys supporters to put their best foot forward, cover themselves in black and try and emulate the passion they experienced in a sold out Thomond Park Stadium last Saturday.

Nor is the Ospreylian Director of Coaching too enamoured that his side is not getting the credit they deserve for their home Heineken Cup record.

“People talk about impressive European records, and places being a fortress,” he grumbles to Simon Thomas in today's Western Mail, ” but I don’t think we sometimes get the credit we deserve for our record here,” said Johnson.

“There’s been some bloody good teams have been here and not got the win. Leicester twice, Stade Francais twice, Perpignan, Sale, Gloucester, Clermont Auvergne, none of them are pushovers.”

Not indeed that Johnson was involved for most of those but Ospreys do boast a record that sees them having lost just one game at the Liberty in five seasons.

Another bloody good team arrives on Saturday and this morning they went through their paces in CIT with Donncha O'Callaghan, one of their many stars from last weekend's win, admitting afterwards that preparation for this one wouldn't change much from last week.

“It's really pretty much more of the same,” he said, ” in an analysis sense, you only have the one game to focus on this week while last week we had to look at a few of them. This time as well we have to look more at ourselves. How we played. Look at the areas we need to improve.”

“Last week the pressure was all on us but this time it switches because in a group like this you just have to win your home games. So that might leave us play a little bit more.”

Try scorer Johne Murphy, “really loves these type of games. They're brilliant, they really are. I love the build up, the atmosphere on the day. It's what makes this competition so great. Personally I love intimidating atmospheres and that's exactly how it's going to be on Saturday.”

Paul O'Connell took a full part in the morning session and tonight takes himself off to Dublin ahead of the ERC Disciplinary Committee meeting scheduled to begin at 9.30am.