HOW tough would it be for the cast of Raiders of the Lost Ark to find themselves in an episode of Coronation Street six days later?
Last Saturday the Ospreys’ Wales internationals were involved in the tumultuous experience of winning a Grand Slam. Crash, bang, wallop — soaring highs, frayed nerves, a spot of sporting tightrope walking, a few gasps, the odd tear, all ending with smiles and silverware being safely secured.
This week comes a rapid descent back to reality.
From the Slam to the RaboDirect Pro12, champagne to bread and butter.
However you look at it, there is some adapting to do.
Most of the players were up at Llandarcy on Tuesday, being checked over in readiness for the away game against Leinster this evening.
That said, it is misleading to suggest there is anything humdrum about the clash at the RDS. The Ospreys cannot even begin to view it like that.
Leinster are league leaders, the Ospreys are third, and for the Welsh region, in particular, there is plenty on the game, just as there will be plenty on every match between now and the end of the season.
They are third in the table but far from certain of finishing in the top four and securing a place in the play-offs. There are not enough points in the bank for the former Celtic champions to be untroubled about dropping even one more game.
Two defeats in a row have left the Ospreys looking over the shoulders.
A third setback would probably leave them requiring a perfect finish to the campaign from their remaining games: four wins out of four.
No pressure, then.
There is also the unfortunate reality that Leinster are the form side in European rugby. They haven’t just beaten some good sides in Dublin this term; they have smashed them.
Bath in the Heineken Cup were destroyed 52-27.
The Blues in the league were taken apart 52-9.
Ulster were crushed 42-13 on Boxing Day.
At full strength the Dubliners have morphed into a formidable side, one who are feared throughout Europe.
That is the scale of the challenge facing Steve Tandy tonight.
Forget what has happened up until now — this is where it starts for Tandy, the region’s newly appointed head coach. He has his best players back and with that fillip comes the responsibility of coaxing performances out of them.
Until now it has been difficult for anyone to form worthwhile impressions of his regime. Will it bring about a change of style? Might there be a different emphasis in selection? How will Tandy attempt to put his stamp on proceedings? How will he galvanise his collection of Grand Slam winners? Can he oversee a strong performance during a difficult period of cutbacks?
Players are human and can’t be expected to produce Grand Slam level of performances every week. But they will know, too, how badly their region need them to turn up in Dublin.
The vibe this week has been encouraging, with flanker Justin Tipuric adamant the Ospreys would arrive at the RDS with their business heads on. “You don’t pick and choose when you want to be competitive,” said Tipuric.
“We have five matches left to secure a place in the semi-finals and that’s what’s driving everyone on.”
Tipuric is one of the Slam brigade answering the Ospreys’ call in Dublin, along with Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Paul James and Ashley Beck. All feature in the starting line-up, while Ian Evans, Adam Jones, Ryan Bevington, and Rhys Webb are on the bench.
Leinster are missing players, with Rob Kearney, Gordon D’Arcy, Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan, Cian Healy, Mike Ross, Sean O’Brien and Jamie Heaslip absent after their exertions in the Six Nations.
But the European champions underline their strength in depth by naming a side that includes the returning Brian O’Driscoll and Leo Cullen, plus the debut-making Brad Thorn. Isa Nacewa is at full-back, Luke Fitzgerald on the left wing and Richard Strauss at hooker. Just to add to the challenge facing the visitors, 17,300 tickets had been sold as of yesterday morning.
Tandy is under no illusions. “It’s a huge occasion for us,” he said. “Leinster are top of the table for a reason and they play some real good football. We’ll have to be at our best.
“But I don’t see it as daunting for our players. There will be a few young boys in our side but they will only be excited to be going up against world-class players.
“It’s been great to have the Grand Slam boys back. There were probably a few sore heads when they returned on Tuesday but they covered it up pretty well.
“The focus is on Leinster. Having 11 back from the Wales squad is a real positive. They have to push now for two important games, against Leinster this evening and then Treviso at home next week.
“After Treviso, the boys have seven or eight days off to see their families and get away from it all because we understand what an effect physically and mentally a Six Nations campaign can have.”
A key job for Tandy will be to knit the experience he has at forward with the youth at his disposal behind, with the Ospreys carrying four backs who are 22 or under this evening. Some might say the region have an unbalanced look, having parted company with so many quality backs.
But money is tight and players are going to have to take responsibility. “We need the Becks, the Bishops and the Biggars of this world to stand tall,” said chief operations officer Andrew Hore. “We need to go with these people.”
Leinster are looking to extend a 20-game unbeaten run, a sequence that stretches back to September 17 last year.
Rugby statisticians are still searching for evidence of a better chain of results by a top-flight side in the professional era.
But travelling to the Irish capital should not hold any fears for the Ospreys, given that they have won two of their last three visits there.
Even without key players, the Irish province will expect to account for Tandy’s team.
But the opportunity is there for the Ospreys to make a statement.
An against-the-odds success, powered by the ball-carrying of the likes of George Stowers and Richard Hibbard, would show that the league was not done and dusted — and remind Leinster that if the Ospreys have to return to Dublin for the grand final in May the result wouldn’t be a foregone conclusion.
Roksport Rugby 