Tommy Bowe confident that Ospreys can beat Clermont

HEINEKEN CUP POOL THREE
Venue:Stade Marcel Michelin Date: Saturday, 16 January Kick-off: 1545 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio Wales MW & online plus score updates online

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Tommy Bowe scoring a try in the Ospreys win over Clermont in October

Tommy Bowe is confident the Ospreys have the quality to beat a world-class Clermont Auvergne side in their own backyard on Saturday.

Clermont showed their class by winning 40-30 at home to Leicester and then beating Toulouse with a weakened team.

But Lions star Bowe is upbeat about the Welsh region's Heineken Cup hopes.

"It's not going to be easy but I think the Ospreys have the players who can go to Clermont when we need a victory and I think that we can do it," said Bowe.

"We know the next two weeks won't be easy, but we know we have the team here to do the business when we want to and this could be the making of us as a side.

"We know we're probably in the leading position and we know our fate is probably in our own hands."

The Ospreys have a four-point advantage on top of Pool 3, with a home game against Leicester to follow their visit to France.

But both the French and English sides, who are level on 12 points, have the bonus of each playing a game against whipping boys Viadana.

France has not been a happy hunting ground for Welsh clubs and regions - only six visiting sides have won there in the past 15 years.

The Ospreys, who beat Clermont 25-24 at home earlier in this European campaign, are one of those six having beaten Bourgoin 28-21 two seasons ago.

But Irish wing Bowe added: "France is a very tough place to play. [Clermont] have strength all over the side.

"Like all these big French teams they have pretty much two world-class XVs. So it's a case of whichever group they pick.

"For me they have a world class backline, they have a couple of guys out wide now who are world class finishers and top players.

"We're definitely going to have to be top of our game this weekend."

Although Clermont can boast a star-studded squad of 23, the Ospreys are not too far behind in terms of international pedigree.

"I think if you look at any of the top teams these days then 23 internationals isn't really that rare," insisted Bowe.

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"If you look round at the quality internationals in this side then we know we should be one of the top teams. I think we are one of the top teams and that when we do click, all teams would be wary of us."

In preparation to face Clermont, the Ospreys have been utilising the knowledge of flanker Jerry Collins, who had a season in France with Toulon before moving to the Liberty Stadium.

"[Clermont and Toulouse] are the two toughest places to win away," said the former New Zealand star.

"But to go out to Clermont and beat them, not many teams have done it in the last couple of years.

"In that aspect it's daunting in itself, but you know what they say: 'when you're wrestling a gorilla you don't stop when you get tired, you stop when the gorilla gets tired'.

"We're going out there to find something, less than a win is not going to be good enough for us."