Treviso v Ospreys, Heineken Cup, November 19, 2011
Treviso a tricky tie for Ospreys
ESPNscrum Staff
November 18, 2011
Ospreys winger Tommy Bowe dives across the tryline, Ospreys v Biarritz, Liberty Stadium, Swansea, Wales, November 21, 2011
Tommy Bowe scored the Ospreys' only try in last weekend's win over Biarritz in Swansea © Getty Images
Enlarge
Related Links
Tournaments/Tours: Heineken Cup

The Ospreys will be looking to make it two wins from two in this season's Heineken Cup when they travel to northern Italy this weekend to take on Treviso.

The Welsh opened their campaign with a hard-fought 28-21 victory over Biarritz at the Liberty Stadium, a game in which the hosts were outscored by two tries to one but still managed to come out on top thanks to a flawless kicking display from Dan Biggar. Ospreys fans will be expecting their side to have an easier time of it this weekend but the players will not be underestimating the threat posed by Treviso.

Indeed, the Ospreys only barely scraped past the Italians when the two sides met at the Stadio Comunale di Monigo in the RaboDirect PRO12 earlier this season. Treviso were blown out of the water by Saracens last weekend but they have always proven extremely competitive on home soil and will be cautiously optimistic of recording a shock win.

Treviso - Player to Watch: Kris Burton will still be reeling from his World Cup omission and after being handed the fly-half reins, the Australian born half-back will be going all out to showcase his talents come Saturday.

Treviso - Team News: Treviso make three changes to the side which lost with Saracens. Kris Burton and Tobias Botes get the nod at half-back with Willem de Waal and Fabio Semenzato dropping to the replacements. Enrico Ceccato starts at hooker.

Ospreys - Player to Watch: Tommy Bowe has the potential to light up any rugby pitch and after scoring the match-winning try last week, he will aim to replicate his form come Saturday.

Ospreys - Team News: Richard Fussell starts at fullback while Tommy Bowe and Shane Williams start on the wings. Andrew Bishop and Ashley Beck start in the centres with Dan Biggar and Kahn Fotauli'i at scrum-half. Duncan Jones, Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones form the front-row with Ryan Jones and Ian Evans forming the second-row. The back-row is full of late fitness tests with George Stowers confirmed at blindside while either Chauncey O'Toole or Justin Tipuric will take the openside berth and Jonathan Thomas or Joe Bearman at No.8.

Key Battle: Ryan Jones is lining up in the second-row and will face Marco Bortolami in the Treviso side. With Jones taking on an unfamiliar position, expect Bortolami to capitalise if there are any slips in standard from the British & Irish Lion.

Trivia: The Ospreys have never been beaten on Italian soil in the Heineken Cup

Stats: Treviso have lost their last ten home games in the Heineken Cup

Quote Unquote:

"In the Heineken Cup every game is like a cup final for us, especially when we come up against teams that have vast experience and such big budgets."
- Treviso coach Franco Smith rallies his side ahead of the clash with the Ospreys

"If I am honest, I thought we were fortunate to win the last time we played Treviso away [in the RaboDirect PRO12]. It is going to be an extremely tough game, but hopefully we will get what we need."
- Ospreys coach Jon Humphreys anticipates a tough battle with Treviso

Prediction: Despite Treviso showing some good form in the RaboDirect PRO12, expect the Ospreys to come away from this match with the all important four points.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.