News

Ospreys backed for European glory

Tuesday 07th October 2008

Praise indeed: Young tips Ospreys for HEC

Cardiff Blues coach Dai Young has tipped fellow Welsh region the Ospreys to lift the Heineken Cup this season.

The Blues begin their own charge away to Calvisano this weekend while Sean Holley's side take on the might of Leicester at Welford Road on Sunday.

However, despite the Welsh glamour club's testing group draw with Dan Carter's Perpignan the other big name in contention, Young has backed the Ospreys' chances of eventual glory.

"The Ospreys are probably in a position now with the squad that they've got to push on," Young said, speaking to BBC Sport Wales.

"Both us and the Scarlets feel we could be dark horses, but from our point of view we just want to get to that quarter-final first.

"But it would be a brave man to bet against the Ospreys going all the way."

Following their trip Italy, the Blues meet Gloucester at Kingsholm before a double against French side Biarritz before Young can even begin to think about the knock-out stages.

"People underestimate how difficult it is to get out of the pool stages," he added.

"The teams that go on to win it are the teams that get quite used to getting out of the pool stages and playing one-off (knock-out stage) games.

"In one-off games, if we've got all our best players on the field, there's no reason why we couldn't push all the way as well."