Ospreys head coach Allen Clarke has revealed his team are fighting fit for their crunch Heineken Champions Cup play-off clash with the Scarlets. Clarke’s men will boast home advantage for the winner-takes-all Liberty Stadium clash on Saturday evening (kick-off 7.45pm). Whoever comes out on top will seal a place in the Champions Cup – European […]

Ospreys coach Allen Clarke praised his Heineken Champions Cup chasers as he claimed they deserved their play-off showdown with the Scarlets. The two regions – who were encouraged by the WRU to merge earlier this year – will instead go head-to-head at the Liberty Stadium on May 17 or 18  for the right to play in Europe’s top tier next season. The Ospreys earned their place by finishing fourth in Conference A of the Guinness Pro 14 after a 26-23 victory over the Cardiff Blues in their Judgement Day meeting at the Principality Stadium.

Rory Thornton is aiming for a double this weekend – as hometown coach and loan town lock. The loan part comes first when the second row lines up for the Cardiff Blues – where he is on a one-season lend – against his parent region, the Ospreys On Sunday, the Wales forward is back at the Principality Stadium as a coach with Bonymaen, as the Division 1 East side attempt to knock over Andy Powell’s Brecon in the final of the WRU National Plate.

George North believes the Ospreys’ resilience will be enough to see them overcome Cardiff Blues today and tip the Judgement Day verdict in their favour. The Wales wing will return from injury for his first match since breaking a bone in his hand on the day the Six Nations Grand Slam was secured against Ireland six weeks ago. North’s left hand is now fully recovered and operational – much like the region itself, believes the Lions star who considers the death-defying powers they have shown since the rejection of a merger with the Scarlets underlines why their mental strength will carry them through against the Blues.

John Mulvihill accepts that 80 minutes of rugby will deliver a rightful verdict on his Cardiff Blues side when they face the Ospreys on Judgement Day. The Blues head coach has overseen a strangely inconsistent campaign, during which the region have recovered from a poor start, hit some admirable heights in mid-season, and then faded away again in recent weeks with defeats to Munster and Connacht. All of which makes a shoot-out against the resurgent Ospreys – for a play-off stab at qualification for the Heineken Champions Cup – a suitable finale.

Judgement Day is less about a final verdict this season and more about opportunity. Either the Ospreys or the Cardiff Blues will take a European side-door pass, although the bouncers still have to be won over. For Robin Davey, the outcome depends on three initials – AWJ. It’s the end of season Judgement Day showdown on Saturday – but this one will be like no other. The Dragons aim to end their abysmal record against the Scarlets when east meets west at the Principality Stadium, followed by a likely rip-roaring clash between the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues.

James Hook insists the Ospreys are confident they can beat Cardiff Blues on Saturday – whether or wherever their rivals decide to play Gareth Anscombe. Hook will be one of those players affected by Ancombe’s move from the Arms Park to the Liberty Stadium next season. The 33-year-old has filled a utility role since rejoining the region at the start of last season, providing invaluable experience and cover at outside-half, full-back and centre.

Gareth Anscombe has been hailed as bringing the “X-factor” to the Ospreys as Sam Davies prepares to make room at the region by leaving for the Scarlets. Anscombe’s decision to leave the Cardiff Blues for their regional rivals – a prospect dismissed by Blues coach John Mulvihill just a week ago – will spark a re-shuffle among the No.10s in Wales. Davies has been offered a move to the Dragons and has also previously interested the Blues, but is instead likely to join the Scarlets.

Allen Clarke believes his resurgent Ospreys have rediscovered their swagger as they get ready for a European showdown against the Cardiff Blues. The Judgment Day clash at the Principality Stadium on April 27 is the Ospreys’ final game of the regular season. It will certainly have something riding on it – either a route into next season’s Heineken European Cup directly, or through a play-off, and possibly a Guinness Pro 14 knockout spot, depending on other results.

Forget Brexit, the real cliff-edge moment has arrived for the Welsh regions and their place in Europe. The next three rounds of Guinness PRO14 matches will determine whether or not the Scarlets fail to reach the Heineken Champions Cup for the first time in their history and if the four Welsh regions have any teams in Europe’s top tournament next season. There is so much to play for to ensure the domestic season doesn’t go out with a whimper after such a thrilling Six Nations campaign. Surely, one Welsh region – either the Cardiff Blues or the Scarlets (the Ospreys are a long shot) – is good enough to make the play-offs and play in the Europe’s top-tier in 2019/20.

It’s that annual Welsh rugby tradition – Armchair Weekend – when supporters of the four Welsh regions grab a beer, slump in front of the box, and watch the European knockout stages featuring teams from Ireland, Scotland, England and France. Robin Davey says the full house Celtic contingent this season makes the Welsh absence even more embarrassing. Wales may have won the Grand Slam and the nation is still recovering from the celebrations, but back down on earth professional rugby carries on without almost the entire Six Nations squad. It’s all about Europe – not the Brexit variety – but the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions and Challenge Cup competitions. And there is not a Welsh team in sight.

Allen Clarke has backed his Ospreys team to continue to recover from the death wish placed on them and suggested no-one outside the region will know the extent of their turmoil. Just two weeks after being crumpled like a piece of waste paper and hurled towards the bin, the Ospreys showed their resolve with a 29-20 bonus point victory over the Dragons. The win – underpinned by four tries from full-back Dan Evans – came in their first game since merger plans with the Scarlets, backed by the Welsh Rugby Union, were abandoned following the outrage that ensued.