HEINEKEN CUP POOL 3: TOULON v OSPREYS
Venue: Stade Felix-Mayol, Toulon Date: Saturday, 9 October Kick-off: 1330 BST Coverage:Full commentary on BBC Radio Wales
 Dan Biggar hopes to enhance his reputation against Wilkinson |
Dan Biggar says he will fulfil a childhood dream if he comes up against Jonny Wilkinson in the Ospreys' Heineken Cup opener in Toulon. The 21-year-old, who believes it is time the Ospreys improve their record in Europe, is set to line-up opposite the England star on Saturday. "It will be a dream come true to play against Jonny," said fly-half Biggar. "Just for me it will be a privilege to step on the same field as him and hopefully give him as good as he gets." But he added: "Ideally it would be good if he wasn't playing for a team [perspective]. He doesn't need me to tell him how good he has been over the past 10 years in international rugby." The clash against a star-studded Toulon at Stade Felix-Mayol marks a mouth-watering start to the Welsh region's Heineken campaign. And after Toulon it does not get much easier with London Irish and twice champions Munster. But despite being handed a tough group, Biggar insists it is time the Ospreys deliver in Europe after failing to get past the quarter-finals over the last three seasons.  | 606: DEBATE |
"We have had a few disappointments over the last couple of years, albeit we have had a couple of tough pools. Last year [we came up against] Clermont and Leicester, and this year we have got London Irish, Munster and Toulon," said Biggar. "So it is a very tough route out and if we do it we are going to do it the hard way. It's something we are looking forward to. "It is important we start fulfilling our potential with the squad and the money which players are earning here. We need to get off to a good start and go from there. "We will be looking to push on from where we last year. We had a good campaign last year coming out of a very difficult pool. "But we have been drawn another hard pool again this year [and] who whoever comes out of that pool will have deserved their place in the last eight thoroughly." | WELSH HEINEKEN WINS IN FRANCE 2009/10:
Brive 17-20 Scarlets 2008/9:
Biarritz 6-10 Blues 2007/8:
Bourgoin 21-28 Ospreys 2006/7:
Toulouse 34-41 Scarlets 2006/7:
Bourgoin 5-13 Blues 2000/1:
Colomiers 6-19 Llanelli 1999/2000:
Bourgoin 30 Llanelli 36 |
The Ospreys have just one win to their name on French soil, a 28-21 victory in Bourgoin in the 2007/08 season, but Biggar says the players will relish the challenge. "It's nice to have the Heineken Cup back. The Magners League is great and has certainly gone up a level in standard over the last couple of years, but it is very special to have Europe back," said Biggar. "Trips to the south of France and playing in one of the best stadiums around is pretty special. "This one is all fired up for an absolute cracker. Hopefully the sun will be out on Saturday afternoon and it will be nice to kick off at 2.30, a good rugby kick-off time. "The players they have got [and] the players we've got we are going to go at it hammer and tong. I think it's going to be a exciting, really fast game, and we will be looking to put on a show." Ospreys targeting Wilkinson threat
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