By Tournament / EDF Energy Cup

THE Ospreys will launch their defence of the EDF Energy Cup against Harlequins at the Liberty Stadium in October.

Their 23-6 victory over Leicester Tigers in April saw them become the first Welsh side to lift the Anglo-Welsh trophy.

The EDF Energy Cup, in its fourth year, will again be contested by the 12 Guinness Premiership clubs and the four Welsh Magners League regions.

Three rounds of matches will be played in the four-team group stages at club grounds before the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals and final which will be held on the weekends of March 28 and April 18 respectively - shown live on BBC television.

The BBC will start their coverage with the visit of Guinness Premiership champions London Wasps to Gloucester Rugby in Pool A on Saturday October 4, which also sees Leicester Tigers travelling to Bath Rugby in Pool D. Northampton Saints, back in the Premiership, kick off Pool D by entertaining Bristol Rugby.

Pool A
Newport-Gwent Dragons
London Wasps
Gloucester Rugby
Newcastle Falcons

Pool B
Cardiff Blues
Bath Rugby
Sale Sharks
Leicester Tigers

Pool C
Ospreys
Harlequins
Worcester Warriors
London Irish

Pool D
Llanelli Scarlets
Northampton Saints
Saracens
Bristol Rugby

Round 1: Weekend of October 4

Pool A Gloucester Rugby v London Wasps (October 4, 2.30pm, live on BBC Network)
Pool A Dragons v Newcastle Falcons
Pool B Bath Rugby v Leicester Tigers
Pool B Sale Sharks v Blues
Pool C Ospreys v Harlequins
Pool C Worcester Warriors v London Irish
Pool D Northampton Saints v Bristol Rugby
Pool D Saracens v Scarlets

Round 2: Weekend of October 25

Pool A Newcastle Falcons v London Wasps
Pool A Gloucester Rugby v Dragons
Pool B Blues v Leicester Tigers
Pool B Sale Sharks v v Bath Rugby
Pool C Harlequins v London Irish
Pool C Ospreys v Worcester Warriors
Pool D Saracens v Northampton Saints
Pool D Scarlets v Bristol Rugby

Round 3 Weekend of November 1

Pool A Newcastle Falcons v Gloucester Rugby
Pool A London Wasps v Dragons
Pool B Blues v Bath Rugby
Pool B Leicester Tigers v Sale Sharks
Pool C London Irish v Ospreys
Pool C Worcester Warriors v Harlequins
Pool D Northampton Saints v Scarlets
Pool D Bristol Rugby v Saracens

Leicester Pens: A Goode (2)
Ospreys Tries: A Bishop AW Jones Cons: J Hook (2) Pens: J Hook (3)

Wales will be adopting Twickenham after homing in for their second triumph in barely over as many months following the Ospreys domineering display against a toothless Tigers.

The day couldn’t have started worse for the Tigers, arriving 20 minutes late, and considering they were only based in Chiswick, which is only a 6 mile journey at best, let’s hope the pizza’s were worth it.

Just like the last Welsh team to visit Twickenham, the Ospreys scrapped, bullied, pinched and begged for every last inch.

Uncharacteristically generous around the fringes, the Tigers were charitable missing tackles, spilling ball and more clinically not clearing their lines.

Harry Ellis and Johne Murphy apart, the Tigers put in another of those final-day shockers – First, it was Sale, then Wasps, before adding the Ospreys to a worryingly growing list.

Once upon a time, there was such a thing as Tigerphobia. From 1-15, each player carried an aura that reeked of Greek heroism but without disrespecting useful squad players such as Ben Herring, Christophe Laussucq and Boris Stankovich, Jacqui Stallone’s face turns more heads.

Inspirational captain Ryan Jones charged his battery from the front alongside the irrepressible man-of-the-match Marty Holah and rampaging kiwi Filo Tiatia, they energised all of those fond recent memories to power the Ospreys to victory.

Both coaches displayed differing facial expressions at the post-match press conference. Lyn Jones, jubilant albeit frustrated by the politics surrounding his position and the east meets west Welsh divide.

It’s handy Marcelo Loffreda still hasn’t grasped the full English vocabulary for he would’ve been given a grilling about handling expectation – Leicester Tigers are not Argentina and second best just isn’t acceptable.

If Lee Byrne adores Twickenham, Andy Goode loathes Rugby HQ. The full-back’s sweeping counter started the move for Alun Wyn Jones’ try while Goode’s form was much like the West London weather – variable and off-colour.

Andrew Bishop stepped in for Gavin Henson and it was the centre’s fleet of foot combined with some flimsy tackling from Messrs Chuter and Goode that opened the floodgates for the first of two scores.

Richmond hosted even more Welsh celebrations while you only had to look at the two disgusted Leicester Tom’s, Croft and Varndell, to realise that the dressing room’s about as happy as Northern Rock’s shareholders.

The Godfather, Lord of the Rings, Terminator, Star Wars... all epic battles with just as good, if not better sequels. If Leicester Tigers v Ospreys part deux lives up to the first they we can only hope there's a trilogy in the pipeline.

The Ospreys will be out for revenge after last year's sensational 41-35 defeat but it will be fascinating to see if they can recover from the Saracens Heineken Cup shocker. It wasn't just a minor accident, it was a 20-car collision on the M1, especially as the virtually the same XV  destroyed the 'Fez-heads' only 15 days beforehand.

The latest setback has fuelled speculation surrounding Lyn Jones' future in charge. They've spent a shed load of cash and with Shaun Edwards and Warren Gatland proving that 14 of those men are capable of being Grand Slam wining side, it looks like a last chance saloon.

The pressure's also on Marcelo Loffreda to collect his first trophy. The Tigers are out of Europe and treading carefully in the Guinness Premiership, and with Bath on Tuesday, the players will have to keep fully focused on the final if they are to retain the trophy.

Personel wise, both sides have key men missing. Gavin Henson's absence is a huge loss, but honest centre Andrew Bishop will prove an able deputy, although handling the occasion will be his biggest test.

It's even tougher for the Tigers - losing Seru Rabeni, 30-odd games for Fiji, so they bring in Aaron Mauger with 30-odd caps for New Zealand. Life's a bitch!

13 Tigers survive from last year's spectacle but most notably Tom Varndell and Tom Croft, who shared three tries that day settle for spots on the bench.

Justin Marshall had arguably the worst day of his illustrious career at Twickenham last season and Harry Ellis will be keen to give him another working over and prove to Brian Ashton, or Martin Johnson, or whoever will take over that he's back to his best.

Leicester have had a week off, but approaching a crucial stage of their season, this is where the Tigers usually come to the party. The fixtures are coming thick and fast and to coin the chief cliche, 'they are all cup finals.'

The Ospreys, like Leicester's form is inconsistent but another Welsh win at Twickenham in 2008 would be unheard of.

Prediction: Leicester to win by four points

Leicester Tigers: 15 Johne Murphy, 14 Ollie Smith, 13 Dan Hipkiss, 12 Aaron Mauger, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Andy Goode, 9 Harry Ellis, 8 Jordan Crane, 7 Ben Herring, 6 Martin Corry (c), 5 Ben Kay, 4 Louis Deacon, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 2 George Chuter, 1 Boris Stankovich.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Julian White, 18 Richard Blaze, 19 Tom Croft, 20 Christophe Laussucq, 21 Sam Vesty, 22 Tom Varndell.

Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Johnny Vaughton, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Filo Tiatia, 7 Marty Holah, 6 Ryan Jones (c), 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Ian Gough, 19 Jonathan Thomas, 20 Gareth Owen, 21 Jonathan Spratt, 22 Aled Brew.

It's surely unthinkable for a Welsh side to beat the English at Rugby HQ for a second time in two months. The Ospreys head to Twickenham dead set on revenge against the Leicester Tigers after sensational wins at the Millennium Stadium but who stood out like Victoria Beckham in TK Max.


15: Brent Russell (Saracens): Not a day for the defenders but the nippy South African did his utmost to provide some spark in attack.
14: Paul Sackey (Wasps): Stood up well against a bigger Alex Tuilagi and finished like a lethal weapon.
13: Seru Rabeni (Leicester): Burrowed away like a prop, linked up play like a back-row and finished like a centre.
12: Dan Hipkiss (Leicester): Henson may have been man of the match but can he carry six men on his back... I think not.
11: Shane Williams (Ospreys): Can't put a foot wrong at the moment. Another match winning performance and the toast of Wales for another week.
10: Andy Goode (Leicester): Not as box office as Cipriani or Hook but well worth the entry fee. It's astounding why he can't do it in an England shirt.
9: Harry Ellis (Leicester): Three games under his belt and everyone is already licking their lips ahead of Ellis hooking up with Danny Cipriani.
8: Martin Corry (Leicester): Silenced Dallaglio, taking every opportunity to throw himself into waves of attack and lines of defence.
7: Marty Holah (Ospreys): Close call with fellow Kiwi Ben Herring but the Osprey stole more ball and suffocated all of Glen Jackson's space.
6: Tom Croft (Leicester): Effective in the loose but his line-out sniping prevented Wasps finding any rhythm.
5: Ben Kay (Leicester): Waited a while for a big game. Talismanic in the lineout and a flurry of powerful surges up field.
4: Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys): On current form, a certain starter for the Lions, showing plenty of aggression and athleticism.
3: Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester): Showed Phil Vickery that being a prop isn't all about scrummaging although he's better at that too.
2: George Chuter (Leicester): On a day when Leicester's forwards were immense, Chuter laid the foundations with his accurate throwing.
1: Paul James (Ospreys): Put in several big hits and more than capable in the scrum. Took his chance well.