European teams 'built to win away'

Thursday 14 January 2010
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Top 14 > Clermont

Ospreys flanker Jerry Collins reckons European rugby teams are engineered to win away from home these days - and he'll be hoping that holds true as his side heads to France this weekend.

The Welsh region will be going up against Clermont, with the home side having treated their stadium as something of a fortress of late.

And the key Heineken Cup encounter promises to be an intriguing one, with Collins suggesting that hosts are "no longer guaranteed" a victory in European competitions.

"Nowadays the mentality has shifted and teams are manufactured to win away," said the former All Black.

But he's expecting the crowd to play a major role, suggesting the reaction will be no different whether Clermont are ahead or behind.

"It's going to be loud, electric, even."

The Ospreys will be boosted by the return of Shane Williams, with the Welsh winger having been given the all-clear to return this weekend after overcoming the hamstring injury that has kept him out since the autumn internationals.