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Tipuric relishing European showdown

Tipuric relishing European showdown

Wales flanker Justin Tipuric wants to make sure Ospreys continue their impressive European Challenge Cup form when they face Stade Francais on Sunday.

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The Paris based-side will travel to the Principality Stadium for the quarter-final clash

But Tipuric believes it’s important the Ospreys make use of home advantage, even though the game is not at their usual Liberty Stadium ground.

The all-action flanker said: “It will be a little bit different. It is a big pitch and we can play running rugby on it.

“This year when we have been at home we have done brilliantly, especially in this competition, so we have to take advantage of our home form, even though the game is at the Principality.

“It is a big stadium and the noise will make a massive difference.”

Stade will go into the game having toppled three-time Champions Cup victors Toulon 17-11 last Sunday.

And they welcome an array of internationals to their squad including Italy captain Sergio Parisse, Australian scrum-half Will Genia, and Morne Steyn of South Africa.

Tipuric – who won his 50th international cap at the home of Welsh rugby against Ireland three weeks ago – reckons his team need to be wary of the Parisian threat.

“It is a big game,” added the 27-year-old. “We are looking forward to playing Stade, but it will be a tough one.

“They had a good win at the weekend so they have confidence going into this game. They like to throw the ball about and they have some X Factor players in the backs who will want to come and turn us over.”

Tipuric is relishing the opportunity to pull on the black jersey for a big game and believes the Ospreys can push on in the competition.

He said: “You start to get a bit excited about how far you can go, we have a good chance to win and if results go our way we could have a home semi-final. It is in our hands to do that really.

“Playing in big games, in big stadiums is something I have always wanted to do with the Ospreys.”

Tickets to support the Ospreys – two weeks before all four regions return for Judgement Day V – are on sale priced at £10 for adults and £5 for U16s via ospreysrugby.com/buytickets and to personal callers at ticket office in the Liberty Stadium and WRU Shop between gates 3 and 4 of Principality Stadium.

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