Tipuric expects ‘full 80’ from Ospreys

Wales and British & Irish Lions flanker Justin Tipuric wants Ospreys to perform for the full match against Saracens this weekend.

Ospreys lost their opening game in the Champions Cup at home to Clermont last week and now go to the defending champions’ home off the back of their 57-13 demolition of Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens.

“Going on such a long losing streak like we have is something new to me, but I think there’s going to be one game where it’s all going to change,” Tipuric told wru.co.uk.

“It hasn’t been easy, there’s no point denying that. We are at our best when people write us off and say how rubbish we all are.

“I wish we knew the answer to put it right. We are only playing for about 65-70 minutes and that’s killing us – we have to switch on for the full 80.

“We gave away two soft tries in the opening 10 minutes against Clermont and that immediately put us under pressure.”

Saracens are unbeaten in their last 19 games in the Champions Cup and have won the title two seasons in a row. They have also won their last 13 games at home.

The Ospreys have not won in their last 20 away games in the Champions Cup. Their last away victory in the competition was in 2009.

“It certainly doesn’t get any easier for us having to play against the best team in Europe and some of the best players in the world,” added the 51-times capped Welsh international.

“Nobody will be expecting us to win, so there won’t be any pressure on us. The performances have been getting better, it’s just a little five or 10 minutes where we switch off and then find it hard to get back into the game.”