Shane Williams column: Ospreys must not waste that great result in Clermont

That wonderful fightback by the Ospreys in Clermont has given them the chance to make a real push for a quarter-final place in the Champions Cup. Four tries scored, and two points secured, at the home of one of Europe’s biggest clubs was a major coup, but needs to be put to good use over the next two rounds.
Having home advantage over Bordeaux-Begles this weekend gives them a crucial advantage because if they can win then I’d expect the French side to give up the ghost for the following week. Raphael Ibanez’ side were quite heavily beaten at Exeter in their first game and if you lose twice in this new-style tournament you are as good as eliminated.
So, if Steve Tandy’s men can match their magnificent effort at Stade Marcel-Michelin in round two they could find themselves in with a great shout going into the New Year. Wouldn’t it be great to see a Welsh region reach the last eight again. It was always one of those criticisms levelled at the Ospreys during my career that we never cracked it in Europe.
We reached the quarter-finals twice and lost at Saracens and Munster. It is even harder these days to qualify, so if Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar can inspire the current crop of Ospreys to break into the knock-out phase it would be a huge achievement.
That looks like being a tough ask for the Scarlets after their opening defeats against Racing 92 and Northampton Saints. But the good news for them is that they are flying high in the Guinness PRO12 with eight wins from nine starts and should be able to concentrate their efforts on that tournament.
They have back-to-back games with Glasgow Warriors over the next two weeks and they will test them to the full. What they need to do is carry their PRO12 momentum over into Europe and keep up that winning habit.
The Blues and Dragons are in the Challenge Cup and both have testing times ahead with back-to-back challenges against Top 14 opposition.
Montpellier will arrive at the BT Sport Arms Park with a massive pack full of South Africans, while Pau could bring New Zealand World Cup winner Conrad Smith to Rodney Parade with them. The Dragons have a chance, the Blues need another big win to convince their fans they have turned the corner.