WEBB MAGIC LIFTS GLOOM AT LIBERTY
TOBY Booth heaped praise on Rhys Webb after the scrum-half Wales discarded inspired his team to victory over Zebre. It was a fairly turgid affair at the Liberty Stadium – the only try of the contest didn’t arrive until the 74th minute – but Webb’s quality shone bright.
It was the No. 9 who crossed after a moment of individual brilliance as he gave Wayne Pivac another reminder of his ability with his second man-of-the-match performance in succession.
“The international group have gone so we are on the bare bones of what we have got, but it is a great opportunity for them to fill the gap,” said Ospreys head coach Booth.
“The age profile of our side was pretty young, especially with Stephen Myler missing and Rhys Webb really grew into that and embraced it.
“He led from the front and pleased for him.”
Skipper Webb struck late on to seal the win for the Ospreys in a dour encounter.
With his team down to 14 men and clinging on to a narrow lead, he struck. From a line-out maul out on
I am the left, he spotted a gap and burst down the touchline, breaking a tackle to cross and slide in.
Josh Thomas added the conversion to add to his earlier penalty, as the Ospreys gained revenge for November’s defeat to Zebre in Parma.
A win’s a win and they will pleased with the points.
But it’s safe to say it wasn’t a classic encounter.
The opening 40 minutes was a grim affair as rain swept across the Liberty.
Securing their own line-out ball was a real challenge for the hosts, with a series of throws being picked off.
They also had issues at scrum time, be conceding a couple of penalties there, so their efforts were undermined by set-piece problems.
Skipper Webb was doing everything he could to spark his side, sniping around the fringes, showing he hasn’t let his head drop following his continued omission from Wales’ Six Nations squad.
One dummying dart threatened a score, while a break down the narrow side of a scrum was followed by an intelligent chip over the top.
But such good positions would be lost as the line-out went wrong.
Opposing fly-halves Antonio Rizzi and Josh Thomas were both off target with penalty attempts, before Thomas finally opened the scoring with the final kick of the half.
Nigel Owens had given a couple of warnings to both captains about mounting penalties and 11 minutes from time he eventually lost patience.
Ospreys replacement hooker Ifan Phillips was the man to see yellow and headed to the sin bin for coming in at the side of a ruck and slowing the ball down.
But despite being reduced to 14 men, it was the hosts who secured the spoils with the only try of the game.