Booth’s delight as Ospreys secure Champions berth
TOBY Booth wore a satisfied smile after the Ospreys clinched their place in next season’s Heineken Champions Cup in sensational fashion.
The Liberty Stadium looked down and out at the RDS as Leinster led 19-3 deep inside the final quarter.
But with replacement Andrew Smith sin-binned, Leinster lost their grip as the Ospreys ruthlessly reeled off converted scores from Olly Cracknell (68 minutes) and Owen Watkin (71) before Josh Thomas’ late charge-down try clinched an incredible 24-19 triumph.
It was a season-defining result for Booth’s men as it guarantees them a third-place finish in Conference A and a place at European rugby’s top table next term.
Booth said: “I’m delighted because of the hard-fought nature of it, to come to the home of the champions and the nature of how we’ve gone about it is joyful for the people watching at home and rewards all our hard work.
“I’m delighted for the youngsters who’ve thrown themselves into it week-in, week-out, represented our people and our region and it’s really great for us.
“From where we’ve come from, it’s a great stepping stone (to secure European top-tier qualification) but we’ve got plenty of work to do.”
The defeat will certainly sharpen Leinster’s minds ahead of next week’s PRO14 final against Munster. Tries from Harry Byrne and Jamie Osborne, on his second start, had them 12-3 ahead at half-time.
Fly-half Byrne claimed another try, but it went downhill for the defending champions during the final quarter.
Ospreys flanker Morgan Morris added: “You couldn’t really write it.
“We’re all on a high as you could hear from the noise from the bench, the loudest you’ve heard us all year and it’s amazing.
“It’s been a bit of a theme that we started well and dominated but we haven’t got the points on the board in the last few weeks.
“But we somehow pulled it out in the last 10 minutes.
“We stuck to the way we play and pulled out a big win.”