RETURN OF BIG GUNS CAN’T SAVE OSPREYS
THE Ospreys went down to another defeat in South Africa despite the return of no fewer than eight Wales Six Nations stars. They had been boosted by Adam Beard, Alex Cuthbert, Owen Watkin, Gareth Anscombe, Tomas Francis, Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake and Jac Morgan coming on board for the Cape Town clash. But were outplayed by the Stormers who had the bonus point in the bag on 54 minutes.
Toby Booth’s team eventually claimed a touchdown of their own in the final play of the game through replacement back Max Nagy after the hosts had had two players yellow carded, but it was a mere consolation after a pretty one sided affair.
It’s a loss that comes on the back of last week’s 45-15 thumping at the hands of the Lions, as they now head home to focus on derbies against the three other Welsh regions.
They actually opened the scoring versus the Stormers through a penalty from fly-half Anscombe after just two minutes, but it wasn’t long before the true balance of power was established. The hosts responded with two quick tries, losing little time in demonstrating their threat with ball in hand.
First scrum-half Paul de Wet raced away to the line after a dancing break from No 10 Manie Libbok and then lock Adre Smith rounded off a fine team score that had featured some great inter-passing between forwards and backs. Anscombe did respond with a second penalty, making it 21 out of 21 in front of goal in the United Rugby Championship this season. But the Ospreys just couldn’t establish any kind of foothold in the game or build any kind of phase play.
Despite having Wales Six Nations props Francis and Thomas on board, they were under some pressure at the scrum and it was following the concession of a penalty there that they were breached again on 27 minutes.
Winger Leolin Zas was the try scorer as he bumped full-back Dan Evans out of the way on a powerful run to the line following another high-tempo attack.
Having slotted two conversions, fly-half Libbok landed a penalty just before the break to make it 22-6 at half-time.
The Stormers had the four-try bonus point in the bag before the hour mark with left wing Zas delivering a classy chip and chase finish for his second.
Hero Zas then took on the villain’s role when he was yellow carded and the hosts were reduced to 13 men when fly-half Libbok followed him to the sin bin nine minutes from time for a deliberate knock on..