Returning Wales stars can’t save Booth’s men

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 they 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 Max Nagy after the hosts had two players yellow-carded, but it was a pretty one-sided affair.

It’s a loss that comes on the back of a 45-15 thumping at the hands of the Lions.

The visitors actually opened the scoring 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.

First scrum-half Paul de Wet raced to the line after a break from No. 10 Manie Libbok, then lock Adre Smith rounded off a fine team score that featured some great inter-passing between forwards and backs.

Anscombe responded with a second penalty. But the Ospreys 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 pressure at the scrum and it was following the concession of a penalty there that they were breached again on 27 minutes when wing Leolin Zas bumped full-back Dan Evans out of the way on a powerful run to the line.

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-andchase finish for his second.

Hero Zas then took on the villain’s role when he was yellowcarded and the hosts were reduced to 13 men when fly-half Libbok followed him to the sin bin nine minutes from time.

STORMERS – Tries: de Wet, Smith, Zas (2); Cons: Libbok (3); Pen: Libbok.

OSPREYS – Try: Nagy; Con: Anscombe; Pens: Anscombe (2).