By Etienne Turpin
After a scoreless opening 30 minutes, the Ospreys came away with a dominant 25-3 victory over Perpignan in the Challenge Cup on Friday night. Two tries from Iestyn Hopkins and one from Keelan Giles helped the Welsh side to qualify for the round of 16 with a game in hand. Perpignan were ill disciplined early in the second half as they failed to recover mentally from the late try conceded in the first half.
The Ospreys were forced into a change just before kick-off as George North was ruled out meaning Kieran Williams came in at 13 and Luke Scully came onto the bench.
An early penalty to Perpignan resulted in a 5m lineout but the ball was overthrown, and the Ospreys could clear their lines. The ospreys moved up the field and a half break from Owen Watkins saw them enter Perpignan’s 22m and were awarded a penalty and just like Perpignan did earlier on, they kicked to the corner for a 5m lineout. Dewi Lake’s first start at 7 was short lived however as he was forced off and replaced by the returning Will Hickley.
With another penalty given away by Perpignan, the hosts once again kicked to the corner and despite a strong initial drive, they were bundled into touch by a determined Perpignan defence.
There was a sudden momentum shift after USAP won a scrum penalty. Their ruck speed was great and a lovely, floated pass from Jake McIntyre saw them break into the Ospreys 22m a couple of phases later, the away side thought they had scored the first try of the match but a TMO referral showed no sign of a grounding and returned to a penalty advantage. Joaquín Oviedo came on for the French side as So’otala Fa’aso’o was forced off for a HIA and would no longer return.
The Ospreys showed their strength in defence as they held off the Perpignan attack and eventually forced a knock on from Boris Goutard who couldn’t collect Louis Dupichot’s offload. Despite a scoreless opening 20, the game was full of action with plenty of big hits.
Lucas Dubois suddenly scored a wonderful solo try as he broke away from a couple of Ospreys’ tackles before chipping and chasing for himself only to drop the ball metres out from the try line. Dubois with just the 1 try this season will regret not taking this opportunity as the Ospreys won a penalty from the resulting scrum.
Dan Edwards attempted a drop goal from 30 metres out but his strike drifted wide of the post but the Ospreys then came close to scoring as an awkward bounce favoured the home side, but Mat Protheroe was unable to regather.
With half time approaching and the scores still scoreless, the Ospreys were awarded a penalty and from in front of the posts, the home side decided to take the shot at goal. From 20m out, Dan Edwards finally opened the scoring to give the home side a 3-0 lead. The game was suddenly very open and both teams made a couple of errors. Leo Dubois created havoc again with another kick and chase, but they were unable to capitalise from their attack.
Perpignan were looking dangerous on the left wing and a Jake McIntyre break almost resulted in a try. The flyhalf kicked ahead but they were unable to gather the ball and the Ospreys cleared. Perpignan continued to attack but a sloppy pass fell into the hands of fullback Iestyn Hopkins who raced away to score from 80 metres out on the stroke of half time. Dan Edwards’ conversion unfortunately hit the post, but the Ospreys went into half time with an 8 point lead.
Early in the second half, Perpignan were sent down to 14 as Nemo Roelofse gave away a silly penalty and was sent to the sin bin. This gave the Ospreys great attacking territory before winning another penalty inside the Perpignan 22. Dan Edwards opted for the shot at goal and extended the Ospreys lead to 11 points. However, Perpignan were gifted a chance to instantly cancel out Edward’s penalty as the Ospreys failed to clear. From 25 metres, Australian Jake McIntyre gave Perpignan their first points of the game.
Minutes later, Perpignan were reduced to 13 for a similar offence which saw scrum half Sadek Deghmache sent to the sin bin. And with a 2-man advantage, the Ospreys eventually got their second try, a double for fullback Hopkins who had not scored a try yet this season. This time, Edwards nailed the conversion and the Ospreys now led 18-3. Dan Edwards then found a brilliant 50-22 as Perpignan made another handling error, this time from the captain Galletier as the home side began to take full control of the game.
James Fender was then forced off with what looked like a serious arm injury. Another key player for the Ospreys facing time out with injury. Minutes later, Morgan Morse was penalised for a clear out and Perpignan decided to go for goal to reduce the gap. However, McIntyre was unable to add to Perpignan’s 3 points leaving the French side still 15 points behind.
Then came the try of the match as Keelan Giles burst down his wing before beating McIntyre and racing away to score the third try of the game. Giles with 3 tries in his last 2 games for the Ospreys following his brace against Cardiff. The Ospreys came close to getting their 4th try but in similar fashion to the first half, Perpignan’s maul defence was solid, and they forced the Ospreys into touch.
With less than a minute to play, the home side were given one more chance to get a bonus point try as they had a scrum 35 metres out. However, due to injuries in the front row, the scrum became an uncontested scrum and Morgan Morse had to go off for the remainder of the game. Iestyn Hopkins who was award player of the match made a great break into the Perpignan 22 but a poor pass from Jack Walsh went straight into touch, ending the game at 25-3.
Ospreys: 25
TRIES: 3 (Hopkins 40’, 51’, Giles 62’)
CONVERSIONS: 1 (Edwards 52’, 64’)
PENALTIES: 1 (Edwards 34’, 44’)
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 0
RED CARDS: 0
15. Iestyn Hopkins, 14. Mat Protheroe, 13. Kieran Williams, 12. Owen Watkin, 11. Keelan Giles, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Luke Davies, 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Sam Parry, 3. Tom Botha, 4. James Fender, 5. Adam Beard, 6. James Ratti, 7. Dewi Lake, 8. Morgan Morse
16. Ethan Lewis, 17. Garyn Phillips, 18. Ben Warren, 19. Lewis Jones, 20. Will Hickley, 21. Cameron Jones, 22. Jack Walsh, 23. Luke Scully.
Perpignan: 3
TRIES: 0
CONVERSIONS: 0
PENALTIES: 1 (McIntyre 46’)
DROP GOALS: 0
YELLOW CARDS: 1 (Roelofse 43’, Deghmache 49’)
RED CARDS: 0
15. Louis Dupichot, 14. Boris Goutard, 13. Eddie Sawailau, 12. Apisai Naqalevu, 11. Lucas Dubois, 10. Jake McIntyre, 9. Sadek Deghmache, 1. Akato Fakatika, 2. Ignacio Ruiz, 3. Nemo Roelofse, 4. Tristan Labouteley, 5. Shahn Eru, 6. Lucas Bachelier, 7. Kélian Galletier, 8. So’otala Fa’aso’o
16. Victor Montgaillard, 17. Sacha Lotrian, 18. Arthur Joly, 19. Bastien Chinarro, 20. Alan Brazo, 21. Joaquín Oviedo, 22. Mattéo Rodor, 23. Jean-Pascal Barraque
Five Talking Points – Ospreys v USAP
- Keelan Giles on fire!
The young Welsh winner was in fine form again as he crossed the tryline once again after getting a double against Cardiff on New Year’s Day. The fast feet of the winger proved too much for the French side.
- Leo Dubois’ brilliant, not so brilliant first half.
The French winger was threatening throughout the first half, breaking tackles on multiple occasions but twice failed to regather the ball metres away from the tryline.
- Ospreys’ youth stepping up when it matters.
With numerous injuries for the Ospreys, the youngsters have proven to be key for their recent success in both the URC and the Challenge Cup. Iestyn Hopkins grabbed a double after being shifted to fullback and Dan Edwards had another fine performance at 10.
- Perpignan discipline proved costly.
Despite a strong first half, 2 silly penalties within 8 minutes of each other saw the French side get reduced to 13 men. The Ospreys punished them by extending the lead with a fine try from the fullback Hopkins.
- Ospreys end Perpignan’s 3 match winning run.
After 3 victories in the Top 14 (vs Bayonne, Castres, Oyonnax), the away side were on the receiving end of a heavy defeat. The Ospreys are now 3 games unbeaten as they seal their place in the next round of the Challenge Cup with a game in hand as they face the Lions next week.