Away tie for Ospreys after loss to Montpellier

European Challenge Cup

Ospreys (14) 26

Tries Walsh 3 and Moriarty Cons: Watkin, Lloyd 2,

Montpellier (21) 31

After falling short of the Challenge Cup knockout stages against Montpellier in Bridgend, the Ospreys will face an away tie in April’s Challenge Cup knockout stages.

Before Mark Jones’ men came storming back, the French side took a 21-7 lead with two tries scored by flanker Alex Masibaka and wing Jules Ducros.

As the hosts led, Lewis Lloyd scored a double, and Owen Watkin’s center and Ross Moriarty’s replacement, respectively, added tries.

The win for Montpellier was secured by a try from Wilfrid Hounkpatin, four conversions from Stuart Hogg, and a late penalty from Leo Coly.

Depending on the Italian side’s performance at Lyon on Sunday, the Welsh region will now face either Benetton or Ulster away in the last 16.

Making 13 personnel adjustments from the side that lost to Zebre, 23-19, was a gamble made by Ospreys head coach Jones.

Only lock James Fender and Jack Walsh, who switched from full-back to fly-half and anchored the side, managed to survive in the first team.

Dewi Lake, a captain for Wales, has a minor shoulder injury, so she couldn’t be accommodated.

Adam Beard, a lock for Wales who left for Montpellier last season, was sidelined with a shoulder injury, but Hogg, a full-back for Scotland and the British Irish Lions, made a fly-half substitution.

Hogg’s conversion of Masibaka’s opening try put this tradition on hold when he put it to rest after being booed every time he touched the ball.

Following a neat short pass from fellow center Phil Cokanasiga, Ospreys scored a well-worked try for Watkin.

Ducros crossed after taking advantage of a loose tap back from Ospreys wing Ryan Conbeer after Montpellier lost Australia number eight Langi Gleeson to a serious knee injury.

Walsh’s wild pass was intercepted by Masibaka for his second score, and Ospreys gave Montpellier another gift.

Marco de Wit, the debutant of South Africa, was replaced by Moriarty.

The Wales forward’s first action was to convert from Walsh’s level-setting conversion to help the Ospreys pack drive over Lloyd for his second score.

As Ospreys for the first time led, Moriarty’s influence lasted until he completed a flowing move for the bonus-point try.

Hogg restored the lead with his fourth conversion, but that advantage vanished when Hounkpatin’s replacement prop dived over.

Replacements: Hopkins, Moriarty, Morse, C Jones, Hire, L Jones, Moriarty, Morse, Hardy, and Daniel.

Montpellier: Taofifenua, Ducros, Darmon, Cadot, Rates, Hogg, Bernadet, Welsch, Uelese (capt), Tolofua, Tauleigne, Uhila, Becognee, Masibaka, Gleeson,

Replacements: Tangata, Coly, Hounkpatin, DuGuid, Shand, and Erdocio.

Federico Vedovelli (Ita) as the referee

Assistants: Luca Bisetto (Ita), and Franco Rosella (Ita).