Dragons miss late chance at rare win against Ospreys

Rugby World Cup

Dragons (7) 19

Cons: De Beer 2; Williams, Coughlan, Burrows;

Ospreys (12) 19

Due to the Ospreys’ holding of the Dragons, they were held by them for the first time in 22 games.

However, De Beer pushed a 79th minute penalty wide at the conclusion of a pulsating derby, which was heightened by the political unrest in Welsh rugby.

Rhodri Williams crossed for the hosts, but Harri Deaves, Phil Cokanasiga, and Iestyn Hopkins had taken control.

Brodie Coughlan and Oli Burrows gave the Dragons a hearty comeback, but they were unable to clinch their first league victory since September 2024 when they defeated Ospreys.

With only one region set to continue in west Wales, the announcement appeared to grant Dragons a stay of execution.

However, it was Tandy’s early efforts to highlight a number of players who had the best potential. For the opening try, Tom Botha edged Wyn Jones in the scrums, and Ross Moriarty ran hard as Deaves ran over from 30 metres out.

Six minutes later, Cokasinga added Max Nagy, a late center, to complete Kieran Williams.

When scrum-half Williams snuck over just before Thomas Young’s debut try was denied due to an earlier obstruction, the Dragons, who were leading 12-0, had to score next.

Just one minute into the second half, Williams scored a crucial turnover on his own tryline to deny Huw Sutton.

However, when the Ospreys out-jumped Angus O’Brien for a high ball, the back-line combined to send Hopkins over in the corner.

In 52 minutes, Wales captain Morgan made his debut as a substitute and rushed in first as a blindside flanker before becoming the eighth player due to other issues.

The British and Irish Lion quickly turned in a crucial turnover as Dragons made a stunning comeback.

Although the visitors may have used their hands, the Dragons used brute force to repel them twice, with 11 men shoving over Coughlan and Burrows, both new Wales squad members.

Replacements: Beddall, Armstrong, Evans, Richards, Martinez, Lewis, Lewis-Hughes, Beddall, Armstrong, Evans, and Richards

Ospreys: Walsh, Kasende, Cokanasiga, Nagy, Hopkins, Edwards, Morgan-Williams, Thomas, Lake (capt), Botha, R Davies, Fender, Sutton, Deaves, Moriarty,

Assistants: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (WRU), Adam Jones (WRU), and Adam Jones (WRU).