By Paul Morgan, Rugby World Magazine
The vast majority of the 7,000 crowd expected to come along and see the Ospreys score four tries, win and take their tenth Heineken Cup point in seven days to go top of Pool 3…and the Ospreys didn’t disappointed, delivering on all levels.]
It is true they were lacklustre at times, without intensity by the bonus-point try arrived in the 42nd minute, from Gareth Owen, so it was job done and over the business end of the competition, next month; away to Clermont Auvergne and home to Leicester.
Ospreys coach Scott Johnson said their objective after four rounds was to have their destiny in their own hands. And they have achieved that, heading Pool 3 by four points. Clermont and Leicester will beat Viadana in January, so realistically they need to win both games to win the pool.
A number of things stood out for me.
Tommy Bowe: The Ospreys should move hell and high water to make the Irishman sign a new contract, and not take up the offer from Leinster. He running and finishing against Viadana was exceptional, as was his strength with ball in hand. He could be the Ospreys’ Ronaldo in January. Do what you need to, to keep him!
Dan Biggar: Two years ago former Ospreys coach Lyn Jones told me Biggar would one day play for Wales, and now at only 20 he seems to get better with every day. His goalkicking is Dan Carter-like, we knew that. But he is learning how to run a game, and one of the reasons Bowe is able to make his runs off his wing is the way Biggar reads the game. Bowe pinched man of the match from him today, but Biggar got my vote.
Andrew Bishop: Another exceptional talent – Wales, with Jonathan Davies of the Scarlets also a 12, look like they have an impressive reservoir of talent to take over from Gavin Henson.
Adam Jones: Wonderful to see the tighthead back on the field. I was in Pretoria to see his horrific injury on the Lions tour. Had he and Gethin Jenkins stayed on the field in that second Test I am sure they would have won.
But were you at the game. Who was your man of the match.
Do you think the Ospreys will come through their make-or-break January and qualify for the quarter-finals?