United Rugby Championship: Ospreys 20-21 Benetton - Late conversion miss denies home win

Replacement Ospreys fly-half Jack Walsh just failed to clinch a last-gasp United Rugby Championship win over Benetton with his final conversion hitting the post.

Ospreys wing Luke Morgan scored early before Benetton moved into a 21-8 lead.

Joaquin Riera and Marcus Watson scored tries with 11 points from former Wasps fly-half Jacob Umaga.

Ospreys fought back with late tries from Sam Parry and Reuben Morgan-Williams but fell just short.

It was incredibly harsh on Walsh missing the difficult last kick of the game from the right touchline.

He had sparked the late comeback by transforming the Ospreys' attack in the final quarter after coming on for Stephen Myler who suffered a suspected broken bone in his hand.

The home side were ultimately left to rue a poor display in the opening hour as they turned over possession 35 times with a malfunctioning line-out and inaccurate breakdown.

Toby Booth's side secured a losing bonus point but are 13th in the URC table and outside hopes of finishing in the top eight have taken a major dent.

Ospreys will now look to focus on the Heineken Champions Cup last 16 match against Saracens on 2 April.

It was not the result flanker Dan Lydiate would have wanted in his first appearance since injuring his arm in Wales' autumn Test against Argentina in November 2022.

Lock Rhys Davies, who was making his 50th Ospreys appearance, and centre Keiran Williams were both released from the current Wales squad and started.

Wales coach Warren Gatland should not be concerned after Williams was forced off the field late in the second half with Booth explaining there was no concerning injury.

Full-back Iestyn Hopkins made his first start and hooker Sam Parry completed the five changes from the side who lost 58-3 to Munster last time around.

Ospreys begin strongly and a well-worked backline move saw wing Morgan released in the right corner for the opening try.

Benetton looked to have responded as they took advantage of some passive Ospreys defence with wing Ignacio Mendy sprinted away to score but it was ruled out by the television match official (TMO) because of a forward pass.

It did not take the Italians long to score though with flanker Giovanni Pettinelli chasing his own kick and feeding centre Riera to cross.

Ospreys lost number eight Morgan Morris to a head injury with Harri Deaves replacing him before Myler restored the hosts' lead with a penalty.

The home side were not helped by a malfunctioning first-half line-out while indiscipline allowed Umaga to slot over two penalties as Benetton led 13-8 at half-time.

More transgressions from the home side allowed Umaga to slot over a third penalty early in the second half with Deaves shown a yellow card for the constant infringement.

The visitors utilised their numerical advantage as they released wing Watson, brother of England wing Anthony, to sprint away to score.

The impressive Hopkins was one of the bright sparks and Ospreys should have finished one of his counter-attacking runs but a final pass from centre Williams went astray.

Kieran Williams (L) has scored three tries in seven appearances for Ospreys this season

The introduction of replacement fly-half Walsh helped suddenly spark the home attack but missed chances were initially spurned.

The pressure finally told from a driving maul with hooker Parry diving over and a Walsh conversion brought Ospreys within a score.

The momentum was with Ospreys and scrum-half Morgan-Williams, pressed into an emergency duty as a wing for the final 10 minutes, dived onto a Walsh cross kick in the final minute.

It was unfortunate because Ospreys had a penalty advantage and could have contrived a score closer to the posts to make the conversion attempt easier.

Walsh missed and Benetton celebrated as they boosted their own hopes of a top-eight finish.

Ospreys: Iestyn Hopkins; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Stephen Myler, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith (capt), Sam Parry, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton, Dan Lydiate, Ethan Roots, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Tom Cowan-Dickie, Garyn Phillips, Rhys Henry, James Fender, Harri Deaves, Matthew Aubrey, Jack Walsh, Michael Collins.

Benetton: Rhyno Smith; Ignacio Mendy, Joaquin Riera, Filippo Drago, Marcus Watson; Jacob Umaga, Dewaldt Duvenage (capt); Nahuel Tetaz, Bautista Bernasconi, Tiziano Pasquali, Marco Lazzaroni, Carl Wegner, Giovanni Pettinelli, Alessandro Izekor, Riccardo Favretto.

Replacements: Lapo Frangini, Cherif Traoré, Filippo Alongi, Henry Time-Stowers, Matteo Meggiato, Alessandro Garbisi, Giacomo Da Kings, Marco Zanon.

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Mike English & Carwyn Williams (WRU)

TMO: Mark Patton (IRFU)