United Rugby Championship: Ospreys 34-31 Zebre - Toby Booth's side collect bonus-point win

Ospreys wing Mat Protheroe scored their second try against Zebre

Ospreys overcame Zebre in an entertaining United Rugby Championship (URC) encounter in Swansea.

Tries from Reuben Morgan-Williams, Mat Protheroe, Max Nagy and Nicky Smith sealed the bonus-point win.

Zebre, who took an early 12-0 lead, responded with doubles from Simone Gesi and Scott Gregory and a further score from Luca Bigi.

It was the first home win of the season for Toby Booth's side as Zebre continue their bid for an elusive win.

Zebre have now lost their last 21 league matches, including all 18 games last season, with their last URC win coming against Dragons in April 2022. Their last away win was in January 2021 against Benetton.

In front of just 3,017 supporters, Ospreys made four changes to the team beaten 34-26 at Connacht last week with Dom Morris, Protheroe, Jack Walsh and Huw Sutton starting.

Booth was still without World Cup players Jac Morgan, Adam Beard, Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas and George North.

Zebre, who now have former Cardiff assistant coach Richard Hodges in charge of their defence and lost the opening game of their campaign 36-40 at home to Ulster made two changes with wing Pierre Bruno and centre Franco Smith Jr starting.

Ospreys marked Justin Tipuric's 200th appearance last weekend against Connacht with a special presentation before the game and he led the side out flanked by his four children. The flanker typically marked his appearance with a man-of-the-match display.

Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric celebrated his 201st appearance with his four children

Zebre appeared determined to upset any celebratory atmosphere with well-worked opening try for wing Gesi before hooker Bigi was driven over from short range.

Ospreys responded with an early contender for team try of the season from their own 22 started by full-back Nagy with contributions from Tipuric, Dom Morris, Morgan Morris before Reuben Morgan-Williams scored.

Wing Protheroe produced a brilliant individual effort from a loose kick for Ospreys' second score before annoying Zebre's players with his show-boating celebrations.

His over-exuberance could be explained by his long absence through injury last season and he quickly tried to play down his actions.

The home lead proved short-lived as Protheroe's opposite number produced an opportunistic effort when he collected a Bruno chip.

Wales prop Smith made his Ospreys return as a replacement having made just two appearances at the World Cup against Portugal and Georgia.

Walsh reduced the deficit with a penalty, but missed the chance to give Ospreys a half-time lead when he failed with a simple kick in front of the posts.

Ospreys also had to reshuffle the backline with Protheroe forced off and Keiran Williams coming into the midfield with centre Morris switching to wing.

The alteration did not disrupt Ospreys as Nagy sliced through the home defence before Wales prop Smith burrowed over for the bonus-point try.

Zebre scored a controversial third try when Ospreys left wing Morris was going off the field injured and Prisciantelli took advantage with a clever, quick penalty that was gathered by replacement Gregory. Prisciantelli's conversion reduced the deficit to five points.

The injury to Morris forced another Ospreys backline revamp with scrum-half Morgan Williams switching to wing for the final quarter. Replacement Owen Williams missed an opportunity which would have given Ospreys a two-score lead.

The home side continued to pressurise the opponents with Zebre replacement prop Ion Neculai shown a yellow card for a professional foul.

Williams this time slotted over the penalty and it proved crucial as 14-man Zebre scored a fifth try with a second for Gregory.

The Italians left Swansea with two losing bonus points while Ospreys collected a maximum five.

Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric told BBC Sport Wales: "It was the same as last week, we are not starting well at the minute but the boys stuck in.

"The whole point of the game was trying to run them around a bit. It did not work at the start but it was nice to come away with five points."

Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Dom Morris, Owen Watkin, Mat Protheroe; Jack Walsh, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Garyn Phillips, Ethan Lewis, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton, James Ratti, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Lewis Lloyd, Nicky Smith, Rhys Henry, James Fender, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Keiran Williams, Owen Williams.

Zebre: Lorenzo Pani; Pierre Bruno, Franco Smith Jr, Enrico Lucchin, Simone Gesi; Geronimo Prisciantelli, Gonzalo Garcia; Paolo Buonfiglio, Luca Bigi, Juan Pitinari, David Sisi, Andrea Zambonin, Guido Volpi, Giacomo Ferrari, Giovanni Licata (capt).

Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Luca Rizzoli, Ion Neculai, Dylan de Leeuw, Bautista Stavile, Alessandro Fusco, Giovanni Montemaur, Scott Gregory.

Referee: Ian Kenny (SRU)

Assistant referees: Gareth Newman & Gwyn Morris (WRU)

TMO: Dave Sutherland (SRU).