European Challenge Cup: Montpellier 38-5 Ospreys - French side overpower Welsh rivals

Ospreys centre George North has played 118 internationals for Wales

Montpellier ignored their domestic form to overpower Ospreys in the European Challenge Cup.

The French side are bottom of the Top 14 but secured a second European victory to take them top of Pool Two, while Ospreys drop to fourth.

Former All Blacks wing George Bridge and Auguste Cadot scored two tries, while Leo Coly and Vano Karkadze also crossed in the six-try win.

Ospreys' only response was a try from scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams.

Toby Booth's inexperienced side were punished for wasting attacking chances as Montpellier demonstrated a far more clinical nature with home flanker Clement Doumenc proving a menace at the breakdown.

Ospreys also demonstrated indiscipline as Morgan Morse, George North and Harri Houston were shown yellow cards.

Late disruption

Ospreys, who managed the double against Montpellier in the Champions Cup last season, had opened the European campaign with a 43-34 win against Benetton, while Montpellier defeated Newcastle.

There was no place in the Montpellier side for Wales tight-head prop Henry Thomas but England duo Sam Simmonds and Harry Williams and Italy fly-half Paolo Garbisi started.

With flanker Justin Tipuric missing with a long-term hand injury, Wales captain Jac Morgan and lock Rhys Davies were missing for Ospreys through injury. There was further disruption with captain Morgan Morris and wing Keelan Giles late withdrawals.

Number eight Morgan was replaced by 18-year-old Morgan Morse, with Adam Beard taking over the captaincy, with wing Houston coming in for Giles.

Ospreys dominated the opening exchanges but Morse was shown the brutal reality of professional rugby in his first senior start as he was handed a yellow card for a cynical professional foul.

Bridge strolled in for the opening try as Montpellier scored in a first visit to Ospreys 22 with Garbisi converting.

The home duo combined again for the second try with Garbisi's clever cross kick gathered unopposed by Bridge to dive over.

It was another example of Montpellier demonstrating a clinical approach after Ospreys' forays into their hosts' 22 proved fruitless with the visitors guilty of unforced errors.

Wales prop Nicky Smith was forced off the field with a shoulder injury but was replaced by fellow international Gareth Thomas as the Ospreys continued their upper hand in the scrum.

Scrum-half Coly scored the third Montpellier try in a move where Wales centre George North was also shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

Ospreys had more sustained attacking territory and possession towards the end of the half but were again wasteful as they trailed 19-0 at half-time.

Montpellier brought on France Grand Slam lock Paul Willemse and South Africa's World Cup scrum-half Cobus Reinach as replacements, while Ospreys were blooding young players with very little senior experience.

Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake had scored four tries against Benetton as he benefitted from the strength of his side's rolling maul but that facet had gained little traction in the first half.

That changed in the second half as scrum-half Morgan-Williams dived over from yet another Ospreys attacking phase.

Montpellier regrouped as hooker Karkadze scored the bonus-point try from a driving line-out before replacement centre Cadot punished Ospreys with two late tries and Houston was shown a late yellow card for a professional foul.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth: "It's always difficult when you're away in Europe against a very big and physical Montpellier team.

"We struggled with the physicality really, there were a lot of youngsters out there and we had some disruption through the week.

"I was really proud of the effort, but if you're getting physically outmuscled, you've got to be accurate.

"We probably got in the right field positions but couldn't convert. You've got to give credit to Montpellier, but this won't be a defining game for us."

Montpellier: Anthony Bouthier (capt); George Bridge, Pierre Lucas, Jan Serfontein, Ben Lam; Paolo Garbisi, Leo Coly; Baptiste Erdocio, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Harry Williams, Marco Tauleigne, Tyler Duguid, Yacouba Camara, Clement Doumenc, Sam Simmonds.

Replacements: Vano Karkadze, Enzo Forletta, Tito Lamositele, Paul Willemse, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Cobus Reinach, Louis Foursans, Auguste Cadot.

Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Mat Protheroe, George North, Owen Watkin, Harri Houston; Owen Williams, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, James Fender, Adam Beard (capt), Tristan Davies, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morse.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Rhys Henry, Lewis Jones, Lewis Lloyd, Luke Davies, Dan Edwards, Luke Scully.

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe (Eng)

Assistant referees: George Selwood & James Clarke (Eng)

TMO: David Rose (Eng)

• MAX BOYCE AT 80: A star-studded look at his incredible career

• 60 YEARS OF WELSH POP: Celebrating Welsh music, from the swinging sixties to Cool Cymru