Ospreys count cost of European elimination

Ospreys have lost in the Challenge Cup quarter-final in successive seasons

Ospreys have been left to count the cost of the end of their European adventure after an agonising Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat 20-18 defeat against Lyon.

Influential forward trio Justin Tipuric, Adam Beard and Rhys Davies all picked up injuries and are set to miss the Judgement Day game with Cardiff at the Principality Stadium next Saturday.

"They're being assessed and it is a bit of a mixture," said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones.

"They're obviously not great or they wouldn't have come off if they were.

"They'll probably miss next week based on what we've seen earlier.

"But we've not seen any further than that, so I can't say any further than that without speaking to the physios or the doctor."

Tipuric concern

Tipuric was forced off early on with a pectoral muscle problem that will make him a doubt for the home game against Dragons on 26 April.

That occasion is being billed as the flanker's last match in Swansea before he retires from playing at the end of the season to become the Ospreys' defence coach.

"He felt something in his pec area that he was uncomfortable with," said Jones.

"When you're a guy in a line-out like he is aerially or uses your hands in the contact area like he does, you've got to be able to use two hands on the rugby field.

"He's a tough cookie so for him to come off, there must have been a serious amount of discomfort for him."

Ospreys are aiming to finish in the top eight of the United Rugby Championship (URC) again and need to beat Matt Sherratt's men to keep that dream alive.

Following two Welsh derbies, Ospreys finish the regular season with two games in South Africa.

"Judgement Day becomes a big focus for us and we hopefully have an opportunity to have a good crack at that," said Jones.

"If we can get some momentum through the next couple of week hopefully we can push for potentially getting in the top eight when we get to South Africa."

European woe

Jones was left to reflect on a disappointing European exit after his side went toe-to-toe with their French Top 14 opponents, captain Jac Morgan again outstanding.

In front of a crowd of only 3,723, Ospreys ultimately missed out on a possible chance of extra-time when Dan Edwards' conversion attempt of George McGuigan's 71st-minute try hit a post.

That ended Welsh involvement in Europe for another season with Cardiff hosting the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals in May.

"It's disappointing because the effort was there, as you would expect, but we definitely dropped below a level of accuracy that we've shown over the last few months," said Jones.

"Some of that was down to Lyon and the pressure they put on us around the contact area, but also a lot of skill-set stuff there we are a bit disappointed with.

"The little errors add up at the end and that's disappointing because a lot of it was in our control."

Ospreys dominated possession and territory in Swansea and forced Lyon to make more than double the tackles of their opponents.

The Welsh side ultimately though lacked game management at crucial times.

"We wanted the ball, dictate the speed of the game and move their big guys around," said Jones.

"We did move them around, but we just didn't move them around well enough and accurately enough.

"It is a good lesson for us that the closer you get to the finish line the more accurate you have got to be.

"All we can do is learn from it and hopefully we get into future knockout games.

"We want to build on this one and take the next step forward."