Ospreys overwhelmed by Bulls as play-off hopes hit

Ospreys are Welsh rugby's leading team this season

United Rugby Championship: Bulls v Ospreys

Bulls (26) 61

Tries: Grobbelaar, D Kriel, Arendse 2, Moodie (2), Papier, penalty, Le Roux Cons: C Smith 6, Van der Valt

Ospreys (10) 24

Tries: L Davies, K Williams, Giles Cons: Walsh 3 Pen: Walsh

Ospreys' hopes of a United Rugby Championship play-off spot were dented by Bulls' pace and power as the Welsh region fell well short of leaving South Africa with two wins.

The Welsh side had won at Stormers last weekend but came nowhere near repeating that feat in Pretoria where the hosts emphatically boosted their own bid for a play-off spot.

The hosts reached the bonus point before the break and ended the match with nine tries.

Johan Grobbelaar's early try from a line-out drive and Chris Smith's conversion set the tone.

David Kriel crossed for the second and after Ospreys rallied with Luke Davies' try, Kurt-Lee Arendse added the hosts' third.

Canan Moodie earned the bonus point and added his second try soon after the break.

Embrose Papier went clear before Arendse got his second. A penalty try for Max Nagy's deliberate knock-on close to the line compounded the visitors' problems and Willie le Roux added another.

Fly-half Smith kicked six conversions for the hosts.

The visitors had welcomed back Wales hooker Dewi Lake via the bench following his recovery from a hamstring strain.

Amid six starting changes to the side that beat Stormers 27-21 in Cape Town last weekend Ospreys recalled Wales forwards Adam Beard and Gareth Thomas, plus Justin Tipuric, while Bulls were without suspended fly-half Johan Goosen.

Wing Luke Morgan made his 100th appearance for the away side.

After's Grobbelaar's score from a 15m line-out drive Jack Walsh had a chance to put the visitors on the scoreboard, but after the ball fell off the tee his rushed penalty attempt rebounded off an upright.

Powerful running from Bulls forwards was a constant threat with number eight Cameron Hanekom particularly prominent.

Centre Kriel was set free to stroll over, but Ospreys underlined their ball-in-hand threat as Morgan Morris paved the way for scrum-half Davies' impressive response.

However, Davies' opposite number Papier's long pass found Arendse free out wide.

Ospreys found themselves in further trouble just at the moment they looked set to end the opening period on a high.

Prop Chris Henry's pass was picked off by Kriel and Moodie was on hand for another simple stroll in for Bulls.

Moodie's second try within three minutes of the restart extended the lead.

Papier's simple score left Ospreys with a huge task even after Keiran Williams' try following Nagy's clever chip-and-gather provided some light relief.

Things got tougher for the visitors when Nagy conceded the penalty score, although wing Keelan Giles produced a spectacular finish as he touched down while being tackled at the corner.

Le Roux ran from deep in his own 22 for another home intercept score - this time off Keiran Williams - as Bulls denied Ospreys' bid for a bonus-point score.

Bulls: Willie le Roux; Canan Moodie, David Kriel, Harold Vorster, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Chris Smith, Embrose Papier; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Wilco Louw, Ruan Vermaak, Reinhardt Ludwig, Nizaam Carr, Elrigh Louw (capt), Cameron Hanekom

Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Simphiwe Matanzima, Mornay Smith, Janko Swanepoel, Jannes Kirsten, Zak Burger, Jaco van der Valt, Devon Williams

Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Luke Davies; Gareth Thomas, Sam Parry, Rhys Henry, Adam Beard, Huw Sutton, Morgan Morse, Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Dewi Lake, Nicky Smith, Ben Warren, James Ratti, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Owen Williams, Evardi Boshoff.

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadzweni, Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)

TMO: Andrew Brace (IRFU)