Ospreys suffer record European loss in Montpellier

Ospreys must return to France in the Challenge Cup - the face a trip to face Pau in January

European Challenge Cup

Montpellier (26) 59

Try: Martins, DuGuid, Uelese, Coly, Akrab, Moustin, Cadot, Forletta, Tambwe Cons: Coly 4, Hogg 3

Ospreys (3) 15

Tries: Boshoff, Giles Con: Edwards Drop-goal: Edwards

A sorry Ospreys side suffered a record European defeat as Montpellier outclassed and overpowered their Welsh opponents in a crushing nine-try Challenge Cup win.

Tries from Nicolas Martins, Tyler DuGuid, Jordan Uelese, Leo Coly, Lyam Akrab, Mael Moustin, Auguste Cadot, Enzo Forletta and Madosh Tambwe allowed Montpellier to claim a second successive win against Welsh opposition.

Ospreys responded with a Dan Edwards drop-goal and late tries from Evardi Boshoff and Keelan Giles.

This represented a record European defeat for Ospreys, beating the 49-10 Champions Cup loss against Sale in 2022.

Ospreys were missing key players like Adam Beard and Justin Tipuric and picked up further worrying injuries to prop Gareth Thomas, flanker Jac Morgan and centre Owen Williams.

If anybody wants an example of the damning state of Welsh rugby at different levels, this mauling should provide it.

Two years ago Ospreys completed a Champions Cup double against Montpellier, but looked a shadow of that side on this occasion in Europe's second tier tournament.

People will point to the difference in budgets between the two sides but Ospreys were architects of their own downfall on many occasions and guilty of a series of elementary mistakes.

Toby Booth's side proved passive and porous in defence and lacked any attacking invention in an embarrassing performance.

Ospreys will continue their European campaign against Newcastle and Pau next month knowing a victory will be needed to reach the knockout stages.

They will return to United Rugby Championship (URC) action next Saturday in the local derby against Scarlets in Swansea knowing they cannot afford a repeat of this lacklustre display.

Wasteful Ospreys, clinical Montpellier

Montpellier has become a regular venue for Ospreys who beat the French side away two years ago in the Champions Cup before a heavy European defeat followed last season.

Fly-half Edwards returned as one of four personnel changes from the team that beat the Lions with Owen Williams switching to centre.

Lock Will Spencer made his Ospreys debut when he packed down his alongside Lewis Jones, while number eight Morgan Morris also returned with captain Jac Morgan moving to flanker.

Montpellier, who had also won their opening game by defeating Dragons away, included former Scotland full-back Stuart Hogg, who was playing at 10 and England number eight Sam Simmonds in their starting side with Billy Vunipola on the replacements bench.

After Ospreys proved wasteful in the early exchanges in Montpellier's 22, the hosts opened the scoring through Portugal flanker Martins.

Full-back Moorby was denied a try by a last-gasp tackle from Giles, but Ospreys lost the resulting line-out and Canada Under-20s lock DuGuid powered over.

Moorby was denied another score after the final pass was deemed forward, but Montpellier's dominance was rewarded with a try from Australia hooker Uelese.

Ospreys finally found themselves on the scoresheet with a long-range Edwards drop-goal.

The visitors' poor defence was again exposed when scrum-half Coly dived over for the bonus-point try as the home side enjoyed a deserved 26-3 half-time lead.

Ospreys' soft centre continued in the second half when replacement hooker Akrab was able to power through before wing also Moustin barged his way over from close range.

A searing Hogg break laid the platform for centre Cadot to canter over before replacement prop Enzo Forletta dived through for his try.

Ospreys' open door defensive policy invited more pressure with wing Tambwe the beneficiary on this occasion.

The visitors demonstrated some late character with tries from Boshoff and Giles which at least avoided the humiliation of a record defeat in all competitions.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth: "From an outcome point of view, it was not great at all, you can't concede that many points and be happy.

"Sometimes you get beaten by a better team and you have to give credit to the opposition.

"We contributed to our own downfall and they piggy-backed up the field as we conceded penalty after penalty.

"We started the game pretty well from a field position point of view, but we gave them repeated opportunities in our 22 and it became a difficult afternoon."

Montpellier: Moorby; Moustin, Darmon, Cadot, Tambwe; Hogg, Coly; Erdocio, Uelese, Japaridze, Janse van Rensburg, DuGuid, Martins, Nouchi (capt), Simmonds.

Replacements: Akrab, Forletta, Hounkpatin, Chalureau, B Vunipola, Louwrens, Barreau, Serfontein.

Ospreys: Walsh; Kasende, Watkin, O Williams, Giles; Edwards, Hardy; G Thomas, Lake, Warren, Spencer, L Jones, T Davies, J Morgan (capt), Morris.

Replacements: Parry, S Thomas, Henry, Griffiths, Greatbanks, Morgan-Williams, Boshoff, Hopkins.

Referee: Adam Leal (RFU)

Assistant referees: Richard Gordon & Hamish Grant (RFU)

TMO: David Rose (RFU)