Booth frustrated at missed opportunity as Ospreys European journey ends against Gloucester

In an error-strewn showing with more than a dozen unforced errors, Booth’s young side would falter under the pressure put on by a seasoned Gloucester outfit. 

The contest was a close battle with a try-a-piece shared by the two sides, but the boot of fly-half Santi Carreras would be the difference. 

On a night of small margins, the Argentinian’s six penalties would be decisive in seeing the Cherry and Whites home to progress to the last-four to play either Benneton or Connacht. 

After trailing to an early Carreras kick, the Ospreys would take the lead in the match midway through the first-half to the jubilation of the traveling support.  

Wing Keelan Giles sprinting clear to score under the posts after a trademark Jack Walsh run had seen the Aussie burst through the Gloucester defense. 

Carreras and Owen Williams exchanged penalties, but it was to be the last time Ospreys were ahead as the home side forced regular errors from the Ospreys forward line. 

The powerful Gloucester pack would then score from a five-metre line-out having dominated the set-piece for a large percentage of the night. Hooker Seb Blake emerging with the ball from a crowd of bodies. 

George Skivington’s side never looked back from that stage as Gloucester would force regular in the second half as the Ospreys would be repeatedly penalised for forward offenses in the scrum.  

Carreras, the fly-half with the highest kicking percentage rate in the Gallagher Premiership this season slotting over three kicks without reply to seal the victory for the home side. 

“I’m bitterly disappointed and frustrated with some of the elements of our own performance,” said Ospreys head coach Booth after the game. 

“I don’t want to be disrespectful, I thought Gloucester were pretty good to be fair and deserved to win. They created the pressure moments on us. 

“We didn’t stand up as well as we would have liked and that made for a frustrating evening because when you’re in cup rugby you need to control the controllables better and deal with pressure. 

“We had an opportunity here to move forward and we have not taken that.  

“The supporters here today were fantastic. The disappointing thing is we haven’t delivered when it matters. 

“The plus side is we have gone one step further than last time in a knock-out competition, so when the dust settles, we will reflect on progress, but the overriding emotion is disappointment because I don’t think we were as good as we could have been tonight. 

“It’s a new experience in Kingsholm away from home in a packed house for a lot of people. I shouldn’t be surprised about that [pressure leading to penalties], it is the nature of them. 

“You need to control your environment better. If you look at some of the penalties, people don’t have to work for it. 

“We knew it was going to be tough – I have known George Skivington for a long time and his team reflected him. 

“I knew they were going to be tenacious and the break-down and set-piece battles were going to be a challenge. 

“There were no surprises, we just didn’t have enough answers on the accuracy front. 

“Once you get to seven to ten points in front, it is difficult to claw back because they then go into field position mode and squeeze. 

“When you’re chasing, then the clock ticks over and it plays with your clarity and ability to make decisions under pressure. You need to break the spirit and we couldn’t do that.” 

[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]