Judgement Day would be a fitting description of the environment surrounding the final day of URC fixtures. The task ahead would be clear as day after all talk of permutations had been eliminated earlier in the afternoon.
The outcomes needed would be simple on paper, win or bust with four tries to the good. In reality though, a tricky assignment against a Cardiff side looking to spoil the Ospreys party and gain derby bragging rights.
It would make for an entertaining back and forth game with nine tries shared between the two sides. A mixture of grit and determination, mixed at times with some breathtaking individual moments of skill from both sides would captivate a near 20,000 audience in the Welsh capital’s summer sunshine.
Outgoing Nicky Smith would take the plaudits with a stellar man of the match performance. The front-row working his socks off in defense whilst scoring two crucial tries from the Ospreys chief weapon their driving maul.
There would also be expectational team tries with captain Justin Tipuric’s the pick of the bunch finishing Dan Edwards’ mind-blowing pass in the corner, whilst wing Luke Morgan would seal the match, before a late penalty try made sure of the result.
Cardiff would be looking to play free-flowing counter attacking rugby as expected and didn’t disappoint with scores from Theo Cabango and Mason Grady executing fine efforts to lock the scores at the break.
Impressive centre Ben Thomas would have a hat-trick of assists as wing Gustavo Hamer-Webb would make the finish nail-biting.
It would be ill-discipline from the hosts that would be the final nail in the coffin for the Blues with replacement Seb Davies dismissed late on. Even then Grady would collect his second try of the evening to secure an attacking point for Matt Sherratt’s side, but it would be the Ospreys who would live to fight another day in the URC much to the delight of their coach.
“When you consider the backdrop of what has been happening with the financial state of the game in Wales and losing established players, this is a significant achievement,” said Booth.
“We knew we needed results to go our way, but if you don’t believe then what are you doing it for.
“I’ve said from the start that we will try and find a way and make the best opportunity out of it and be the best we can be.
“It could easily have gone the other way and wouldn’t have been about today, more the missed opportunities at Benetton away, Glasgow at home and Munster.
“Cardiff play a very good brand of rugby and we found it difficult to deal with at times in the first 40 minutes where we didn’t obtain enough field position.
“From that point-of-view, you have to give them credit. There is a reason why they got the losing bonus points they did.
“They are a very good team who are well coached, and we knew it wouldn’t be easy.
“It was about who wins key moments and ultimately when it gets tough that is what you draw on, what it means to you and what is at stake.
“On the balance of it, it’s a reward for how competitive we have been, having a resilient mindset but also for sticking to our mission of playing an exciting brand of rugby with homegrown players.
“Sport is hard and cruel, and you don’t always get what you deserve, but if you keep going long enough, you will give yourself a chance. I think we have done that well this year.
“Now we go to Munster and knock-out rugby is all about who delivers on the day. We’re in it and we’ll try to find a way.”
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
