Ospreys cruise to Challenge Cup win at Montauban

European Challenge Cup

Montauban (8) 22

Tries: Maurouard, Tuculet, Kanika Cons: Fortunel, Castel Pens: Fortunel

Ospreys (19) 33

Tries: Moriarty, Morse, Giles, Daniel, Hardy Cons: Walsh 4

Ospreys recorded a second Challenge Cup bonus-point victory by defeating Top 14 strugglers Montauban in France.

Mark Jones' side followed up their 24-21 win against Connacht with a five-try victory that included scores from Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morse, Keelan Giles, Efan Daniel and Kieran Hardy, and eight points from captain Jack Walsh.

Montauban, who are 13th in the French Top 14 league after only winning one game so far this season, responded with tries from hooker Jeremie Maurouard, lock Noa Kanika and full-back Segundo Tuculet, who was shown a first-half yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.

Ospreys wing Ryan Conbeer was also sent to the sin-bin in the second-half for pushing an opponent off the ball.

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There was a welcome return for Wales centre Owen Watkin, who came on as a second-half replacement for his first game in 11 months after suffering a serious knee problem, while influential number eight Morgan Morris also returned from long-term injury.

Ospreys were missing rested Wales internationals Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Rhys Davies, James Ratti and Harri Deaves, with fly-half Walsh leading the side and being named player of the match.

The win came at the end of a turbulent week off the field for the Ospreys, with the threat emerging of losing Wales captains Jac Morgan and Lake to Gloucester next season.

There are also question marks over the region's future, with the owners Y11 Sport & Media linked with taking over Welsh Rugby Union-owned Cardiff, which could produce the desired number of three professional sides wanted by the governing body.

Despite this backdrop of uncertainty, Ospreys demonstrated significant character and also proved on the field they are still a threat to be reckoned with.

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones told S4C: "We started well. We talked around getting the speed right, particularly against this very physical forward-orientated side.

"We knew we needed to take their legs away and the accuracy in the first 30 minutes, with the intent to play, was the deciding factor and gave us confidence."

What next?

Ospreys will return to United Rugby Championship (URC) action when they host Munster in Bridgend on Saturday, 20 December before Welsh derbies at Scarlets (26 December) and at their temporary Bridgend home against Cardiff (1 January).

Montauban host Pau in the Top 14 next Saturday.

How they lined up

Montauban: Tuculet; Ahmed, Fonnicola, Popoali'i, Vallee; Fortunel, Zabalza; Aouf, Maurouard, Simutoga, Bitz, Kanika, Quercy (capt), V Fifita, Viiga.

Replacements: Firmin, Bue, Ma'afu, Uanivi, Castel, Leflamand, Mathy, Pomponio.

Sin-bin: Tuculet 14

Ospreys: Nagy; Conbeer, Boshoff, Cokanasigsa, Giles; Walsh (capt), L Davies; C Jones, L Lloyd, Henry, Sutton, Fender, Moriarty, G Evans, Morse.

Replacements: Daniel, S Thomas, Hire, L Jones, Morris, Hardy, Watkin, Hopkins.

Sin-bin: Conbeer 45

Referee: Adam Leal (Eng)

Assistant referees: Hamish Grant (Eng), Wayne Falla (Eng)

TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)