Welsh side Ospreys scored three tries in the final 10 minutes as the Emirates Lions hopes’ of ending second in their group disappeared as they lost a 28-17 lead to go down 28-38 in their EPCR Challenge Cup match in Johannesburg on Sunday.
The Lions were killed off by their own indiscipline as they had to play a full half hour with 14 men, as three yellow cards stunted their momentum and gave Ospreys more than enough to fight back.
It was precisely the final yellow card to Hanru Sirgel for a professional foul on defence that made a huge difference.
In the time he was off both Keegan Giles and Cameron Jones scored to overhaul the Lions' lead and then as he returned Morgan Morse intercepted a minute from the end to hammer a final nail into the Lions' coffin and secure the win.
Full Time: Emirates Lions 28 – 38 Ospreys
— Lions (@LionsRugbyCo) January 21, 2024
Heartbreak for our boys today, on to the Round of 16 we go! Thank you Joburg for coming out today.#ChallengeCupRugby#LionsPride🦁 pic.twitter.com/a38JgdoTvu
It was the first time that the Ospreys had beat the Lions and meant that the Lions will now need to face their Round of 16 game away after having qualified before the match for the playoff rounds.
Ospreys also leapfrogged the Lions into third on the log, but were unable to get past Montpellier on goal difference.
The Lions, who finished fourth in their pool, will now face one of the top seeds in the next round.
DOUBLE BLUNDER
But the home side will be kicking themselves for the way they played and allowed Ospreys back into the game on several occasions by their own mistakes and indiscipline.
Things didn’t start well for the Lions as PJ Botha received the first yellow card within two minutes from the start to put them at an immediate disadvantage.
Sanele Nohamba added a penalty to put the first points on the board, but it was a Lions mistake that gave Ospreys their first try of the game.
Flyhalf Gianni Lombard made a double blunder - first kicking a kick-pass into the hands of Owen Watkin, who grubbered forward, and then when trying to clear the ball, Lombard’s clearance was charged down by the same Watkin for a gift try.
Marius Louw forced his way over after some enterprising play by the Lions, but the visitors hit back when George North broke a regulation tackle in the 22 to run in untouched.
North went off shortly afterwards with a shoulder injury, something that Warren Gatland will keenly watch ahead of the Six Nations.
The Lions had a try overturned before JC Pretorius finally got himself on the board in the 35th minute to get the Lions closer and Louw got his second just before the break to put his side ahead, despite the fact that Nohamba missed all three conversions.
At half-time the Lions led 18-14.
FATAL YELLOW CARD
Despite Louw being yellow carded early in the second half, Nohamba extended the lead with a penalty.
Despite a Dan Edwards penalty the Lions went further ahead on the hour mark when Morne van den Berg darted over, catching the defence napping.
At 28-17 it looked as if the Lions would run away with it, and more so when Jaco Visagie went over from a rolling maul.
But the TMO saw him lose control of the ball over the line and the try was disallowed.
Then Sirgel got his yellow card for trying to rip away the ball on the ground and Ospreys saw their chance.
The first two tries were simply from a continuous surge where the Lions ran out of numbers, but Morse’s intercept was a bitter pill to swallow as the Lions were on the attack.
In the end it was a very disappointing end to a game that could have meant so much for their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign.
But all it did was make the uphill road steeper for the Joburg side.
SCORERS:
Emirates Lions - tries: Marius Louw (2), JC Pretorius, Morne van den Berg. Conversions: Sanele Nohamba (1). Penalties: Nohamba (2)
Ospreys - tries: Owen Watkin, George North, Keelan Giles, Cameron Jones, Morgan Morse. Conversions: Dan Edwards (2), Jack Walsh (3). Penalty: Edwards