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Opta gave Lyon just a 35% chance of winning away in Swansea but the wolves hung on for an against-the-odds victory as the Ospreys’ wait for a European quarter final win goes on.
Morgan (25'), McGuigan (70')
Tries
Rattez (6'), Guillard (50')
Edwards (26')
Conversions
Berdeu (7', 51')
Edwards (19', 54')
Penalties
Berdeu (21', 34')
Opta gave Lyon just a 35% chance of winning away in Swansea but the wolves hung on for an against-the-odds victory as the Ospreys’ wait for a European quarter final win goes on.
What went into the calculation that spat out 35%, we’ll never know. Did it take into account the fact Lyon rotated their starting pack (a move their coach had to defend in a press conference mid week) or the fact star players Semi Radradra and Davit Niniashvili were injured? Did it take into account Baptise Couilloud - the most try-scoring scrum half in France for the last two seasons - was on the bench?
What it surely didn’t factor in was what a herculean effort Lyon would put in defensively. Starved of possession and territory, they were forced to make nearly 3 times as many tackles as their hosts, managing a remarkable 93% tackle success.
Lyon may have rotated their starting team but they had loaded their bench, which they unleashed at half time. Mickael Guillard, fresh from his Six Nations winning exploits with France, was incredible in the 2nd half - winning player of the match despite just 40 minutes on the pitch.
For all their huffing and puffing, the Ospreys could not blow the wolves’ house down. Since defence coach Mark Jones was promoted to the head coach role, they have reinvented themselves as a bold attacking team, scoring tries for fun. On Saturday, however, it was a throwback to the Booth era as they looked out of ideas in open play in the face of brutal Lyon tackles.
An early injury to all time great Justin Tipuric certainly would have hurt the Ospreys, but they were still able to call on what is probably the strongest squad in Wales. Much was made of the budget discrepancy between the two sides (Lyon’s wage bill is literally double that of the Ospreys) but this has to go down as an opportunity missed.
Ospreys remain the only Welsh region never to win a quarter final at either Champions or Challenge Cup level; Cardiff, Dragons and Scarlets have all reached at least a semi final in one or both competitions. It’s a bizarre stat when you consider the riches the Ospreys enjoyed back in the galacticos era.
Lyon have earned themselves a home tie against Racing, who are desperate to save their season with a first trophy since 2016. Ospreys meanwhile will have to refocus for their URC play-off push. Cardiff await them in a huge derby at the Principality next week.
