Montpellier 59-15 Ospreys: Player Ratings as the Ospreys take a Challenge Cup hammering in South Wales

12/16/2024 08:27 AM

By Etienne Turpin

After a quiet start, Montpellier got the opening try through the Portuguese, Nicolas Martins. Excellent work rate from the back row who showed great speed to chase down Dan Kasende which led to the try.

Tyler Duguid crashed over moments later when Janse Van Rensburg stole the Ospreys lineout five metres out. On his first start since joining from the Hurricanes, Josh Moorby saw two tries disallowed. A try saving tackle from Giles prevented the Kiwi from scoring in the corner and then a forward pass from Van Rensburg denied Montpellier from scoring a beautiful try.

From a driving maul, Jordan Uelese went over for the third try. Coly accurately kicking all his shots. Edwards reduced the lead with a wonderful drop goal from 45 metres out. The bonus point was secured when Coly dived over in the corner. Initially, it looked like the Ospreys repelled the hosts but there was space out wide and the scrum half got the try.

Montpellier extended their lead early in the second when the young replacement hooker Lyam Akrab went over for his first try in professional rugby. Try number six soon followed when Moustin went over from close range. Cadot then went over for a try, the try of the game when Hogg made a break, stepping past a few Ospreys players before finding Moustin out wide, who threw an amazing offload to Cadot to score.

Cadot was involved again with the following try before replacement Enzo Forletta powered over, reaching out with his hands to score near the posts. Ryan Lowrens quick thinking led to Tambwe getting the hosts ninth try.

The Opsreys fans eventually had something to celebrate with a flourish of tries as replacement Boshoff raced onto a Kasende kick to score a consolation try. Giles then managed to score in the corner to give the Ospreys a bit of honour.

Montpellier: 59

TRIES: 9 (Martins 11', Duguid 15', Uelese 30', Coly 37', Akrab 44', Moustin 52', Cadot 54', Forletta 63', Tambwe 68')

CONVERSIONS: 7 (Coly 12'. 16', 31', 45', Hogg 55', 63', 68')

PENALTIES:

DROP GOALS: 0

YELLOW CARDS:

RED CARDS: 0

15. Josh Moorby, 14. Maël Moustin, 13. Thomas Darmon, 12. Auguste Cadot, 11. Madosh Tambwe, 10. Stuart Hogg, 9. Léo Coly, 1. Baptiste Erdocio, 2. Jordan Uelese, 3. Luke Japaridze, 4. Nicholas Janse Van Rensburg, 5. Tyler Duguid, 6. Nicolas Martins, 7. Lenni Nouchi, 8. Sam Simmonds.

16. Lyam Akrab, 17. Enzo Forletta, 18. Wilfrid Hounkpatin, 19. Bastien Chalureau, 20. Billy Vunipola, 21. Ryan Lowrens, 22. Aurélien Barreau, 23. Jan Serfontein.

Ospreys: 15

TRIES: 2 (Boshoff 71', Giles 80')

CONVERSIONS: 1 (Edwards 80')

PENALTIES:

DROP GOALS: 1 (Edwards 34')

YELLOW CARDS:

RED CARDS: 0

15. Jack Walsh,14. Dan Kasende, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Owen Williams, 11. Keelan Giles, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Kieran Hardy, 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Dewi Lake, 3. Ben Warren, 4. Will Spencer, 5. Lewis Jones, 6. Tristan Davies, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Morgan Morris.

16. Sam Parry, 17. Steffan Thomas, 18. Rhys Henry, 19. Will Griffiths, 20. Will Greatbanks, 21. Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22. Evardi Boshoff, 23. Iestyn Hopkins.

Montpellier Player Ratings

15. Josh Moorby: 8/10 – Impressed on his first start. A couple of tries disallowed but looked dangerous with the ball in hand.

14. Maël Moustin: 7/10 – The young winger showed great feet during the game. One of several try scorers and set up the following try with an outrageous offload.

13. Thomas Darmon: 6/10 – Played well in defence, working well with his partner Cadot.

12. Auguste Cadot: 9/10 – A late replacement for Arthur Vincent, the centre put in a POTM performance, carried hard and defended well. Finished off a beautiful try.

11. Madosh Tambwe: 7/10 – Quick dazzling feet but limited ball. Always looked to create something with the ball in hand and finished off a try when given space.

10. Stuart Hogg: 6/10 – A couple of handling errors, big boot helped Montpellier gain territory. His break inside his half set up their seventh try.

9. Léo Coly: 7/10 Overall, a great kicking display from both the tee and from the back of the rucks. Scored his sides fourth try to secure a bonus point too. Unforced error from a quick tap, however.

8. Sam Simmonds: 4/10 – Played a role in the first try but went off for 2 HIA's in the half.

7. Lenni Nouchi: 6/10 – The former France U20s captain carried well throughout the game.

6. Nicolas Martins: 7/10 – A world class rugby player. Big involvements in the first try which he also finished off. Dynamic runner and always looked for the offload.

5. Tyler Duguid: 6/10 – Powered over from close range for the second try. Carried hard throughout and made his presence felt.

4. Nicholas Janse Van Rensburg: 6/10 – Forced off in the first half but turned the ball over in the buildup to a try.

3. Luke Japaridze: 6/10 – Montpellier scrum dominated the first half. The Georgian showed his strength. Very active and put in a big 58 minutes shift.

2. Jordan Uelese: 7/10 – Switched to the backrow after injuries to Simmonds and Vunipola, scored a try and threw well at lineouts. Won some important turnovers.

1. Baptiste Erdocio: 6/10 – Scrummed well, carried hard and made some important tackles. A strong shift from the 24-year-old.

16. Lyam Akrab: 6/10 – The 19-year-old scored his first try in professional rugby after taking a tap and go from five metres out, showing great strength.

17. Enzo Forletta: 5/10 – Got a try off the bench but overpowered in the scrum.

18. Wilfrid Hounkpatin: 4/10 – Montpellier scrum looked a bit weaker after the replacements were made.

19. Bastien Chalureau: 5/10 – Hit hard at ruck times but gave away some needless penalties for diving into rucks.

20. Billy Vunipola: 4/10 – Came on for Simmonds during his HIA but was then forced off injured.

21. Ryan Lowrens: 6/10 – Quick thinking from a ruck created the tries for the wingers Moustin and Tambwe.

22. Aurélien Barreau: 5/10 – Did his job off the bench. Nothing spectacular but a made no errors.

23. Jan Serfontein: 4/10 Suffered a nasty cut to the head on his first carry as he came on in the last 10 minutes.

Ospreys Player Ratings

15. Jack Walsh: 5/10 – One of the best players on the pitch for the Ospreys, a dangerous runner always looked to play positive rugby.

14. Dan Kasende: 4/10 – Quick feet, set up an Ospreys try with a neat quick behind the Montpellier defence

13. Owen Watkin: 3/10 – No impact on the game at all. Played the full 80.

12. Owen Williams: 3/10 – Failed to make an impact at 12 and subbed off at half time

11. Keelan Giles: 4/10 – Like his opposite number, limited ball time meant we didn't see the flair from the Welshman. Made the most of the ball as he finished off in the corner at the end.

10. Dan Edwards: 5/10 – Slotted a lovely drop goal just inside the Montpellier half.

9. Kieran Hardy: 4/10 – Struggled to make an impact at nine, slow ball at ruck time

8. Morgan Morris: 4/10 – A quiet game from the usually reliable eight. Won some turnovers.

7. Jac Morgan: 4/10: Made a big turnover close to his try line but didn't have much impact on the game. Replaced early in the second half.

6. Tristan Davies: 4/10 – A pretty quiet game, helped tackle Uelese into touch but Montpellier scored instants later.

5. Lewis Jones: 4/10 – The giant second wasn't part of much

4. Will Spencer: 4/10 – Made some heavy carries on his Ospreys.

3. Ben Warren: 3/10 – Struggled at scrum time, received a warning from the referee for it.

2. Dewi Lake: 3/10 – Struggled at line out and gave away some penalties.

1. Gareth Thomas: 3/10 – Went down injured a couple of times in the first half, replaced at half time.

16. Sam Parry: 4/10

17. Steffan Thomas: 4/10

18. Rhys Henry: 4/10 – Put in a huge hit on Chalureau, Ospreys scrum looked stronger in the second half.

19. Will Griffiths: 3/10

20. Will Greatbanks: 4/10

21. Reuben Morgan-Williams: 4/10 – added a bit of speed to the Ospreys game at ruck time, allowing for the backs to move a bit more.

22. Evardi Boshoff: 4/10 – scored the Ospreys only try, showing his pace to run onto a Kasende kick.

23. Iestyn Hopkins: 4/10

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