EDF Energy Cup reaction – Sunday
Ospreys assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys acclaimed an ice-cool performance by goal-kicker James Hook after the Welsh region reached this season's EDF Energy Cup semi-finals.
Ospreys assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys acclaimed an ice-cool performance by goal-kicker James Hook after the Welsh region reached this season's EDF Energy Cup semi-finals.
The Ospreys fly-half produced an immaculate display, booting 14 points in a 23-19 defeat at London Irish.
But a losing bonus point was sufficient for the Ospreys to book a third successive Anglo-Welsh semi-final place, and an appointment with Gloucester in Coventry on March 28.
“James has been a bit disappointed with his kicking recently,” said Humphreys.
“But he really stepped up when we needed him today. He was in the groove.”
Hook held his nerve when Ospreys trailed 20-6 early in the second period, culminating a nerveless performance by landing a 52-metre penalty.
And with wing Nikki Walker claiming a 54th-minute touchdown, Irish were denied a last-four spot despite first-half tries from centre Seilala Mapusua and wing Sailosi Tagicakibau.
“Every game this season we have come away with something, and that is a tribute to the players – they keep on going,” Humphreys added.
“We would like to be playing a little more clinically, but it is great we are through to the semi-finals.
“This competition is high among our priorities. We are the holders, and we want to defend the trophy.”
Ospreys fielded six of Wales' autumn Test squad in their starting line-up, with five more on the bench.
And Wales coach Warren Gatland suffered an injury scare when Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett limped off nursing an ankle problem midway through the second period.
Bennett is favourite to wear the Wales number two shirt against world champions South Africa in Cardiff next Saturday.
“We are unsure about his injury at this stage,” said Humphreys.
“He is being looked at by the medical staff, and he will report to the Wales camp tomorrow (Monday).”
Despite bowing out of the tournament, Irish earned plaudits from their head coach Toby Booth.
“I am pleased we have shown we can compete at the top table,” he said.
“We treated this game like a cup final, but we are not going through because of what happened in a previous round (Irish lost to Worcester).”
Booth also had praise for fly-half Shane Geraghty, who delivered another encouraging performance on the long road back from major injury trouble.
The England international was closely marked by a tigerish Ospreys back-row before making way for veteran World Cup-winner Mike Catt 20 minutes from time.
“On the whole, I thought Shane was pretty good,” Booth added.
“You need three or four games under your belt, and he is coming through and getting back to his best.
“He has had an horrific time with injury, and we've got to look after him.”
Meanwhile, Worcester Director of Rugby Mike Ruddock bemoaned his side's inability to take their chances after the 27-14 defeat by Harlequins ended their interest in the EDF Energy Cup competition.
Quins were deserved winners as a poor performance by Worcester left them far too much to do in the second half.
The home side never looked like obtaining the four tries they would have needed to threaten the qualification of Ospreys.
Ruddock admitted his side had given everything in the second half but pointed the finger at a lack of cutting edge.
“The wind was against us in the first half so we elected to put them in to bat and back ourselves not to concede – but I was disappointed with the outcome as we conceded two tries,” he explained.
“I put my captain Pat Sanderson on at half-time and he gave our side a lift as he always does.
“In the second half I couldn't fault our commitment and passion.
“We were much more physical than in the first half but we lacked the clinical edge.
“Harlequins were not that much better than us but they were the better team because they took their chances and we did not.”
Ruddock admitted he was aware of the Ospreys' progress in their game at London Irish, which the holders lost 23-19.
“I was up until 10 minutes to go and even then I thought we had a chance as we were pressurising them on a continuing basis – but at the death we tried to force a play giving them a soft try to finish off,” he continued.
“Our execution was poor, which we will be working on – but it is a huge lift to have Pat Sanderson back.”
Quins counterpart Dean Richards explained his decision to field such a strong side when they had no chance of qualification.
“We viewed it as an important game as it is the final one of this stage of matches and I wanted a lot of our players to try a few things out before they have a week off,” he said.
“The competition is a worthwhile one but if you lose the first fixture as we did against the Ospreys then you are virtually out of the competition.”
On the injury front he indicated Tom Guest, who withdrew with a rib problem, should return soon, while two players were helped off during the game.
Jordan Turner-Hall's sprained ankle was described by Richards as “being fine” but Phil Davies' knee injury was “more problematic.”
Elsewhere, Gloucester Director of Rugby Dean Ryan praised Newcastle after his side squeaked into the EDF Energy Cup semi-finals by a point at Kingston Park.
A third consecutive win in Group A was secured 11-10, but the visitors made hard work of what on paper should have been an easy task.
They were one point adrift at the end of a disappointing first half and still in arrears with just four minutes remaining when replacement flanker Apo Satala grabbed the match-winning try.
It was a lacklustre performance all round and Ryan said afterwards: “We made hard work of it and Newcastle deserve credit, they worked very hard.
“Both Apo and Dave Lewis made the difference when they came on.”
With no Jonny Wilkinson or Jamie Noon, Newcastle fielded a makeshift three-quarter line for a game which was a dead rubber for them after no victories in their pool campaign.
To their credit they stuck manfully to the task and with a little more ambition could have put paid to Gloucester's hopes.
“Bitterly disappointed and really upset that we didn't clinch it earlier,” Falcons' Director of Rugby Steve Bates said of his feelings after the match.
“A little bit of desperation was creeping in near the end and we gave away a lot of penalties.
“It was pretty even in terms of creating and taking chances.”
Newcastle saw little of the ball in the opening 18 minutes and it was entirely against the run of play when they took the lead.
Their full-back Steve Jones punted aimlessly downfield but Willie Walker, his opposite number, fatally touched the ball as it crossed the line, thereby conceding the lineout.