After an impressive group-stage campaign and a virtual second place, the Ospreys could still dream of the top spot and securing a favourable draw for the Round of 16. Standing in their way, however, was an unbeaten Montpellier side in European competition. The French club showed no mercy and managed to snatch victory (26-31).

In freezing conditions at the Electric Brewery Field of Bridgend, the Ospreys hosted Montpellier Hérault Rugby (MHR) on the final matchday of the Challenge Cup pool stage. While both teams had already secured qualification for the knockout rounds, there was still plenty at stake: a bonus-point win would have allowed the Welsh franchise to leapfrog the French side at the top of the group. Montpellier, currently sixth in the Top 14, arrived with three consecutive Challenge Cup wins under their belt. It was therefore a stern test for the Ospreys, who were looking to bounce back after last weekend’s defeat to Zebre Parma (23-19). But plagued by handling errors and poor decision-making, the Swansea-based side paid the price against a clinical Montpellier outfit.

A Frustrating First Half

Montpellier wasted no time. After just seven minutes, Ospreys indiscipline gave the visitors their opening, with Alex Masibaka crossing the line. Stuart Hogg converted, making it 0–7. The Ospreys responded quickly, finding space out wide, and five minutes later Owen Watkin sliced through the defence to score. Jack Walsh added the extras: 7–7. That spark, however, was short-lived. Handling errors and penalties began to pile up, allowing Montpellier to camp in the Ospreys’ half. In the 23rd minute, under heavy pressure, Ruben Morgan-Williams completely miskicked his clearance. The ball was gathered by Marco Tauleigne, who fed Alexis Bernadet; the scrum-half burst forward before releasing Jules Ducros for MHR’s second try, again converted: 7–14. For ten minutes, the Ospreys hammered at Montpellier’s 22, but the French defence held firm and eventually turned the ball over.

Montpellier counter-attacked with intent, and the pressure told. In the 36th minute, Jack Walsh caught a high ball and opted to run it back but was punished when Masibaka anticipated the pass and intercepted, racing away for Montpellier’s third try. Hogg converted once more: 7–21. The final moments of the half belonged to the Ospreys. Dominant forward play and sustained pressure paid off in the 41st minute when Lewis Lloyd powered over. Walsh converted, sending the teams into the break at 14–21. Despite flashes of attacking efficiency, the Ospreys were undone by technical errors against a Montpellier side that ruthlessly capitalised on every mistake.

Brief Resurgence Before the Collapse

The Welsh side emerged from the break with renewed purpose. For the opening 15 minutes of the second half, it was one-way traffic, with the Ospreys laying siege to Montpellier’s try line as the visitors repeatedly infringed. Eventually, reward came in the 55th minute when Lewis Lloyd, once again at the end of a rolling maul, grabbed his second try of the night. Walsh converted: 21–21. Momentum had clearly shifted. Montpellier struggled to build any meaningful attacking phases, while their indiscipline continued to cost them. Then, in the 60th minute, after a lineout, the Ospreys backline sliced through the defence. Ryan Conbeer sent Ross Moriarty charging through, and the Welsh No.8 powered over for the fourth try, securing a bonus point. Walsh missed the conversion, but the Ospreys led for the first time: 26–21. For a brief spell, the contest was evenly balanced, but as the game entered its final quarter, the Ospreys ran out of steam.

The last 15 minutes were all Montpellier, once back inside the Welsh 22, repeated phases eventually broke the defence, with Wilfrid Hounkpatin forcing his way over for MHR’s fourth try, converted to make it 26–28 and earn a precious bonus point. The Ospreys spent the final ten minutes pinned deep in their own half, committing error after error and unable to regain possession. A poorly executed lineout handed Montpellier a scrum, another Welsh infringement followed, and Léo Coly calmly slotted the resulting penalty to seal the result. Final score: 26–31.

A Costly Defeat

After more than an hour of evenly contested rugby, the Swansea-based franchise crumbled in the final quarter, failing to find answers to Montpellier’s relentless pressure. Although qualification was already secured, this defeat proved costly. With bonus-point victories for Connacht and Zebre Parma elsewhere, the Ospreys drop to fourth place in the standings. They will now face Ulster, winners of Pool C, in the Round of 16. A daunting trip to Belfast. Clear underdogs, the Ospreys will need a major upset to overcome a Northern Irish side they have not beaten since February 2024.

Picture : Erwann Riou / Sport W