Ospreys soar over Viadana
The Ospreys ran in eight tries in Italy to boost their hopes of qualification from Pool 3.
Last Updated: 13/12/09 11:50am
The Ospreys ran in eight tries in Italy to boost their hopes of qualification from Pool 3.
The Welsh region grabbed maximum points inside 33 minutes after first-half tries for Alun Wyn Jones, Nikki Walker, Jerry Collins and Ricky Januarie to go top of the pool.
But they did not ease off as Richard Hibbard (two), Tommy Bowe and Gareth Owen scored after the interval.
Gavin Quinnell crossed for the hosts on the hour mark but that was merely a consolation for Viadana.
The Ospreys were without experienced stars Ryan Jones, Mike Phillips, Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, Adam Jones and James Hook.
But their major problem came at scrum-half with Phillips, Williams and Tom Isaacs all out injured.
With Jamie Nutbrown returning from a two-month lay-off, the Welsh region snapped up Januarie on a short-term loan.
However, red tape held up his arrival from South Africa and the World Cup winner was handed his European debut after just one training session.
Fly-half Dan Biggar opened the scoring for the visitors with a penalty in the sixth minute before a surge of tries arrived.
Viadana centre Garry Law missed two long-distance penalties but once skipper Quintin Geldenhuys was shown a yellow card for persistent infringements, the Ospreys took advantage.
Half-backs Januarie and Biggar combined and the fly-half saw his long pass find lock Jones in oceans of space to stroll over.
Januarie proved to be the heartbeat of Ospreys' attack and his quick tap set up Walker to power past Viadana number eight Gavin Quinnell to saunter under the posts.
Then Januarie cashed in for his first try for the region, before stand-in skipper Collins coasted in for the bonus-point.
Biggar produced an accomplished kicking display in a 22-point haul, converting the fifth and sixth tries courtesy of hooker Richard Hibbard either side of Quinnell crashing over for for Viadana.
Bowe and Owen also touched down for the Ospreys in the final quarter to complete the rout.
