European Cup/Ospreys 13 Stade Francais 8: The Ospreys pulled off a stunning Heineken European Cup upset as they flattened French giants Stade Francais by producing an immense performance of raw courage and commitment.
Stade proved a shambles in comparison. Their normal fluency and attacking invention never materialised at the Liberty Stadium, and defeat against Paris visitors Leicester next Saturday would leave the bell tolling on any quarter-final ambitions.
Stade scored a second-half try through wing Lucas Borges, yet fullback Juan-Martin Hernandez missed four kicks at goal from five attempts.
The Ospreys, despite being without injured Lions Gavin Henson and Ryan Jones, made a mockery of their long quarter-final odds to progress from Pool Three.
Centre Sonny Parker pounced for a first-half try with Shaun Connor slotting a penalty and conversion before substitute Matthew Jones' 69th-minute penalty proved the clincher.
That was after Hernandez found his range to boot a penalty at the third attempt. He missed another penalty four minutes into the second-half, and a sorry tale of squandered chances continued for Stade when Julian Arias could not ground possession after he decided to go it alone and ignore three unmarked team-mates outside him. By then the Ospreys sensed a famous win.
Stade negated the threat, more by luck rather than judgment on occasions, and they looked to have clawed their way back into it when Borges crossed out wide, but Jones responded by landing a penalty and the Ospreys had arrived on cloud nine.
OSPREYS: Karauna; Mustoe, Parker, L Davies, S Williams; Connor, Spice; D Jones, B Williams, A Jones, Newman, Bateman, Thomas, Pugh, Lloyd. Replacements: M Jones for Connor (65 mins), James for D Jones (75), Bennett for B Williams (75), Millward for A Jones (65), Beech for Lloyd (38). Not Used: Tandy, A Bishop.
STADE FRANCAIS: Martin Hernandez; Borges, Glas, Messina, Arias; Penaud, Pichot; Roncero, Szarzewski, De Villiers, Marchois, M James, Parisse, Martin, Sowerby. Replacements: M Bergamasco for Arias (49 mins), Rabadan for Sowerby (60). Not Used: Kayser, Montes, Jechoux, Williams, Sarramea.
Referee: T Spreadbury (England).
