The Ospreys went down to a 29-10 defeat against the Sharks in South Africa
Ospreys look set to miss out on the United Rugby Championship play-offs after they were beaten 29-10 by Sharks in Durban.
The Welsh side led through an early Dan Edwards penalty, and after Sharks forward Jason Jenkins scored the contest’s first try, Ospreys replied with scrum-half Kieran Hardy crossing having run on to his own grubber kick.
But the effort was ruled out via a TMO review, with there deemed to have been a knock on, and the hosts – who lost Eben Etzebeth to injury just before the half-hour – went on to extend their lead with Andre Esterhuizen and Ethan Hooker touching down either side of the break.
Ospreys subsequently made it 21-10 around the hour, Sam Parry going over after a driving maul.
Sharks swiftly hit back, though, with a Phepsi Buthelezi try, and Siya Masuku added a penalty in the final stages.
While Ospreys were left three points outside the top eight, Sharks have sealed a place in the top four to give them a home fixture in the quarter-finals that follow next week’s final round of regular-season matches.
Sharks (14) 29
Tries: Jenkins, Esterhuizen, Hooker, Buthelezi Cons: Masuku 2, Fassi Pen: Masuku
Ospreys (3) 10
Try: Parry Con: Edwards Pen: Edwards
Sharks: Aphelele Fassi; Ethan Hooker, Jurenzo Julius, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Siya Masuku, Jaden Hendrikse; Dian Bleuler, Bongi Mbonambi, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth (capt), Jason Jenkins, James Venter, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi.
Replacements: Fez Mbatha, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Hanro Jacobs, Emmanuel Tshituka, Phepsi Buthelezi, Bradley Davids, Francois Venter, Yaw Penxe.
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Daniel Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Will Spencer, Adam Beard, James Ratti, Jac Morgan (capt), Morgan Morse.
Replacements: Sam Parry, Steffan Thomas, Ben Warren, Will Griffiths, Harri Deaves, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Owen Williams, Iestyn Hopkins.
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (WRU)
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira & Hanru van Rooyen (SARU)
TMO: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
