They did manage a draw three years ago but this time the Tigers finished with a real flourish for what was ultimately an emphatic win that keeps the group boiling over.

Flood pulled the strings from start to finish and scored a long range interception try and kicked magnificently for a 24-points haul with Manu Tuilagi snatching the bonus point with just second remaining.

Flanker Ryan Jones – rejuvenated for both club and country – pounced for an opportunist second minute try, forcing his way over from close range, to stun the Tigers faithful.

Outside half Dan Biggar converted and when he added a 12th minute penalty goal the home side were 10 points adrift thanks to a whirlwind Ospreys start.

But the Tigers, who have now won 18 and drawn two of their last 20 tournament matches at “Fortress Welford,” are always inspired by playing in front of their home crowd and that happened again.

Great work by half backs Ben Youngs and Flood created the space for Tuilagi to stroll over for his first with Flood levelling matters before half time with a penalty and the conversion.

And the Ospreys were not helped with prop Ryan Bevington dispatched to the sin bin by French referee Romain Poite for persistent scrum infringements.

Biggar and Flood exchanged further penalties before Youngs had the Ospreys’ alarm bells working overtime as he raced away from an unprotected line-out on a glorious sole run.

A try looked on but the Ospreys regrouped and wing Eli Walker cleared although Flood was on target with a third penalty to kick the Tigers ahead for the first time after 50 minutes.

He landed another as the Ospreys came under pressure, particularly at the line-out, only for Biggar to first cut the deficit with a well struck angled penalty and then level matters yet again with his fourth success.

But then Flood enjoyed a magnificent purple period that took the game – and hopes of at least a bonus point – away from the Ospreys.

Part 1 was a 58 metre penalty smack on target. Part 2 was the interception of Biggar’s intended pass and a long run for the line for a try he converted himself.

Biggar did respond with another penalty but Youngs cashed in following a lucky bounce for a third Tigers try and Tuilagi got his second and the Tigers' fourth with less than a minute on the clock to take all five points.