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The Ospreys will still be reeling from their failure to make the last eight of the Heineken Cup after their 15-15 draw to the Leicester Tigers was not enough to keep them in the tournament. - 18/01/2013 07:30
The Ospreys will still be reeling from their failure to make the last eight of the Heineken Cup after their 15-15 draw to the Leicester Tigers was not enough to keep them in the tournament.
The Welsh side’s elimination means there is no Welsh representation in the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup for the second time in the last three seasons but the reigning Pro12 champions will be determined to sign off in style.
Wing Eli Walker, who set up the final Ospreys try for replacement centre Jonathan Spratt, was rewarded for his devastating display with call-up to the Wales 6 Nations squad.
The Ospreys travel to face fellow Pro12 side Benetton Treviso with both sides only having pride to play for in the final game of the Pool at Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
The Welsh side recorded a 38-17 victory over the Italians in the Pool opener at the Liberty Stadium but the Ospreys know all about the threat posed by Treviso at home.
The Italians held the Ospreys 26-26 on their own patch in last season’s tournament and are still looking for their first victory in the Pool and will be determined to finish on a high.
Match Facts
- Treviso have won just one previous Heineken Cup Round 6 match – 33-19 at home to Pontypridd in 1998/99.
- The Italians have lost their last eight Heineken Cup ties since beating Biarritz Olympique 30-26 at Stadio Monigo on 10 December 2011.
- Ospreys’ 36-5 defeat at Biarritz at this stage last year ended a sequence of five successive Round 6 wins for the Welsh region.
- Ospreys are without a win in their last 10 away games in Europe since beating Viadana 62-7 at Reggio nell’Emilia in December 2009.
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Treviso have been penalised more than any other club in the Heineken Cup this season, averaging 18 in their five matches to date.
Benetton Treviso recorded their first win in the Heineken Cup in nine games with this hard-fought 17-14 victory over the reigning Pro12 champions
Benetton Treviso recorded their first win in the Heineken Cup in nine games with this hard-fought 17-14 victory over the reigning Pro12 champions, the Ospreys, at Stadio Comunale di Monigo.
The Italian side had lost their previous eight Heineken Cup games since they beat former finalists and French side Biarritz Olympique 30-26 at Stadio Monigo back in December 2011.
A late try by replacement wing Andrea Pratichetti on the 79th minute secured an unlikely win and gave Treviso their first victory in this season’s Pool over the Welsh region.
The Ospreys 15-all draw with the Leicester Tigers last Sunday ended the Welsh sides hopes of a Heineken Cup quarter-final place and knocked them out of the tournament for this season.
The Ospreys elimination means there is no Welsh representation in the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup for the second time in the last three seasons and this victory will rub salt into their wounds. .
The Welsh side have now lost their last 11 away games in Europe since they recorded a victory over Italian part-timers Viadana 62-7 at Reggio nell'Emilia back in December 2009.
Wing Eli Walker, who was called up to the Wales 6 Nations squad, was a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Heineken Cup debutant Ben John.
Fly-half Kristopher Burton gave the home side an early lead with a penalty before his opposite number for the Ospreys, Biggar, levelled the score with his first penalty of the game.
Biggar put the visitors ahead with his second penalty midway through the first half to make it 6-3 to the Welsh side at half-time and his drop goal stretched the Ospreys lead just after the break.
Centre Tom Issacs crossed for the Ospreys try midway through the second-half but Treviso’s flanker Alessandro Zanni and replacement wing Pratichetti in the dying moments secured victory.
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