Ospreys recover to claim bonus point win in Italy

Ospreys have won six of their last seven games in all competitions

Ospreys fought back for a bonus-point win at Zebre in the United Rugby Championship.

But Zebre took the lead at the break through Kobus van Wyk and Taina Fox-Matamua's brace and Luca Andreani got their bonus point try.

Morgan Morris ricocheted over before Reuben Morgan-Williams sealed the hard-fought win.

Prop Nicky Smith led much-changed Ospreys having been overlooked by Wales for the 2023 Six Nations and amid reports he may leave Welsh rugby at the end of the season.

A glut of Wales call ups prompted many changes for the visitors following their European Champions Cup win at Leicester.

Centre Tommaso Boni returned to lead the hosts who are now still searching for the first league win after 13 defeats.

Ospreys rose a place to 12th in the table, level on points with Welsh rivals Cardiff.

The visitors put their attacking stamp on the encounter from the off, producing a superb sweeping move from a line-out that ended with open-side Deaves crossing at the corner.

Soon after, the approach again paid dividends for centre Thomas-Wheeler to go clear.

Fly-half Jack Walsh converted both scores.

Zebre hit back with a slick score of their own, fly-half Tiff Eden's long pass setting van Wyk free and scored a second as number eight Fox-Matamua powered through Ospreys' defence.

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Eden converted to make it a two-point deficit for his side and Fox-Matamua put his side into the lead from lock Leonard Krumov's offload.

Fly-half Eded again added the extras to give Zebre a 19-14 lead at the break, that flanker Andreani extended as he drove over for the bonus point.

Ospreys number eight Morris again found his way to the line as he rewarded Ospreys' fourth-quarter pressure, a try replacement 10 Myler converted.

The fly-half added another conversion after Morris found Morgan-Williams with the scoring pass as Ospreys seized the lead.

Zebre launched a desperate bid to snatch it at the death, but Ospreys held out.

Zebre Parma: Lorenzo Pani; Kobus van Wyk, Franco Smith Jr, Tommaso Boni (capt), Jacopo Trulla; Tiff Eden, Chris Cook; Paolo Buonfiglio, Giampietro Ribaldi, Ion Neculai, Leonard Krumov, Josh Furno, Luca Andreani, Matt Kvesic, Taina Fox-Matamua.

Replacements: Jacques Du Toit, Alessio Sanavia, Riccardo Genovese, Jan Uys, Giovanni Licata, Ratko Jelic, Damiano Mazza, Geronimo Prisciantelli.

Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Michael Collins, Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Nicky Smith (capt), Elvis Taione, Tom Botha, Bradley Davies, Huw Sutton, Jack Regan, Harri Deaves, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Tom Cowan-Dickie, Garyn Phillips, Rhys Henry, James Fender, Tristan Davies, Matthew Aubrey, Stephen Myler, Iestyn Hopkins.

Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Clara Munarini & Riccardo Angelucci (Italy)

TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)