Watson stunner clinches Tigers win at Ospreys

Anthony Watson's stunning solo try clinched a dogged Leicester victory in the Heineken Champions Cup at Ospreys.

But the Ospreys shot themselves in the foot with an undisciplined display that allowed a second-string Tigers to claim a crucial away win.

Harry Potter dived over and Watson sliced through to score and put the game beyond the Welsh region despite Morgan Morris' late try.

The result means the two-year wait for a Welsh win in Europe's top tier competition goes on.

It also justified Steve Borthwick's gamble with selection as he and opposite number Toby Booth took starkly contrasting approaches to this tie.

Booth immediately took the chance to recall nine Wales internationals to a team that had managed just one win from nine in the United Rugby Championship.

Meanwhile Borthwick rested several front-line players, including Chris Ashton, Ben Youngs and Freddie Steward, amid eight changes from the draw with Bristol.

The changes meant a scrappy start at the Swansea.com stadium, though for all their experience, the hosts were particularly guilty of maddening mistakes.

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An erratic display, marred by knock-ons and needless penalties, albeit from a whistle-happy referee, meant Ospreys were never in control.

Leicester's back-row, including the returning Olly Cracknell and captain Hanro Liebenberg, carried hard in field but the visitors had to do little for a 6-3 lead through Atkinson.

Ospreys did dominate at the scrum with their all-Wales front-row out-classing the young Tigers trio.

It was the platform from which they took a 10-6 lead on the stroke of half-time.

Rhys Webb's kick ahead sparked a scramble behind the try line as the bouncing ball evaded six players before a Tigers' hand conceded a scrum five metres out.

Nicky Smith burrowed over for the game's opening try

Smith turned the screw on Joe Heyes who was shown a yellow card for collapsing before the Welshman was on-hand to burrow over from close range for the game's opening try.

Walsh converted while George North trudged off injured after taking a heavy blow in the build up to the try.

Once Heyes returned, Leicester turned the tables with two tries in the space of eight minutes mid-way through the second-half.

Keelan Giles failed to gather Charlie Atkinson's speculative cross-field kick and Potter picked up and dived over.

Watson then showed his class with a wonderful solo score, splitting two defenders before beating Max Nagy and fending off Joe Hawkins to score under the posts.

Ospreys were galvanised as Hawkins, Webb and Alex Cuthbert all made break but mistakes continued.

Morris finally found a way over from close range and Jack Walsh converted to close the gap to three points seven minutes from time.

Yet immediately from the re-start, Ospreys gave up possession, Tigers determination earned a penalty in front of the posts and Atkinson slotted an easy three points.

It summed up the night both teams.

Ospreys: Max Nagy; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Joe Hawkins, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Rhys Webb; Nicky Smith, Scott Baldwin, Tom Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric (capt), Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Gareth Thomas, Tom Botha, Huw Sutton, Rhys Davies, Reuben Morgan Williams, Owen Williams, Michael Collins.

Leicester Tigers: Anthony Watson; Harry Potter, Guy Porter, Dan Kelly, Harry Simmons; Charlie Atkinson, Jack van Poortvliet; James Whitcombe, Charlie Clare, Joe Heyes, Harry Wells, Ollie Chessum, George Martin, Hanro Liebenberg (capt), Olly Cracknell.

Replacements: Gabriel Oghre, Nephi Leatigaga, Will Hurd, Eli Snyman, Sean Jansen, Richard Wigglesworth, Jimmy Gopperth, Matt Scott.

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)

Assistant referees: Pierre-Baptiste Nuchy & Jonathan Gasnier (France)

TMO: Eric Briquet-Campin (France)