Leinster Suffer Rare Home Defeat As Ospreys Earn European Reward

Josh Thomas’ late charge-down try guided the Ospreys to a sensational 24-19 comeback win over Guinness PRO14 finalists Leinster at the RDS.

With replacement Andrew Smith sin-binned, Leinster lost their grip on a 19-3 lead as Ospreys ruthlessly reeled off converted scores from Olly Cracknell (68 minutes), Owen Watkin (71) and Thomas (75).

It was a season-defining result for Toby Booth’s men as it guarantees them a third place finish in Conference A and Heineken Champions Cup rugby for next season.

The defeat will certainly sharpen Leinster minds ahead of next week’s PRO14 final against Munster. Tries from Harry Byrne and Jamie Osborne, on his second start, had them 12-3 ahead at half-time.

Out-half Byrne bagged a brace but it went downhill for the defending champions during the final quarter, on a night when Devin Toner drew level with the province’s record caps holder Gordon D’Arcy (261 games).

Thomas blocked a Byrne kick to score, adding his third conversion to seal the Ospreys’ first victory in Dublin since their 2012 final triumph.

Frustrated by a trio of recent defeats, the Ospreys went very close to an early try but Reuben Morgan-Williams was instead whistled up for a knock-on.

Once Leinster exerted pressure in the right areas, the visitors struggled with their discipline and lost prop Ma’afu Fia to the bin in the 19th minute.

An 8-9 move off a scrum, combined with centre Osborne’s well-timed dummy run, played in Byrne for his 21st-minute converted try.

Luke Price responded with a penalty, only for Will Griffiths to fumble Byrne’s skyscraper restart. Osborne pounced on the loose ball and dived over for five more points in the right corner.

Price hit the post with a subsequent penalty and Ospreys failed to profit from two late penetrating runs by Morgan Morris, the eventual Guinness player-of-the-match.

Just three minutes into the second half, Byrne crossed from a fizzing Hugh O’Sullivan pass after tighthead Michael Bent had taken advantage of a defensive gap.

Ciaran Frawley converted for 19-3 and Leinster were looking comfortably. That was until their scrum began to concede penalties and the Ospreys’ bench made a big impact.

Smith caught Dewi Cross with a high tackle in the 67th minute, and the Ospreys pack piled through for Cracknell to dive in beside the posts.

20-year-old replacement Thomas coolly converted and also added the extras to Watkin’s rumble for the line, following a furious chase and steal by flanker Morris.

Victorious in Ireland on only two previous occasions since 2016, the Ospreys snatched the result when Thomas followed through on his block-down on Byrne, getting the better of Max O’Reilly to go in under the posts.

There was still time for Leinster to reply, but the Ospreys tightened up in defence and Dewi Lake, another of their influential replacements, forced a decisive turnover penalty.