The Wales star crossed three times to cap an emphatic 51-16Â victory for last year’s Anglo-Welsh Cup finalists. Jonathan Thomas, Mike Phillips, Ben Lewis and Alun Wyn Jones all followed to secure the bonus point win needed to qualify from the pool.
The Ospreys are the first team to book their place in the last four as they aim to go one better than last season when they lost to Leicester Tigers in a thrilling final. And they look in confident form after dumping half-a-century of points on their English opponents at the Liberty Stadium.
The Exiles were blitzed after starting brightly when Argentina wing Tomas De Vedia drew first blood on 12 minutes. Ospreys youngster Andrew Bishop was over ambitious and De Vedia picked off his wayward pass to gallop in from half way.
But Gavin Henson made sure the Ospreys were back on level terms within seconds. Henson raced onto Lee Byrne’s pass before handing Thomas an easy score.
Eoghan Hickie was erratic with the boot and Williams punished Irish for their lack of concentration when he scorched over from Filo Tiatia’s clever off-load before half time.
The Ospreys cut lose in the second half after Phillips and Lewis opened breathing space with the bonus point. Justin Marshall ran riot off the bench as Irish tired and Williams wrapped up a stunning solo display with two more tries, completing a hat-trick six minutes from time.
target=_blank>Click Here for a Statistical Match Report from the EDF Energy Cup match between the Ospreys and London Irish
