The Ospreys, the last Welsh side standing in Europe, were pipped to an EPCR Challenge Cup semi-final berth as they went down to a 20-18 home defeat to Lyon.
Despite dominating territory and possession throughout, the Ospreys were unable to turn their pressure into the points they needed to reach the final four in a European competition for the first time and fell at the last eight hurdle for the second season in a row.
To make matters worse, they saw Dan Edwards conversion attempt of Georg McGuigan’s try come back off the upright to miss out on the chance of levelling the scores with nine minutes to go. It didn’t help they lost three key forwards through injury in Adam Beard, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Davies.
They are all no doubts for their Judgement Day assignment against Cardiff Rugby at Principality Stadium on Saturday
“Judgement Day becomes a big focus for us and we hopefully have an opportunity to have a good crack at that,” said Jones.
“If we can get some momentum through the next couple of weeks, hopefully, we can push for potentially getting into the top eight when we get to South Africa for our last two games.”
Jones was disappointed at the accuracy displayed by his side in a game when they forced Lyon to make 235 tackles and conceded 11 penalties. The Lyon defenders won the game for their side as they constantly thwarted the Ospreys attacking operations.
“It’s disappointing because the effort was there but we definitely dropped below a level of accuracy that we’ve shown over the last few months,” said Jones.
“Some of that was down to Lyon and the pressure they put on us around the contact area, but also a lot of skill-set stuff there we are a bit disappointed with. The little errors add up at the end and that’s disappointing because a lot of it was in our control.
“We wanted the ball, to dictate the speed of the game and to move their big guys around. We did move them around, but we just didn’t move them around well enough and accurately enough.
“It’s a good lesson for us that the closer you get to the finish line the more accurate you have got to be. All we can do is learn from it and hopefully we get into future knockout games – we want to build on this one and take the next step forward.”
Vincent Rattez gave the visitors an early lead with a try that was converted by Leo Berdeu. Two penalties from Berdeu gave Lyon a 13-10 interval lead over a Jac Morgan try and an Edwards penalty and conversion.
Mickael Guillard then crossed for a second Lyon try in the 50th minute and Berdeu’s conversion made it a 10-point game. Edwards cut the gap with a second penalty but couldn’t improve McGuigan’s driving line out try to leave the home side dreaming of what might have been.
SCORERS
Ospreys: Tries: J Morgan, G McGuigan; Con: D Edwards; Pens: D Edwards 2. Lyon: Tries: V Rattez, M Guillard; Cons: L Berdue 2; Pens: L Berdue 2.TEAMS
Ospreys: Jack Walsh; Dan Kasende, Evardi Boshoff, Keiran Williams, Keelan Giles; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan (captain), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris
Reps: George McGuigan, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, James Fender, Morgan Morse, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Owen Williams, Iestyn HopkinsLyon: Alexandre Tchaptchet; Vincent Rattez, Josiah Maraku, Theo Millet, Ethan Dumortier; Leo Berdeu, Charlie Cassang; Wayan De Benedittis, Sam Matavesi, Hamza Kaabeche, Felix Lambey (captain), Alban Roussel, Steeve Blanc-Mappaz, Beka Shvangiradze, Maxime Gouzou
Reps: Guillaume Marchand, Sebastien Taofifenua, Valentin Simutoga, Mickael Guillard, Theo William, Dylan Cretin, Baptiste Couilloud, Alfred ParisienReferee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)