Phillips injury scare for Wales

MIKE PHILLIPS handed Wales an injury scare during Ospreys 25-24 Heineken Cup Pool Three victory over Clermont Auvergne at the Liberty Stadium yesterday.

The Lions scrum-half limped off in the 33rd minute with an ankle injury as Wales coach Warren Gatland looked on less than three weeks before the opening autumn international against New Zealand on November 7.

Ospreys coach Sean Holley said it was too early to know the extent of the injury and was just relieved his side secured their first win in Pool Three after seeing a 22-3 lead wiped out.

“Clearly it was nerve wracking and we are just glad to get over the line,” said Holley, whose side drew 32-32 with Leicester last weekend.

Ospreys had to withstand a second-half comeback from Clermont. The home side led 22-3 at half-time before Clermont scored three converted tries in the space of nine minutes to lead 24-22.

But a 64th-minute penalty from Dan Biggar put the Ospreys back in the lead and they held on for the win.

Ospreys showed positive intent from the start and Dan Biggar scored a drop goal in the second minute.

And they went further ahead seven minutes later thanks to a well worked try from centre Tommy Bowe.

Clermont responded with a drop goal of their own from outside-half Brock James but the visitors suffered a blow to their chances of getting back on terms when second row Thabault Privat was shown a yellow card for a trip on Shane Williams.

With the extra man Ospreys took full advantage as Ryan Jones went over for the second try from short range. Biggar converted to give the home side a 15-3 lead on 28 minutes.

But Ospreys were also reduced to 14 men with the sin-binning of Jerry Collins two minutes later for an illegal challenge on James.

A second setback for the Ospreys, and a worry for Wales, saw Phillips limp off on 33 minutes. He was replaced by Jamie Nutbrown.

But despite that the home side scored their third try with the last move of the first period. Barry Davies went over after a neat chip ahead from Biggar was collected by Bowe and passed through the hands.

If Ospreys had dominated the first half, Clermont certainly made an impact at the start of the second, scoring three converted tries to turn a 19-point deficit into a 24-22 lead.

The first try arrived within the first two minutes thanks to winger Benoit Baby. Replacement prop Domingo squeezed over for the second try and made the break which saw flanker Alexandre Lapandry go over three minutes later.

Ospreys stopped the rot on 64 minutes with a well-struck long-range penalty by Biggar as they went back into the lead at 25-24, and Clermont then had a try disallowed when wing Napolini Nalaga was forced into touch before getting the ball down in the left corner.

Ospreys clung on for the win after James struck the left upright with a 74th-minute penalty.

Ospreys scorers: Try – B Davies, R Jones, T Bowe; Conversion – D Biggar (2); Penalty – D Biggar; Drop Goal – J Hook

Clermont scorers: Try – B Baby, T Domingo, A Lapandry; Conversion – B James (3); Drop Goal – B James

OSPREYS: B Davies, N Walker, T Bowe, J Hook, S Williams, D Biggar, M Phillips (J Nutbrown 32), D Jones (P James 54), H Bennett (R Hibbard 35), C Griffiths (C Mitchell 54), A Jones, J Thomas (I Gough 56), J Collins, M Holah (F Tiatia 58), R Jones (capt)

ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE: A Rougerie [capt], B Baby, G Canale, S Bai, N Nalaga, B James (B Russell 75), K Senio, L Faure (T Domingo 46), M Ledesma, M Scelzo (V Debaty 55), J Cudmore, T Privat (J White 64), J Bonnaire, A Lapandry (J Bardy 64), E Vermeulen

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)