Ospreys 17 Leicester 12:Ospreys dumped Leicester out of the Heineken Cup with today's 17-12 win and ensured an all-time low for English teams in European club rugby's blue riband competition.
Only one Guinness Premiership side - Northampton or London Irish - will contest this season’s quarter-finals. That represents the worst performance by English clubs in the 14 seasons they have challenged for Heineken silverware.
Wing Tommy Bowe’s first-half try helped send the Ospreys through as one of two best runners-up, but Leicester missed out in Pool Three as current French Championship leaders Clermont Auvergne took top spot.
Dan Biggar sealed the Ospreys’ victory with three penalties and a drop-goal, leaving Leicester high and dry despite a Jeremy Staunton drop-goal and three Toby Flood penalties.
The Ospreys, who now face a possible quarter-final away to Irish heavyweights Munster or defending champions Leinster, were not to be denied, despite an injury concern over their Wales and Lions star Lee Byrne.
Byrne limped off 12 minutes from time, and although he returned to the action shortly afterwards, it was enough to trouble Wales coach Warren Gatland just two weeks before the Six Nations opener against England at Twickenham.
It also concerned Leicester, as the Ospreys briefly appeared to have 16 players on the pitch before Byrne went back off and then reappeared again, this time instead of Biggar.
The Ospreys held on during a frenzied finale that saw Leicester throw everything at their opponents in a desperate attempt to stay alive in Europe.
But the Welsh side survived, breathing a huge collective sigh of relief when Tigers substitute Aaron Mauger knocked on just five metres from the Ospreys line.
Leicester arrived in Swansea seeking to avoid a pool stage exit for the second time in three seasons, but they were without injured England flanker Tom Croft, who was replaced by Craig Newby.
The Ospreys paraded an all-international team, including first starts of 2010 for fit-again Wales backs Shane Williams and James Hook.
Leicester had to absorb considerable pressure before and after a ninth-minute penalty success for Flood as the Ospreys looked to attack in wide channels.
But the game soon settled into an anticipated heavyweight tussle between two powerful packs intent on establishing set-piece supremacy.
Ospreys prop Paul James was on the receiving end of referee Alan Lewis’ whistle at two early scrums, yet the Ospreys composed themselves for Biggar to slot a drop-goal and penalty.
Flood’s second penalty had edged Leicester ahead for a second time, and although a Staunton drop-goal then made it 9-6, an equalising Biggar penalty meant there was nothing between the sides approaching half-time.
The Ospreys though, were far more adventurous, and their invigorating approach reaped its reward in thrilling fashion.
Flanker Jerry Collins set the tone with a rampaging burst through the heart of Leicester’s midfield, and despite lock Alun-Wyn Jones being unable to take the move on, Tigers were soon unlocked.
The Ospreys moved possession wide and at pace, and a deft left-footed kick by Hook was finished off in trademark predatory style by Ireland and Lions wing Bowe.
It meant Bowe had touched down in all six of the Ospreys’ Heineken group games this season, and despite Biggar missing a touchline conversion attempt, Ospreys enjoyed a glimmer of control.
Leicester were rattled by the try, underlined when Flood botched a penalty chance with the final kick of a fast and furious half.
The Ospreys looked to extend their advantage early in the second period, but Biggar was guilty of missing penalty and drop-goal chances as Leicester found themselves pinned inside their own 22.
Flood then showed him how it should be done, finding his range from almost 45 metres to put Leicester just two points behind and remind the Ospreys they were far from finished.
Biggar cancelled out Flood’s strike, making it 17-12, as Leicester boss Richard Cockerill sought powerful bench reinforcements with the introduction of prop Martin Castrogiovanni and wing Alesana Tuilagi.
Time was starting to tick away for the Tigers, Heineken Cup winners in 2001 and 2002, and they desperately needed inspiration to somehow thwart a ferociously-committed Ospreys outfit.
But when the Ospreys pack then destroyed Leicester’s scrum, sending them retreating at a rate of knots, there appeared no way back.
Leicester, when they had possession, looked to free the destructive Tuilagi, and a punishing contest began to resemble a case of last-man standing entering the final five minutes.
It was the Ospreys who held their nerve though, celebrating arguably their finest victory.