Exiles finally run out of ideas and puff

 English Cup/Ospreys 51 London Irish 16:Another resounding, seven-try victory over English opposition sees the Ospreys requiring just a bonus point in their remaining group match at Harlequins next month to claim a place in the English Cup semi-finals for a second consecutive year.

But if they do reach the last four, which is now a near certainty, then the Welsh region can count themselves lucky in the draw they were handed.

They breezed past an uncertain Worcester the weekend before and yesterday racked up the tries - six, including a Shane Williams hat-trick - against an Exiles outfit that had run out of ideas and puff by the interval.

On the brink of the knockout stages, and having chalked up 98 points in two games, they have set themselves up well for the European Cup opener at home to Bourgoin on Saturday.

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones admitted they have much to consider over selection in the coming days.

"London Irish gave us the challenge we hoped for in the first half, but unfortunately in the second half there was only one side in it," said Jones.

"We are pleased to have come through strongly. There was a lot of pressure but we played well in big patches. The boys played well with a lot of spirit and imagination, which is great.

"We now have some big selection issues ahead of Saturday and there are going to be a lot of disappointed people.

"We expect a completely different challenge from Bourgoin next week. They are an unknown quantity in Europe, but what we have to do is understand the fine line that the European Cup brings to a game of rugby.

"We scored 40 points last week, 50 points this week and next week there could be one score in it."

For London Irish it was a different story, as a second group defeat puts them out of the competition.

"The second half turned into a bit of a training run for them," said their director of rugby, Brian Smith. "It was good for the home spectators but not if you are an opposition coach."

But for all that the Ospreys could have considered themselves fortunate they had gone in at half-time 20-16 to the good after a difficult 40 minutes of error and rising penalty count.

In between two fine tries - Gavin Henson having sent Jon Thomas in down the right and a masterly off-load from Ospreys' outstanding performer, Filo Tiatia, giving Williams an easy run-in - the Welsh side had to respond to being down 10-3 and then 16-13.

But gradually Tiatia's influence increased. He was again try provider at the start of the second half, taking the lineout ball that saw Phillips zip through a massive gap as Irish fell for a well-worked training-ground move.

After that it was very much one-way traffic. Ben Lewis scored the bonus-point try on the hour mark, before Marty Holah, the 36-time capped All Black, came on for his first Osprey appearance and was involved in the fifth try.

Williams had the final say with two tries in eight minutes after James Hook had gone off to healthy applause following his 14-point effort with the boot.

SCORES: Ospreys: Tries: Thomas, S Williams 3, Phillips, Lewis, Wyn-Jones. Cons: Hook 4, Connor. Pens: Hook 2. London Irish: Tries: De Vedia. Cons: Hickey. Pens: Hickey 3.

OSPREYS: Byrne; Walker, A Bishop, Henson, S Williams; Hook, Phillips; D Jones, Bennett, A Jones; Wyn-Jones, Evans; Thomas, Lewis, Tiatia. Replacements: Taylor for A Bishop, Marshall for Phillips (both 55), Holah for Lewis (61), James for D Jones, Hibbard for Bennett, Gough for Tiatia (all 64), Connor for Hook (73).

LONDON IRISH: Curran; Ojo, Rennie, Mordt, De Vedia; Hickey, Fury; Dermody, Coetzee, Lea'aetoa; Hudson, Johnson; McCullen, Thorpe, P Murphy. Replacements: Ireland for De Vedia (40), Skuse for Dermody, S Armitage for P Murphy (both 55), Mackie for Coetzee, Warren for Lea'aetoa (both 61), Hodgson for Mordt (73). Not used: Fisher.

Attendance: 8,356

Referee: Rob Debney (Leicestershire).