By Simon Thomas
Wales great Justin Tipuric says the Ospreys are playing with a smile on their faces as they continue their unbeaten run under new head coach Mark Jones.
They recorded a six-try 43-0 bonus point victory over Benetton Rugby in Swansea on Friday night – their biggest league win in seven years.
Since Jones took over from the departing Toby Booth just before Christmas, his five games at the helm have brought four wins and a draw in all competitions.
In their last three matches, the Ospreys have scored 109 points – an at average of 36 – and 16 tries, reflecting the expansive style of play favoured by former Wales wing Jones.
That approach clearly suits the handling skills and support play of the enduringly classy Tipuric down to the ground.
Ospreys finish the game in style!
A dominant display from the Ospreys!
Bonus point secured as they shut out Benetton
FT: Ospreys 43-0 Benetton#BBCRugby pic.twitter.com/wZt586ION8
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) January 24, 2025
The 35-year-old – who will be hanging up his boots at the end of the season to move into a coaching role at the region – was named Player of the Match following the thumping win over Benetton.
“The boys are playing with a smile on their face in attack which is great to see,” said the flanker.
“With the backs we have got, it’s pleasing for us to give them the ball and let them do what they do.”
The Ospreys were equally impressive defensively, as they nilled a team for the first time in four years.
“Points on the board is great, but to keep a team like Benetton, who play some great rugby, to a zero is probably the most pleasing thing,” said Tipuric.
Head coach Jones was full of praise for the 93-cap flanker who led by example as captain on the night.
“He’s not bad, is he? He’s a great player. One of the things I said to him with the change in the coaching set-up this year is I just wanted him to enjoy his last year because you only get one last season playing.
“He sets his standard around his work ethic and his detail. He’s tough, he’s competitive, he’s so smart around the contact area, he’s got so much to offer the team.
“He’s incredible. I just wish we could clone him up and start again!”
Giving a team-mate’s perspective on Tipuric, scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams said: “He’s the best player I’ve played with. He’s got it all.
“He can play any position on the field. He could probably take the nine jersey off me if he wanted to! He’s phenomenal.”
Reflecting on his team’s overall display against Benetton, Jones said: “The boys were great. It was a very good performance.
“We have talked about being brave, trying to move the ball and score more points and I think the boys are enjoying themselves doing it, which is a pleasure to watch.
“The intent they showed around the attacking mindset was first class and the execution was equally as good.
“I want us to be brave with the ball, I want us to entertain the crowd. It’s something I feel passionate about.
“But I also want to win games, as there is always a balance around that, and I think the players have embraced the little bits of pieces myself and the coaches have tried to add and layer into our game.”
Meanwhile, Cardiff lost heavily at home – 22-42 to the Hollywoodbets Sharks – but the game was much more in the balance than the final scoreline might suggest.
The home crowd got to watch six World Cup-winning Springboks, with one of them, Bongi Mbonambi, rampaging over for two tries, while another, Makazole Mapimpi, also crossed the whitewash.
But the supporters also got to see the emergence of a potential star of the future, with teenage Cardiff winger Tom Bowen touching down twice amid a tremendous individual display.
His double helped the depleted hosts stay in the fight and with seven minutes to go there was only one score in it, but the Sharks sealed the outcome with a couple of late touchdowns.
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Giving his thoughts on the Springbok-stacked visitors from Durban, Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt said: “They are a quality outfit. There were double World Cup winners coming off the bench!
“They are a rock star team really, aren’t they?
“So it was always going to be tough because they have got so many individuals who can do something in a flash and that’s probably what happened in the last six or seven minutes.
“I thought we looked really dangerous with ball in hand and scored some nice tries and I was pretty proud for us to get it back to a one score game.
“But the Sharks are a quality team who probably just had a bit too much pace and power for us in the last part of the game.
“Listen, we don’t like losing and we were obviously disappointed with how it ended. It was pretty cruel.
“But I just looked down from the stand after the match and to see the Arms Park pitch absolutely packed with kids and fans, I think it was a pretty good advert for the game.”
Commenting on the 19-year-old Bowen, who is in the Wales U20s Six Nations squad, Sherratt said: “He was very good. He backs himself. He’s got no fear.
“If he gets the ball in space, he’s very dangerous. He’s hard to handle. He changes direction so quickly. He’s been a real find for us in this block of games. He’s a very exciting player for the future.”