Steve Tandy has admitted the Ospreys have blown a golden chance of silverware through their failure to be ruthless.
Welsh interest in Europe ended for yet another season when the Ospreys followed the Cardiff Blues by making a mess of things in the first knockout stage.
The Ospreys head coach said there were “bucketfuls” of opportunities for his side during their 25-21 defeat to Stade Francais in their European Challenge Cup quarter-final tie on Sunday.
Despite having wing Josaia Raisuqe sent off for a second yellow card offence just 12 minutes into the second half, Stade were good value for their 25-21 victory at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Prop Zurabi Zhvania, wing Julian Arias and substitute back-row forward Raphael Lakafia scored tries, while France international fly-half Jules Plisson added two penalties and two conversions to end Welsh interest in Europe this season.
The Ospreys delivered a Josh Matavesi try and late Tyler Ardron touchdown, plus three Dan Biggar penalties and a conversion, but ultimately they were architects of their own downfall, failing to make pressure count and gifting Stade opportunities in open play.
“I thought we probably deserved to win the game, but we paid for some inaccuracies and not finishing off opportunities,” head coach Tandy said.
“We weren’t accurate enough, and we probably forced one or two things that we didn’t need to.
“Did we create opportunities? There were bucketfuls for us, but we didn’t take them. We felt we had Stade going backwards and they were tiring, but it is what it is.
“There is no hiding place. It is pretty raw and disappointing, but ultimately it is knockout rugby and one team hasn’t done a lot to win the game – they’ve slowed the game down and won in a different way – and we have to handle that better.
“The changing room is a pretty sobering place – it’s pretty quiet – but ultimately there is no hiding place.”
Asked if Raisuqe should have been red carded for his first offence – a 20th-minute stamp on Ospreys wing Keelan Giles – Tandy added: “You don’t like to be controversial, but when someone stamps on someone, surely that’s a red card.
“Ultimately, that was the decision, but I don’t want to be sat here bleating about referee calls.
“I still think we should have dealt with that, and there were enough opportunities for us to win the game and get it done and dusted, but we didn’t do that.”
Ospreys skipper and Wales scrum-half Rhys Webb said: “We felt we were in control of the game, but inaccuracy and indiscipline cost us. It was one that got away.
“But we have to pick our heads up pretty quickly, with Leinster at home (in the Guinness PRO12) next Saturday.
“Leinster will come to us fully-loaded and full of confidence, but there is not much for us to change. If we put the detail right, there is no reason why we can’t put in a good performance next week.”
Stade Francais will now face Bath at home in the Challenge Cup semi-finals later this month, and their Australia international scrum-half Will Genia said: “It is a massive win for us. To win away against quality opposition is very pleasing.
“We have got players with experience of playing in big games like this one.
“Bath will be very tough. They will have all their international players back, so it will be a hard game.”
