Treviso's shock 13-5 win over the high flying Ospreys shows that despite their poor showing in the Guinness PRO12 Championship, they can't be taken for granted.
The Ospreys rested returning Welsh internationals Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb as they looked to maintian their challenge at the top of the table.
Instead, the Italians with only two wins to their name all season, took the game to their opponents from the off.
Ian McKinley of Treviso on the attack. Image: ©INPHO/Alfio Guarise
Alberto Sgarbi scored his side's only try 18 minutes into the game which was converted by Tito Tebaldi. Two more penalties - one from Tebaldi and another from Ian McKinley sealed the win for Treviso despite a Keelan Giles try for the visitors.
Speaking to the club's official website after the game, Ospreys Head Coach Steve Tandy said: “In five years of coaching the Ospreys there’s not been many nights like this. We were beaten in all facets of the game tonight. At setpiece, physically they dominated us. Our decision making and execution was poor, we had line breaks but we coughed the ball up.
“Credit to Treviso, they were outstanding whereas we, I thought, were disastrous for large parts, making things really difficult for ourselves. Towards the back end we lost all sense of composure, running in to touch, throwing loose balls around, not winning set piece, everything we’ve worked on throughout the season, what we saw tonight was everything we haven’t done.
“We are pretty embarrassed with that showing," he added.
Munster, on the other hand, threw captain Peter O'Mahony straight back into their team for their game against Zebre after his man of the match performance against England in the Six Nations last weekend.
The Irish province enjoyed a comfortable 50-14 win to consolidate their place in the play-off spots.
The championship table sees Leinster lead the way on 70 points, two ahead of Munster. The Ospreys are third on 64 with Ulster three points back. The Scarlets are on 58 with Glasgow in 6th on 51 points.
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