Davies boots Ospreys to top Pool Two
Replacement flyhalf Sam Davies kicked 15 second half points to add to two Dan Biggar penalties as the hosts secured a famous triumph.
Clermont scored the only try of the game through centre Wesley Fofana, with scrumhalf Morgan Parra adding eight points with the boot, but they will wonder how they let what looked a comfortable seven-point lead vanish in such spectacular fashion.
A win over Exeter next weekend will be enough to put the Ospreys in the last eight as pool winners, with Clermont only able to finish level on points with them and having taken five match points to the Welsh side's six in their two meetings.
The Ospreys were protecting a proud Liberty Stadium record against French sides, with no team from across the Channel having won in 13 attempts at the Swansea venue. But Clermont made the ideal start with a sixth minute try.
Flyhalf Camille Lopez made a lovely snaking break in the Ospreys 22 and Fofana was on hand to take the final pass and roll over the lines, with Parra converting.
The Ospreys replied with a Biggar penalty to settle them after a nervy start and the Welsh international flyhalf was soon lining up another shot at goal after an unusual offence from Clermont flank Viktor Kolelishvili.
The Georgian pushed referee Wayne Barnes as the official stood near the French side's defensive line and earned himself a stern telling off from the Englishman. Biggar knocked over the three points, only for Parra to immediately reply in kind, after Eli Walker had tackled David Strettle in the air at the restart.
The hosts then had a big opportunity when Kolelishvili was binned after a confrontation with Alun Wyn Jones, but their decision to kick the penalty to the corner ended in disappointment, as they were turned over.
To compound the missed chance, Biggar then struck the post with a penalty before missing another on the stroke of half-time, while Parra kicked a penalty of his own.
The French scrumhalf was off target early in the second half but it looked a long way back for Ospreys when Biggar limped off to be replaced by Davies. However, the youngster started the recovery with a penalty and then quickly added a well-taken drop goal to put the hosts back within a point.
Clermont began to feel the heat, and a break from captain Jones forced Clermont to desperately infringe, with replacement hooker John Ulugia seeing yellow for straying offside.
Davies kept his nerve to put the hosts ahead for the first time and then added another penalty for good measure. Clermont were clinging on for a bonus point but it slipped through their fingers as further ill-discipline allowed Davies to strike what may prove a critical blow.
Scorers:
For Ospreys:
Pens: Biggar 2, Davies 4
DG: Davies
For Clermont:
Try: Fofana
Con: Parra
Pens: Parra 2
Yellow cards: Vito Kolelishvili (Clermont, 25), John Ulugia (Clermont, 66)
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Jonathan Spratt, 12 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eli Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 James King, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Underhill, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ma'afu Fia, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Dan Baker, 21 Tom Habberfield, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Owen Watkin.
Clermont: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 David Strettle, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Vito Kolelishvili, 6 Damien Chouly, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Loïc Jacquet, 3 Daniel Kotze, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Raphael Chaume.
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Michael Simutoga, 19 Paul Jedrasiak, 20 Camille Gerondeau, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic, 22 Brock James, 23 Albert Vulivuli.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Peter Allan (England)
TMO: Sean Davey (England)
