Viadana 7 – 62 Ospreys
The Ospreys hit top spot in Pool Three of the Heineken Cup with a convincing bonus-point triumph over Viadana.
The Welsh region grabbed maximum points inside 33 minutes after first-half tries for Alun Wyn Jones, Nikki Walker, Jerry Collins and Ricky Januarie in northern Italy.
The visitors kept their foot on the accelerator as Richard Hibbard added a brace of scores as well as Tommy Bowe and Gareth Owen after the interval.
Gavin Quinnell crossed for the hosts on the hour mark but it only proved to be a consolation for the Italian minnows.
The resounding victory now puts the pressure on group rivals Leicester Tigers and Clermont Auvergne which clash in France tomorrow.
The Ospreys were without a glut of experienced stars with regular skipper Ryan Jones, Mike Phillips, Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, Adam Jones and James Hook all sidelined.
But their major problem came at scrum-half with the registered Phillips, Williams and Tom Isaacs all out injured.
With Jamie Nutbrown only returning from a two month lay-off, the Welsh region snapped up Springbok Ricky Januarie on a short-term loan.
However, red tape held up new signing Januarie’s arrival from South Africa and the World Cup winner was handed his European debut for the Ospreys after just one training session.
But, on the basis of his first-half performance, it looked as if Januarie had been a long-serving campaigner for Sean Holley’s men with an assured display.
Fly-half Dan Biggar opened the scoring for the visitors with a straight-forward penalty in the sixth minute before a surge of tries arrived.
Viadana centre Garry Law missed two long-distance penalties, but, once skipper Quintin Geldenhuys was yellow carded by French official Romain Poite for persistent infringements, the Ospreys took advantage instantly.
Half-backs Januarie and Biggar combined and the fly-half saw his long pass find lock Jones in oceans of space to stroll over.
Januarie proved to be the heartbeat of every Ospreys attack and his quick tap assisted Walker who powered past Viadana number eight Gavin Quinnell to saunter under the posts.
Then Januarie cashed in for his first try for the region before stand-in skipper Collins coasted in for the bonus-point as the Italians were put to the sword at the Stadio Giglio in Reggio Emilia, 20 miles outside the host town.
Biggar produced an accomplished kicking display, in a 22-point haul, to convert the fifth and sixth tries courtesy of hooker Richard Hibbard either side of Quinnell crashing over for a consolation for Viadana.
Tommy Bowe also touched down for the Ospreys in the final quarter before full-back Gareth Owen rounded off the scoring for a morale-boosting eighth try.
