The Ospreys made hay on their trip to South Africa by rattling up 74 points during their two matches to be on course to reach the play-off for a place in next season’s European Champions Cup.
They followed up a 31-14 victory over the Cheetahs with a another bonus point triumph, this time a 43-7 thumping of Southern Kings in Port Elizabeth.
Here’s what we have learned from the tour...
THE OSPREYS HAVE BONDED
Last season’s visit to the Republic was remembered for former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin almost losing a hand after being bitten by a lion at a wildlife reserve. You can see it here.
They went about their business in a professional manner this time, playing rugby that was pleasing on the eye and more adventurous than that they had produced through-out much of this campaign.
Their try count in the PRO14 stood at 40 before they left Wales – only the Dragons and Zebre had crossed the whitewash less – but they racked up 11 to increase it to 51.
What seemed apparent was the squad had enjoyed each other’s company and the length of the tour meant they got through some decent work.
They will secure a play-off against the fourth-placed finisher from Pool B for the final place in European showpiece by beating Cardiff Blues at the Principality Stadium on Judgement Day in a fortnight's time.
And, if Connacht don’t beat the Blues in Galway or Munster away, the Ospreys would finish third to claim automatic passage to the Champions Cup and a place in the PRO-14 title play-offs.
Making either play-off would be quite an achievement considering the way they had capitulated during a 46-5 thrashing at Connacht on March 2.
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DAN EVANS IS ON-FIRE
What can you say about the twice-capped Wales full-back?
He made his Test appearances 10 years ago, against the United States and Canada, when Robin McBryde was in charge with Warren Gatland on duty with the 2009 Lions in South Africa as an assistant to Ian McGeechan.
But Evans has been in the international wilderness since despite being a prime asset to the Ospreys after joining them a few years ago from the Dragons.
He grabbed a hat-trick of tries against the Kings, to add to one he scored at the Cheetahs and the quartet he garnered in his previous outing, versus the Dragons.
So that’s eight in three PRO14 fixtures and 10 for the season to move him closer to Shane Williams’ all-time Ospreys’ try-scoring record.
KEELAN GILES IS STARTING TO SIZZLE
The winger was on the cusp of a cap during Wales’ autumn Test series in 2016.
But caretaker coach – Gatland was on another sabbatical with the Lions – Rob Howley didn’t bring him off the substitutes bench during a taut encounter with Japan.
A hamstring injury kept Giles out of contention for the 2017 Six Nations and he didn’t play a part in that June’s Tests against Tonga and Samoa because of more problems.
Major knee surgery sidelined the former Wales Under-20 star for most of last campaign and he’s understandably taken time to find his feet since returning to the playing enclosure this season.
But Giles is starting to fizz and get back to his best. What I like about him is he knows exactly what he’s doing in attack and is unselfish, invariably picking the right option.
That’s great news for incoming Wales coach Wayne Pivac.
THERE’S STILL LIFE IN BRADLEY DAVIES
Injuries have been almost a constant thorn in the side of the big bruiser since joining the Ospreys from Wasps.
But he’s managed to string some matches together and is another who is hitting the straps and finding the rhythm.
Davies bagged a brace of tries against the Kings – one from a short-range line-out and his second late-on when he was on the end of a long-range effort sparked by Giles – and seems to be enjoying partnering young Wales Grand Slam winning medallist Adam Beard in the boilerhouse.
Former Cardiff Blues skipper and renowned funny-man Davies will hope his late run of form puts him in the frame for Wales’ World Cup squad.
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THE BEST THING ABOUT SOUTHERN KINGS IS THE SINGING
The Eastern Province franchise haven’t got many supporters but have some lovely choir type singers among them.
They were in great voice during the first half against the Ospreys despite the Kings being 33 points behind.
But they went on strike or had enough and left early because it went deathly quiet during the second.
You can’t blame them because the Kings really are poor and, apart from the television money the South African teams bring, I fail to see any other reason for them to be in the PRO14.
