Coincidences in sport are a strange thing. After a while they move from being coincidences to trends and then habits and then eventually an unbreakable barrier.

After six losses from six European knock out games it certainly appeared as if succeeding in Europe would become something the Ospreys would never achieve.

This year seemed less likely than most, with the rest of Welsh rugby seemingly falling apart around them, the Ospreys were the only Welsh side to reach the knockout stages in Europe this year and hosted Sale in a round of 16 tie at Bridgend’s Brewery Field.

A side with six Welsh internationals unavailable through injury achieved something the previous six couldn’t.

The previous graveyard of Ospreys results reads thus, a 19-10 loss away against Saracens in 2008, followed by a thumping 43-9 loss by Munster the following year and then the heartbreaking 29-28 defeat at Biarritz in 2010.

All three were quarter finals in the Champions Cup but the next two would come in the Challenge Cup in 2017 and 2021 with four-point losses at home to Stade Français and Newcastle respectively.

Then finally came last years’ loss in the round of 16 Champions Cup fixture away to Saracens.

But all that changed at home to Sale as Ospreys ran out 23-15 winners at the Brewery Field.

“I’m delighted for lots of reasons,” said Ospreys head coach Toby Booth.

“I thought we prepared really well, it was a typical Ospreys performance – find a way – keep scrapping and I was really pleased with the application.

“You have to try and create an opportunity to give memorable moments and memorable days, and this is another one of those, for what I’m told is Ospreys’ first ever knock-out win in Europe so it’s a lot of ticks there which is good.”

Next up for Ospreys is a trip to Kingsholm to face Gloucester, a far cry from the Brewery Field but Booth emphasised the importance the venue had on his side’s victory.

“I was delighted that coming here paid off because I thought the atmosphere was outstanding,” said Booth.

“It was a real cauldron and caused some pressure moments. We’ve made no secret that we love playing in front of people and an atmosphere, and there was an atmosphere here tonight.

“There was also one on New Year’s Day here against Cardiff and that’s what we want to create. When you need a little from the crowd they give it to you and these boys respond well to it.”

Scrum-half Luke Davies started that game against Cardiff with his quip “joio” after a scuffle with Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams a rare ray of humour in what was an incredibly wet affair.

However, he too was full of praise for the Bridgend crowd having come on for Reuben Morgan-Williams midway through the second half.

“It’s priceless, the crowd gives us an extra edge and with a full house there’s nothing like it, it really does mean a lot to us lads,” said Davies.

“It means a lot as players to have the fans all down here, the Liberty is a good venue but to have everyone on top of each other with the sound they create we are very grateful.

“You can feel it and there’s a bit more pressure but that’s what we want.”

The home side certainly came under pressure in the second half, having held a 20-3 two quick tries from Sale brought the scores back to 20-15 before a late Owen Williams penalty secured the win.

“To be honest there’s a hell of a buzz in the changing room at the moment,” said Davies.

“Sale are a hell of a side and maybe some people didn’t give us a chance I don’t know but we’re a tight group and the boys are buzzing, we’ve just got to push forward now.

“My heart was going a bit when Sale got back into it, but that’s rugby it has its ups and downs and good sides find a way to win and we did that tonight, it wasn’t pretty but we did it.”