Captain Alun Wyn Jones took the man of the match honours in Friday night’s crucial win over Clermont Auvergne but he was refusing to get carried away as attention turns to Exeter next week.
The skipper put in an inspirational shift around the park, helping the Ospreys to maintain an incredible record against French opposition at the Liberty, winning 11 and drawing 2 in 13 games going back to 2006.
Reflecting on the win as he picked up his award after the final whistle, his pride in the team was obvious.
“To be honest, a lot was said about our record, we haven’t lost to a French side at home for a long, long time” said Jones.
“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs but that’s a record we can hold on to now.”
It was an incredible second half showing from the Ospreys, full of character and determination as they scored 15 unanswered points to not only overhaul a seven point half-time deficit but to deny their opponents a losing bonus point, something which will prove crucial if the two teams end up level after round six. Jones said:
“We played Leinster in the PRO12 last week and we were the architects of our own downfall in the second half of that game. To be honest with you, I just said to the team before the game, we don’t have to be excellent, as long as we are not bad. If get parity in he middle, which we did, even if were on the descending side in the setpiece, if we can get parity like that we’ll be happy.
“It’s very easy to put pressure on young players and expect them to be up there with some of these teams who have a lot of experience. These guys are performing beyond their years.”
Next weekend sees the Ospreys travel across the Severn Bridge to face Exeter Chiefs, their fate in the competition and a potential first quarter-final since 2010 in their own hands. Jones insists that the Ospreys will go there fully focused on the job in hand.
“It’s a very difficult place to go” he said.
“They are doing very well in the Aviva Premiership and doing well in this pool so from our point of view it’s still wide open to be honest with you. It’s the first time in a long time that we’re involved at this stage as I said before the game, and it’ll be the same next week.”
