Although happy to end the first block of RaboDirect PRO12 with a 100 per cent record and sitting six points clear at the top of the table, Head Coach Sean Holley has urged his team to continue striving to improve if they are to ensure their efforts in the first six games of the season aren't wasted.
The Ospreys ended Munster’s 18month unbeaten home record with a narrow win at Thomond Park on Saturday night, and speaking after the game, Holley said he was delighted with the attitude of the team as he reminded them that they’ve won nothing yet.
“Of course we’re happy to have secured the win” he insisted.
“It’s one of the most difficult places to win in the league, so it’s a result we can be pleased about.
“They hadn’t lost at home since the 2009/10 season in this competition, and we were the last team to win here, so that’s a real measure of what we’ve achieved tonight. Munster expect to win every home game, and their record suggests rightly so, but tonight we were able to upset them thanks to a great team effort.
“We showed great courage, plenty of resolve and determination to secure the win, characteristics we’ve been trying to grow in this group. The reward was a very good win against difficult opponents.
“We failed to execute our game plan early on and made some errors, which meant that we were on the back foot a little bit, but we were able to steady ourselves and when we started to put them under some pressure and play our game we were able to get good field position.
“We probably should have scored more points in the first half but we were a little bit untidy, we weren’t clinical enough, which meant we gave up possession at some key times. We didn’t let our heads drop though and kept on going, which was very pleasing to see.
“In the second half I think we showed the energy and the tactical nous required to get a result, and I think it was a bit of a smash and grab job with that wonderfully executed try the difference. We pride ourselves on our defensive work, and how we work together as a team, and that shone through in the closing stages when we were under considerable pressure and the tea dug in for each other.
“As has been the case in recent weeks, it wasn’t the perfect performance, we know that and we’ve made sure that the players understand it, but we can be justifiably pleased to have won this game. We need to keep on working and improving in all areas of our game. We certainly won’t become complacent. We realise that we’ve won nothing at this stage of the season and if we don’t continue striving to improve then the hard work of the last six weeks could be wasted.
“All said and done though, we are proud to have kept our unbeaten run going so that we are six from six and top of the league at the end of the first block of the PRO12.
“Over the next couple of weeks our focus will switch to another competition, and we’ll look to use our squad. We’ll use the next fortnight to make sure everyone is in good shape and working hard on certain areas of their game, and we’ll look forward to picking up from here against Glasgow.”