Head Coach Sean Holley said he was proud of the Ospreys' performance in the win over Connacht but challenged the players to maintain their standards over the coming week as they prepare to welcome Munster to the Liberty Stadium next Saturday.
Speaking straight after the game, Holley warned that the levels of preparation and execution must be maintained if the Ospreys are to retain top place in the PRO12 table.
“The team performance was a very fitting one on a night when you had Duncan and Ian making their 150th and 100th appearances respectively, as well as a number of youngsters on their Galway debut. It was about players working hard for each other and for the cause, and we got our reward, which means that it’ll be a happy journey home before the focus switches to Munster at the Liberty next Saturday.
“I’m very proud of the performance. It was a difficult night, it’s never an easy place to come, but we got the messages right this week and Tom led the boys superbly. They’ve executed the game plan and showed a lot of courage out there to come away with the win. We were clearly deserved winners in the end.
“Yes, we were missing a lot of big names but there were still a lot of big names playing, and guys who are making names for themselves. These are the guys that got us to the top of the PRO12 and these are the ones that got us back up there now. I’m very proud of them.
“It’s very important to pick up away wins. We haven’t picked up bonus points, but if you keep winning then you don’t need to. It was a really courageous and clinical performance in very difficult circumstances. Conditions were horrendous and the players had to be completely focused on what we needed to do.
“As a team, they executed the game plan. Defensively we were superb and then the opportunities we had we were clinical and took them.
“All credit to this group of players, well led by Tom, they’ve worked hard all week, they were focused, came over to do a job and did it. We’re very proud of the way they’ve applied themselves against difficult opposition in tough conditions that could have caught them out if they weren’t 100 per cent professional from start to finish.
“We’ve spoken in the changing room after the game about how this week’s win was about preparation and execution, and that we have to be just as polished about how we approach this coming week. We are relishing the challenge of Munster at home next Saturday, and the players know that every one of them has to apply themselves equally as well if we are going to compete against a very good team.”