"Our discipline cost us dearly"

Skipper Ryan Jones has admitted that the scoreline at Stade Marcel Michelin was a fair reflection of how the game against Clermont Auvergne had gone for the Ospreys

Speaking to the media straight after the game, he said:

"Without having had the chance to review things, you've got to say that it was a fair reflection. We're very disappointed with the way it went, our discipline cost us dearly.

"We thought beforehand that we were capable of coming here and getting something from the game, and that doesn't change just because we lost today. It was a poor performance, we realise that, and we accept that we didn't achieve what we came here to do. We've still got one game to go. It looks as though we can still claim a place in the quarter-finals, so we've got to dust ourselves down and refocus on what we have ahead of us. It's a winner takes all next week, so it's up to us to make sure that we put things right.

"How significant was the failure to pick up a losing bonus point? I'll let you know in seven days time. We knew that we had to get something out of the game and we failed to get it. It's hard for us to take, but we have to face up to it. It's never going to be an easy place to come, and the results they've picked up in recent weeks are an indication of that. They are a good team, and with that incredible support they make life very difficult for visiting sides to settle.

"Their fans really were the 16th man for them, they were loud, they were colourful and at times, they were intimidating. They really drove their side on. They were everything you would want your fans to be, and it would be fantastic to generate something like that at the Liberty Stadium. But, we realise that we have to do our part on the pitch first, and that was something we didn't do today, we didn't do our supporters, at home and here today, any justice.

"What it does do, is give us an even bigger desire as a group to put it right and show the 'real Ospreys'. It's a very disappointed dressing room as you can imagine, but it's up to the leaders in the group to come to the fore over the next few days and help to lift everybody.

"We take a lot of pride in the Ospreys jersey and there are a lot of boys in the squad who can do it justice. The coaches will look at what went right and what went wrong, and they may feel that they need to change things around a bit, but whatever fifteen goes out against Leicester will want to make sure they make the right impression.

"It was always a massive game next week, regardless of what happened today, and how we react to today will be a measure of us as a team. We were up against the best team in France today and we came up short, we have to make sure that next week we stand up to, and match, the best team in England. We know what we are capable of doing and what we want to achieve, but first, we have to get our own house in order which is something we failed to do today."