Coach Jones ducks praise as Ospreys reach promised land

Jan 21 2008 by Andy Howell, Western Mail

LYN JONES refused to take praise for plotting the Ospreys’ path to the knockout stage of the Heineken Cup.

The big-spending Welsh region had never won in France in Europe before beating Bourgoin yesterday – or made the last eight of the tournament.

But coach Jones, who has been at the helm of the Ospreys during their five years in business and had his share of stick, preferred to give others the credit for the achievement.

“I am very happy for the players, for our directors and for our fans who came here in great numbers,” he declared.

“When we started Ospreys rugby, Jonathan Thomas was 20 and Adam Jones was 21. We give players like them time to develop.

“Those guys are now 25 or 26 and ready to peak. Today, they showed the commitment and the self-belief.

“We have not built this on sand, but on hard work, good-quality players and good organisation.

“We are going to enjoy the moment and move on to the quarter-finals. This is a moment to savour, but we are just pleased to be in the last eight.

“I don’t think it is about me at all, it’s about the players. Look, I am just the coach.

“It means an awful lot to a lot of people. I know exactly where we were five years ago as Neath and Swansea, and where we are now.

“Put it this way, we have got a better chance than a lot of other teams in this Heineken Cup.”

Jones, of course, was referring to the elimination of last season’s holders London Wasps, beaten finalists Leicester Tigers, Biarritz, Scarlets and Leinster, all big hitters in Europe.

But Jones pointed out, “They are all still good teams in the last eight. From now on, every game is a one-off.”

The Ospreys have a dress rehearsal with last-eight opponents Saracens in the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh EDF Energy Cup on March 22 at the Millennium Stadium.

That comes a fortnight before the European showdown and will be, so to speak, a bit of a phoney war.

“We have never played them before, but we are going to get to know a lot about them over the next few months,” smiled Jones.

Reflecting on the victory over Bourgoin in Pool 2, Jones said, “It was quite simple. We knew we had to come here and win a game of rugby.

“We also appreciated how difficult it was going to be. We knew they would fight hard and cause us a lot of problems.”

The former Wales flanker felt that if Sonny Parker’s “try” just after half-time had been allowed, they would have been home and dry.

“That was a blow for us and Bourgoin came back, but I felt we played some good rugby and deserved the win,” he said.

“It is great for Welsh rugby and regional rugby.

“It is a coming of age for the regions.”