Ospreys coach Jones reflects on 'hell of a season'

ByGareth Griffiths

BBC Sport Wales

It is fair to say the first full season as a professional head coach for Mark Jones at the Ospreys has been a baptism of fire.

Results will show it has been a disappointing campaign.

Ospreys lie in 11th position in the United Rugby Championship (URC), out of play-off contention with two league games remaining. They were also knocked out of the Challenge Cup at the last-16 stage by Ulster.

That does not tell the whole story. Off the field the Ospreys have endured a torrid time, their very existence threatened.

There has been a turbulent three months which started with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) announcing Ospreys owners, Y11 Sport & Media, as the preferred bidder to buy Cardiff from the governing body.

Ninety days of discussions followed but came to nothing when the deal collapsed and Ospreys were told last week, along with the other three regions, their future was safe until 2028.

Throughout all that trouble and strife, Jones has been the one constant for Ospreys fans and staff.

He is the man who has had to answer the questions about Ospreys and Y11 and try and reassure his players, coaches and staff. More than just a rugby coach.

"It's been a hell of a season just reflecting on it," said Jones.

"I'm just doing my job as I see it and doing the best I can.

"Have I got everything right? No, I probably haven't. But what I've tried to do is just be open and honest with things and as professional as I can.

"It's been tough but it's what the job is."

Jones says the Ospreys players and staff have left him in awe.

"The staff, players, coaches and supporters have handled a lot this year, as have some of the counterparts in other regions," said Jones.

"I held our staff in high esteem anyway after being in the building for three years.

"They've made a big impression on me and you find out in real times of adversity what you're made of."

And Jones, who's coaching career has taken him as far as Namibia and New Zealand, believes the tough times have made bonds tighter.

"We've seen it throughout the season with everything that's gone on. Everybody's got closer together," he added.

"We've had to lose players through the season because of the uncertainty. We've lost staff members and there's more workload for people, but they just pull together, get tighter and work harder for each other.

"It's been a bit of a privilege to see them come together like we have and there are some wonderful characters here."

That uncertainty around the region's future was a major factor in Ospreys losing Wales captains Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake to Gloucester for next season.

Centre Phil Cokanasiga is also headed to Kingsholm and lock James Fender to France, with versatile back Jack Walsh also expected to leave.

Meanwhile Wales wing Tom Rogers has signed from Scarlets.

Retention and recruitment have been difficult in the circumstances, with most new additions normally signed earlier in the season

"We'd love to add players to the squad," said Jones.

"We have been talking and discussing with players right through but in that period of time, some players have come off the market.

"Others have come on and we've got a lot of homegrown talent there, which is coming through nicely and want to carry on developing.

"We know with players leaving we need to replace them and and try to make sure we've got a competitive squad for next year.

"The certainty now we've got some funding up until 2028 is going to help with talking to our own players, but also players from outside."

Jones has had to deal with Sharks head coach JP Pietersen and owner Marco Masotti questioning the Ospreys' integrity after the 21-17 win for the Welsh side in Bridgend earlier this month.

There were two areas of contention. One was a challenge by Ospreys wing Luke Morgan on Ethan Hooker after the Springbok scored a try.

It left the South African international with a shoulder injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season.

Jones had already defended Morgan and condemned the online abuse the former Sevens star had received, with no further punishment coming from the URC.

Then came Masotti's astonishing claim Ospreys officials should take a lie detector test about events in the game's final stages which led to uncontested scrums.

The Sharks had struggled in the set-piece during the first half but their scrum transformed when Springboks props Ox Nche and Vincent Koch entered the fray.

Then Ospreys loose-head replacement Garyn Phillips was forced off the pitch with a hamstring injury that will end his season.

The player he replaced, Gareth Thomas, failed his head injury assessment while starting tight-head Tom Botha was struggling with a neck issue.

Both Thomas and Phillips missed the following 24-21 defeat against Cardiff.

"We've done everything we needed to do during the game with the sub front row situation," said Jones.

"I could be childish and produce a scan for Garyn but where's that going to get anybody? Nowhere.

"I know they want me to take a lie detector test or something. I'm more than happy to do that. That's not a problem. If that's what it takes but, again, what good's that going to do?"

The URC has so far not announced whether Sharks will face any disciplinary measures for the comments.

Jones says Ospreys "would rather move on, leave our rugby talking for itself".

"I feel like it's got blown out of proportion," said Jones.

"We are conscious we want to try to hold the game in high regard and trust the officials to get on with things and make the right decisions.

"There's always going to be opinion and controversy in games. That's why they are called laws, not rules, aren't they? They're open to interpretation."

Jones accepts there will be added motivation when the sides face each other early next season in South Africa.

"We're going to play them at some point next season," said Jones.

"It'll be a physical encounter, no-holes barred and as tough as it always is against South African teams."