Ospreys coach Jones reflects on 'hell of a season'

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Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake were the Wales co-captains at the 2023 World Cup

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."

Dealing with Sharks statements

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.

'I will take lie detector test - but what good will it do?'

Image caption,

Sharks are one of four South African sides that play in the United Rugby Championship (URC)

"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."