Lyn Jones on the defensive
Lyn Jones: Looking for inspiration?
Ospreys coach Lyn Jones, under pressure from local press after the Ospreys crashed out of the Heineken Cup on Sunday, has defended his team and himself.
Jones has been held responsible for the 'under-achievement' of his side, which includes some 90 per cent of the Welsh Grand Slam-winning side, and which faces Leicester in the final of the EDF Energy Cup on Saturday, their last chance of silverware for the season.
"We're on the road and I feel that we just need to stick at it," Jones told BBC Sport Wales.
"Questions on my future can get a bit boring, but they come with the territory and I enjoy the pressure.
"I don't feel extra pressure because of Wales winning the Grand Slam, I'm as proud as anyone at the great achievement by Wales and the part that the Ospreys played in it.
"The Welsh coaching team of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards came in and there was a reason why they picked so many players from our region.
"It was a pat on the back for everyone here and an acknowledgement of what we are trying to achieve. If we show a bit of patience we'll get our just desserts.
"Part of our brief is to develop players for Wales and I'm proud of what we have achieved in that respect.
"We've also made the quarter-finals in Europe and the EDF Energy Cup final. Now we need to secure a trophy on Saturday to reward the fans, who have been outstanding."
The Ospreys' big-spending management brought in New Zealander Andrew Hore in the middle of the season as Elite Performance Director, and Hore has begun a review of the region's performance, stressing at the outset that staff should not feel threatened by the review.
"There's no lack of motivation for this one," continued Jones, who has been Ospreys boss since their inception in 2003.
"It is hard to maintain standards week-in, week-out, but we recognise that we slipped below par against Saracens last week.
"The players are eager to get back into things and put it right and are looking to move on in a positive vein.
"We've had many a difficult game against Leicester, and we still see them as one of the top four sides in Europe, although they went out of the Heineken Cup at the group stages this year."