Alun-Wyn Jones can't quite snag Racing's Benjamin Lapeyre © Getty Images

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Alun Wyn Jones admitted that Ospreys draw with Racing Metro keeps them in the mix in competitive Pool 5 of the European Champions Cup and was the lesser of two evils in a game they could easily have lost.

Josh Matavesi's try in the final 10 minutes earned Ospreys a 19-19 draw in a game that they never led and had trailed by 13 points in the first-half. Racing sit level on points with Northampton at the top of the table, with Ospreys three points behind. The Welsh region will effectively be out if they fail to win away to Racing next weekend.

"We needed to win today, if we are honest," lock Jones said. "A draw is the lesser of two evils. A loss or a draw, then obviously we are going to take the draw. If we are honest, we felt we were a bit slow out of the blocks. It was a bit patchy, but we grew into the game.

"It was about taking our opportunities, keeping the pressure on and not forcing things too much. There are times in a rugby game when you are better off not having the ball, and I think that was the case to a degree towards the end of the first-half. We took our opportunities in the second-half, rather than give away silly penalties. We simplified things."

Ospreys coach assistant coach Gruff Rees was delighted with their fightback from 16-3 down.

"To come back from 16-3 down - and we were certainly under the pump physically - we showed incredible heart," Ospreys assistant coach Gruff Rees said. "To get a draw at least keeps us in the mix. It will be a huge ask next weekend. Historically, we know that things are against us there.

"It is about being physically right for the challenge ahead, and tackling it head-on. If we can be accurate and execute correctly, then we can really have a go. It was incredibly gutsy today. There were three players making their European debuts for the Ospreys. It was a fair effort."