Leinster 12-17 Ospreys, Magners League Grand Final, May 29
Jones delighted to silence critics
Scrum.com
May 29, 2010
Tommy Bowe touches down for the opening try at the RDS, Leinster v Ospreys, Magners League Grand Final, RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin, Ireland, May 29, 2010
Ireland wing Tommy Bowe was delighted to break Leinster hearts at the RDS © PA Photos
Enlarge

Ospreys captain Ryan Jones said his team went some way towards lifting their underachievers tag by winning the Magners League title at the RDS.

Despite winning the league for a third time, the star studded side have been accused of not fulfilling their promise in the past, but in beating Leinster at their south Dublin fortress, Jones reckons the Swansea based side proved their worth.

"Look, we've come here to do a job and we're unbelievably fortunate to be able to do it," he told Setanta Sports. "This is a fantastic rugby arena, the crowd are very vocal, but they appreciate good rugby. It was a fantastic rugby occasion.

"We seem to become team everyone loves to hate at times, but the guys have risen have above it. They produced a fantastic display today and obviously If they are lucky enough to be going on tour, then they can tour with heads held high.

"I think so, it's not something we worry about. We haven't given ourselves that tag but it is something we're keen to shake. We worked extremely hard for each other and at times we did play some flashy rugby but it was great to back it up with a win."

Try-scoring winger Tommy Bowe may have broken his fellow countrymen's hearts, but he didn't seem to mind as he reflected on a superb season that saw him named Players Player of the Year in both Wales and Ireland.

"It's brilliant, brilliant," he said. "It's a great end to the league, a great campaign. For the top two teams to play and for us to come to Leinster's home ground and beat them, it's great for Ospreys rugby.

"It's been a great year, I've really enjoyed myself and it was a great way to cap it off. We believed there were two very good backlines up against each other. We know that we're a very good team when we get good bal and I think we showed that. It's great for us to come here and win, it's a very difficult place to come and get a result and to win the final was very special."

Outgoing Leinster coach Michael Cheika and the retiring Malcolm O'Kelly and Girvan Dempsey didn't go out on the high note they had wanted, but the Australian paid tribute to the victorious Welsh side.

"Rugby's not a fairytale," he said. "It's about two teams working hard and doing the best they can on the park. It wasn't about anybody, tonight was about topping off a good season with a trophy but we weren't able to do that because we didn't play well and the other team outplayed us, especially in the first half.

"I think it's more of a disappointment really, the better team won. We didn't play well, we clawed our way back but made too many mistakes and weren't accurate enough in defence and the Ospreys took advantage.

"We got our way back and could have got closer, we got back but you have to take every opportunity you get and we made too many small errors. To win finals, you have to be at the top of your game and the Ospreys took the chances that presented themselves and we haven't."

© Scrum.com

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.