Ospreys continued their fine run under their new head coach producing one of their best performances of the season to secure an emphatic six-try, bonus-point win against the Italians in Swansea.
Tries from full-back Jack Walsh, wing Daniel Kasende and centre Keiran Williams gave Ospreys a 24-0 half-time lead.
Walsh added a second try before replacements Morgan Morse and Kieran Hardy crossed with fly-half Owen Williams kicking 11 points.
Jones took over as head coach from Toby Booth in late December and remains unbeaten with four wins and a draw in five games.
The victory lifted Ospreys up six places to eighth overnight in the URC table, while Benetton stay seventh as the Italian side could not follow up a famous Champions Cup win against La Rochelle last weekend.
A delighted Jones says his young side are embracing the challenges and showing the bravery needed to be successful.
“It was a very good performance. I thought the intent the boys shown around the attacking mindset was first class,” said Jones in his post-match conference.
“You need the execution and composure to do it, and I thought that was equally as good, particularly in the first-half.
“We lost our way a bit at the start of the second-half with the weather and the opposition and it got niggly at the breakdown.
“It was pleasing to then see the composure and discipline as we stayed around what we were trying to do and then got back to attacking like we were in the start.
“We talked about being brave to try and move the ball to score more points and I think the boys are enjoying themselves doing it, which is a pleasure to watch.
“I want us to entertain the crowd but also win games so it’s having the right balance around that. I think the players have embraced the layers that the coaches and I have tried to add to our game.
“I am pleased for them because they are the ones doing it and that they can be excited to execute it.
“Benetton are a really good side as much as I am proud of [keeping them to] a Zero, I know we have had to work hard for that.
“They have beaten the two-time European champions last weekend so that says it all. A lot of those players were involved today.”
Jones could not compliment captain Justin Tipuric enough after the veteran former Welsh flanker starred in a man-of-the-match performance.
“He’s not bad is he,” continued Jones. “If he can coach as well as he plays, we’ll be alright. The defense is in good hands.
“Justin is a great guy first and foremost, he sets a standard around his work ethic which I spoke in the week about.
“His competitiveness where he is so tough and smart around the contact area. He has so much to offer the team.
“The pass to Kasende’s try is incredible. The awareness to know he is there and then to deliver into the correct space with the pressure he’s under sums him up.
“You could see today, there was a little reminder to the young boys whose names have been in lights recently that you will have to play pretty well to get this shirt off me before the end of the year.
“It only breeds healthy encouragement to those players because he’s passing that on to the next crop and I’m excited to bring him into the coaching group. Hopefully, he can springboard all that talent into his next role.”
The Ospreys now face challenging tests against league leaders Leinster in three weeks time and a trip to champions Glasgow in their next two fixtures. Jones feels that the encounters will be an indication of where his young side are in their growth.
“This squad can decide how good they want to be in the next two or three years. They are a young bunch who are predominately local.
“The guys not from here love being in the environment and have taken to the group really well and give us a good mix.
“You want to measure yourselves against the best in the competition as it stands but we will take them one game at a time.
“If you win or lose them it’s not the be or end all. It will be a nice little yardstick to see how much growth we have had both sides of the ball.
“Everyone is contributing, we will now have a good week training, have a bit of downtime and then it lead into Leinster where we will try and do it again.”
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
