A March to forget for the Ospreys saw battling defeats in visits to Benetton and Connacht make a top-eight finish highly unlikely for Jones’ side, lying in 11th position and ten points off the top eight, with four games to go.
Results are now out of the Ospreys hands, leaving Saturday’s meeting with the Sharks in Bridgend, derbies with Cardiff and Scarlets, and a final trip to Leinster all now must-win matches.
With all the off-field drama and goings on, it is remarkable the Welsh region has done as well as they have over such a spell of uncertainty about the future of the club and the long-term fixtures of the playing staff.
But that is the spirit of the Ospreys, who on the pitch will look back to their last-gasp foray into the top-eight on the final day of the season two years ago, when many had written off their chances, only for a bonus point win over Cardiff to upset the 2% odds predicted just weeks earlier of extending their season.
With Wales captain Jac Morgan on his swansong tour, the final four games will no doubt be compelling viewing if anything else. A spirited Jones is looking for his side to finish as strongly as they can, starting with the visit of a Sharks side three points and one place above his side in the table.
“We have tried our best to keep both fronts going all season by trying to rotate the squad, share the workload, and travel that you have to do in the URC and Europe,” said Jones in his pre-match conference.
“Probably until a couple of narrow defeats in Connacht and Benetton, and also in the Challenge Cup against Ulster, we’ve done a good job of being right in it.
“The Connacht loss has probably taken things out of our hands and made things a little more difficult, but we have four games left that we are excited about that we want to attack.
“We want to finish as strongly as we can and get as many wins as possible to try and extend our season.”
Jones has made six positional changes after the exit to Ulster from the Challenge Cup last time out, with Iestyn Hopkins coming in for Jack Walsh. Evardi Boshoff gets a rare start at centre with Owen Watkin, whilst Keiran Hardy, fresh from signing a new contract, gets the nod over Reuban Morgan-Williams at scrum-half.
There are also changes in the forward line with Tom Botha coming into the front row. Hugh Sutton reverts to lock, and the versatile James Ratti returns from injury to start on the flank, with skipper Morgan on the other flank.
“We’re expecting a performance from a team of quality Springboks,” continued the former Welsh wing.
“A bit like us, they have some injuries, but they also have some significant experienced players in their travelling squad they have sent over.
“We know whatever 15 or 23 they put out on Saturday will be very strong, but we’re looking forward to the challenge.
“It is, though, a big one, and we will need to perform at our absolute best to get anything out of the game.”
15. Iestyn Hopkins, 14. Luke Morgan, 13. Evardi Boshoff, 12. Owen Watkin, 11. Dan Kasende, 10. Dan Edwards, 9. Kieran Hardy, 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Sam Parry, 3. Tom Botha, 4. Hugh Sutton, 5. Ryan Smith, 6. James Ratti, 7. Jac Morgan (captain), 8. Morgan Morris.
Replacements:
16.Evan Daniel, 17. Garyn Phillips, 18. Ben Warren, 19. Ross Moriarty, 20. Harri Deaves, 21. Reuban Morgan-Williams, 22. Phil Cokanasiga, 23. Jack Walsh.
[Lead image: Ospreys Rugby]
