European Challenge Cup: No home knockout comforts for Welsh sides

Ospreys head coach Mark Jones says he does not regret his selection after his side lost 31-26 to Montpellier in the Challenge Cup in Bridgend on Saturday.

The defeat meant Ospreys will now face an away trip in the last 16 when a victory against the French side would have resulted in a home match.

Jones made 13 changes from the side that lost to Zebre and did not include Wales internationals Dewi Lake, Dan Edwards, James Ratti, Kieran Williams, Keelan Giles and Harri Deaves, Australian lock Ryan Smith or prop Tom Botha in the squad.

“I think there’ll be people looking at the selection asking why haven’t you picked your so-called more established players for the game,” said Jones.

“The fact is we’ve played those players over Christmas through a tough period, short turnarounds, a lot of them have been banged up or been ill.

“We have got a short turnaround coming. I think we’ve had seven in the last eight so the rest and recovery is the result of the brutality of these games.

“If you play the same players all the time, they’re going to end up being blown out before the end of the season.

“It was important we freshened up the group, not just to have an energetic performance, but also grow some depth in the group.

“We need to find out about some of these young players and what they can and can’t do. Part of my job is to grow the depth of the team.

“I tried my best to get the balance right around trying to win the game. We almost won the game. I don’t regret the selection.

“It was done with good thought and process behind it and I am just disappointed that we didn’t nail the result.”

Ospreys looked set to claim a home tie after picking up 10 points from their December fixtures, but must now go on their travels.