Heaslip Not to Miss Wales Clash

Jamie Heaslip is not in danger of missing Ireland's Six Nations opener against Wales on February 7 after he was forced to go off with suspected concussion against the Ospreys.

Heaslip was substituted after just six minutes with blood coming from his lip in last night's 22-9 win over the Ospreys - a win that saw the Blues return to the top of the Pro12 table.

The Ireland number eight will go through return to play protocols but Independent.ie understands that there is no danger of him missing Ireland's Six Nations opener next month and he should be back in action for next week's clash against Bath or the following week away to Wasps.

“Jamie took a pretty heavy knock at the start of the game,” said Leo Cullen after last night's match.

“He came through pretty quickly after we took him off.

“I talked to him at the end of the game and he is up an about.

“We will manage him over the course of the week and see how he is with the return to play protocols.

“He has not a head knock in four or five years so it’s been quite a while. We have had a chat there and we will see how he is in the early part of the week."

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Leinster Singing in Rain at Liberty

Leinster made it seven straight Guinness PRO12 wins with a hard-fought 22-9 victory over Ospreys at a rain-drenched Liberty Stadium.

The win, Leinster's first in Swansea since 2009, saw the Irishmen go back to the top of the table as replacement Noel Reid also crossed to go with winger Dave Kearney's brace and Jonny Sexton kicked a penalty and two conversions.

There were concerns for both Leinster and Ireland, though, with Jamie Heaslip and Luke Fitzgerald going off with head and shoulder injuries respectively.

Ospreys, who had won their previous five PRO12 games, missed out on a losing bonus point with their scores coming from the boot of fly-half Dan Biggar thanks to two penalties and a drop goal.

Leinster just about edged the first half to lead 10-6 at the break, but it was far from comfortable and after going through 20 phases at the start of the match the visitors failed to get any change out of the home team's solid defence.

And it was Ospreys who broke the deadlock when Biggar fired over a drop goal from 30 metres.

Leinster's cause was not helped by the loss of Jamie Heaslip after a clash of heads but their kicking game was always a threat to Ospreys and it was a cross-kick from Sexton that led to the game's opening try.

Sexton picked out Kearney and he outsmarted Jeff Hassler and replacement Sam Davies to get over the line. Sexton converted to give his side a 7-3 lead after 18 minutes.

Bigger reduced the deficit to one point with a 24th-minute penalty after Rhys Ruddock was caught collapsing a maul following a fine break by Ospreys centre Owen Watkin, but Sexton restored his side's advantage three minutes later after Brendon Leonard had infringed at a ruck.

But despite increasingly wet conditions Leinster scored a fine try to put space between the two teams, created by centre Ben Te'o and finished off by Reid.

Sexton's conversion rebounded off an upright to keep Ospreys within losing bonus point range, but that was taken away from the hosts when Kearney slid in for his second try, converted by Sexton, three minutes from the end.

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Bayonne Sack Phillips

Mike Phillips has been sacked by his club Bayonne after being accused of turning up for training drunk.

Phillips, capped 77 times by his country, met club officials on Saturday and was told his contract was to be cancelled.

The 31-year-old will receive official confirmation by letter on Monday.

Phillips joined Bayonne from Ospreys in 2011 and was under contract with the French Top 14 club until June 2014.

He left for Wales on Sunday to join up with the national squad ahead of the November internationals.

Phillips appeared before the Bayonne board on Tuesday to answer allegations he turned up to a video analysis session under the influence of alcohol.

Two fellow players, New Zealand back row Dwayne Haare and fly-half Stephen Brett, also had to answer allegations at that meeting and were fined but not suspended.

Phillips was left out of the squad for Friday's Top 14 game against Montpellier, which Bayonne won 24-19.

On Thursday evening Phillips had apologised in French to Bayonne fans "for this situation" on his Twitter account, adding: "I am behind the team wholeheartedly tomorrow night. Good luck."

The British and Irish Lions scrum-half was suspended by Bayonne last year for off-field misconduct and by Wales in July 2011 after a confrontation with a doorman in Cardiff city centre.

Bayonne have not yet officially confirmed the departure of Phillips, who played 39 matches in the Top 14.

Wales coach Warren Gatland showed support for the 77-times capped player when he named him in a 35-man squad earlier this week.

"We will just sit down and have a quiet chat about where his head's at and what he's doing," said Gatland. "But there will be no sanctions for him here in this set-up."

Factfile

Born: 29/8/1982 (31)

Height: 1.91m (6ft 3in)

Weight: 101kg (15st 12lb)

Wales caps: 77 (eight tries)

Lions caps: 5 (one try)

Teams: Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, Bayonne

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Heineken High at Welford Road

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Leicester kept their Heineken Cup hopes alive with a vital 39-22 victory over Ospreys at Welford Road on Sunday.

Three tries in the final eight minutes from Toby Flood, Ben Youngs and Manu Tuilagi, added to Tuilagi's first half score, gave the Tigers a much-needed bonus point from the must-win encounter.

Flood added a further 19 points with the boot in a superb kicking display, while Ospreys' points came through Ryan Jones' try plus 17 points from fly-half Dan Biggar.

Ospreys grabbed the lead in the second minute when Ryan Jones drove over from close range and Biggar converted to put his side 7-0 up.

Just 10 minutes later the fly-half extended the Welsh side's advantage with a fine long-range penalty from the halfway before Flood finally booted Leicester onto the scoreboard in the 28th minute.

The hosts levelled the scores three minutes later when some superb link play from the Tigers backs put Tuilagi in on the right for a beautifully-worked try that Flood converted.

Biggar put his side back in front almost immediately after the break but Flood put the Tigers ahead for the first time with two penalties and then extended the lead on 49 minutes with a 47-metre effort.

Biggar hit back with two of his own to put his side on level terms going into the final quarter before Flood wrestled back the lead with a superb kick with 14 minutes to go.

Moments later the England fly-half opened the floodgates with a brilliant interception to all but guarantee the win and Youngs and Tuilagi followed in quick succession to seal a dramatic bonus point.

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Ospreys Give Leinster Rabo Blues

Ospreys edged out Leinster 31-30 in an epic, six-try RaboDirect PRO12 final to etch their name into the record books.

Shane Williams notched a 78th minute try and Dan Biggar showed nerves of steel to land the difficult conversion as the Welsh region became the first team to win four league titles.

The late knockout punch left the RDS crowd stunned as Leinster were on course to complete a famous European and domestic double - a feat not achieved since London Wasps did so back in 2004.

Joe Schmidt's men had led 17-9 at half-time thanks to tries from Sean Cronin and Isa Nacewa, and another from the Fijian international gave them a 30-21 advantage.

However, the Ospreys showed tremendous grit and will to win as Biggar landed his fourth penalty and then added the extras to Williams' effort to seal a famous comeback win.

The defeat is a bitter pill for Leinster to swallow as it is their third straight loss in a league decider, the Ospreys repeating their 2010 victory in Dublin.

Steve Tandy's side had beaten the Heineken Cup champions twice during the regular season and they nipped ahead thanks to a ninth-minute penalty from Biggar.

Leinster were level within two minutes though, Jonathan Sexton delivering a crisp penalty strike to reward the carrying of Gordon D'Arcy and Mike Ross.

Prop Ross injured his left leg at a subsequent scrum - a concern ahead of Ireland's summer tour to New Zealand - and Kiwi Nathan White had to be introduced.

Biggar hit a three-pointer before the Irish province charged back, with Brian O'Driscoll brilliantly drawing in two defenders to set hooker Cronin free for a rampaging run to the line.

Sexton converted with aplomb, a quality kick which was matched by the in-form Biggar as he topped off a powerful scrum with his third successful penalty.

However, Sexton's pinpoint restart kick was fielded superbly by a leaping Nacewa and the winger burst through for an opportunist try, with Sexton adding the extras from wide out.

But the Welshmen had the try they craved just 84 seconds into the second half, with Joe Bearman's clever offload releasing centre Ashley Beck for a well-taken seven-pointer.

Leinster replied almost immediately, Sexton rifling over his second penalty, before Ospreys captain Ryan Jones infringed at a ruck to allow Sexton to kick Leinster 23-16 ahead.

But in yet another twist, the Ospreys worked numbers on the left to release Williams for a rare scoring chance and he showed his renowned finishing skills by crashing over past Eoin Reddan.

Biggar missed the conversion, leaving Leinster with a two-point buffer, and the league's table-toppers seemed to be turning the screw when Nacewa swooped for his second of this closely-fought final.

Sexton's conversion completed his 15-point haul and pushed the margin out to nine points with just 16 minutes remaining.

It was an uphill task for the Ospreys but Biggar sent over a penalty to give his team-mates renewed hope.

Williams then signed off in fairytale fashion as the diminutive winger ducked out of Rob Kearney's challenge to wriggle over in the right corner and Biggar kicked the decisive blow.

Leinster Lose O'Brien for Osprey Final

Leinster are without injured flanker Sean O'Brien for Sunday's RaboDirect Pro12 Grand Final against Ospreys.

Shane Jennings starts at seven, Heinke van der Merwe and Sean Cronin come into the front row, and Devin Toner replaces the benched Brad Thorn at lock.

Scrum-half Isaac Boss has failed to shake off a muscle injury, while prop Cian Healy will face a late fitness test on his dead leg.

Ospreys have no new injury concerns but start with Rhys Webb at scrum-half.

That sees Kahn Fotuali'i drop to the bench at the Royal Dublin Society Showground as Ospreys try to stop Heineken Cup champions Leinster claiming a trophy double.

Wales record try scorer Shane Williams will play his last game in an Ospreys shirt before retirement, while prop Paul James will depart to play his rugby for Bath after this game.

"It's a huge game, a massive occasion for Ospreys rugby, and everybody is really excited about Sunday," said Ospreys coach Steve Tandy.

"Leinster are a great team. What they've achieved in Europe over the last four years speaks for itself, and the nature of their win against Ulster last weekend means that they'll be full of confidence.

"Playing at home in front of their own fans is another bonus for them and will make the task even more difficult for us.

For Leinster Brian O'Driscoll and Rob Kearney were fitness doubts before the European decider against Ulster last week, but came through unscathed and line up in an unchanged backline.

Jack McGrath is on standby to replace Healy on the bench if the prop fails to recover in time, while open-side flanker O'Brien lost his battle to recover from a knee injury.

Sunday's game will mark the final appearance of short-term signing, All Black World Cup winner Thorn while it will also be Nathan White's last involvement for Leinster before his summer move to Connacht.

Last year Leinster won the Heineken Cup against Northampton Saints, but went on to lose the league final against Munster.

The Ospreys have won their last six Pro12 encounters including a 23-22 victory against Leinster at the Royal Dublin Showground - the scene of the final. They also had a stunning 45-10 home victory in the Pro12 semi-final over Munster.

"Previous games won't count for a thing on Sunday, it's all about the day and who handles the pressure the best," added Tandy.

"We know that we have to improve in certain areas, we were guilty of putting ourselves under unnecessary pressure in the Munster match and that meant we had to rely too heavily on our defence.

"We don't want to have to do that on Sunday, we want to try and be more composed and look to dictate territory better."

Leinster: Rob Kearney; Fergus McFadden, Brian O'Driscoll, Gordon D'Arcy, Isa Nacewa; Jonathan Sexton, Eoin Reddan; Heinke van der Merwe, Sean Cronin, Mike Ross, Leo Cullen (capt), Devin Toner, Kevin McLaughlin, Shane Jennings, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Richardt Strauss, Cian Healy/Jack McGrath, Nathan White, Brad Thorn, Dominic Ryan, John Cooney, Ian Madigan, David Kearney.

Ospreys: Richard Fussell; Hanno Dirksen, Andrew Bishop, Ashley Beck, Shane Williams; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Paul James, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Joe Bearman.

Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Ryan Bevington, Aaron Jarvis, James King, Tom Smith, Kahn Fotuali'i, Matthew Morgan, Tom Isaacs.

Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Assistant Referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Neil Paterson (Scotland)

Citing Commissioner: Denis Templeton (Ireland)

TMO: Giulio de Santis (Italy)

Williams Scores in Farewell Game

Shane Williams scored a dramatic late try and conversion on what was billed as his farewell game for the Ospreys before retirement.

But the 34-year-old's try may lead to the Ospreys hosting a home game in the Pro12 play-offs.

The Dragons were in the game until the 78th minute when the Ospreys were awarded a second penalty try.

And Williams prised open the Dragons's stubborn defence before converting the injury-time score.

Williams' effort echoed his final Wales appearance , when he went over after 80 minutes had passed in a 24-18 defeat by Australia in December.

But on this occasion, Williams' try brought the reward of the bonus point that could prove so crucial as they head into the league's final round on Saturday, 5 May when they travel to Italian strugglers Aironi.

The Dragons' preparations were hit by a sickness bug among the squad in the build-up and skipper Luke Charteris' late withdrawal because of a shoulder injury.

But the visitors showed little sign of the troubles that preceded the kick-off.

The Dragons lived up to the Ospreys' expectations by putting up a better show than Cardiff Blues mustered in the hosts' previous outing.

Despite dominating the opening 10 minutes and creating clean line breaks for wing Hanno Dirksen, flanker Ryan Jones, lock Ian Evans, the Ospreys fell behind to Robling's first penalty.

Amid the Ospreys early lack of a killer instinct, the Dragons could point to Toby Faletau's try-saving tackle on Hibbard.

Biggar and Robling exchanged penalties before Ryan Jones stole over from a close-range ruck in the 20th minute for the first try and the Ospreys' fly-half converted.

Dragons wing Aled Brew brought Dirksen down by launching his body at the his opponent's legs to again deny the hosts.

But the Ospreys' pressure at series of close-range scrums told as first Nathan Buck was sin-binned before referee Nigel Owens' patience wore so thin he awarded a penalty try.

Biggar converted, but the hosts were unable to profit from Buck's absence either side of the break and it fell to Robling to again frustrate the Ospreys with two more penalties that left the outcome finely balanced.

Home fly-half Biggar was next to the sin-bin after he was judged to have illegally halted Brew's attempt at a tap penalty.

And before any more scores, replacement Dragons prop Dan Way was also yellow-carded.

In Way's absence, the Ospreys claimed another penalty try from a scrum.

Then Williams broke free to the delight of the biggest rugby crowd at the Liberty Stadium this season, 14,478.

Ospreys: Ross Jones, Hanno Dirksen, Tom Isaacs, Andrew Bishop, Shane Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Ryan Bevington, Richard Hibbard, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (Capt), Ian Evans, Ryan Jones, Joe Bearman, Justin Tipuric.

Replacements: Ashley Beck for Isaacs (60), Kahn Fotuali'i for Webb (41), Paul James for Bevington (63), Tom Smith for Evans (60).

Not Used: Baldwin, Rees, King, M Morgan.

Sin Bin: Biggar (50).

Dragons: Hallam Amos; Tonderai Chavhanga, Adam Hughes, Ashley Smith (capt), Aled Brew; Lewis Robling, Wayne Evans; Nathan Williams, Steve Jones, Nathan Buck, Robert Sidoli, Jevon Groves, Danny Lydiate, Toby Faletau, Lewis Evans.

Replacements: Martyn Thomas for Chavhanga (48), Joe Bedford for W Evans (63), Phil Price for N Williams (63), Sam Parry for S Jones (56), Dan Way for N Buck (56).

Not Used: Coombs, Brown, Leach.

Sin Bin: Buck (34), Way (69).

Att: 14,478

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Assistant referees: Neil Hennessy, Wayne Davies (WRU)

Citing commissioner: Gwyn Bowden (WRU)

TMO: Gareth Simmonds (WRU)

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A Tommy Bowe Sort of Homecoming

Ireland and Lions wing Tommy Bowe will return to Ulster from The Ospreys at the end of the current season.

The 28-year-old Bowe has been released early from his contract with the Welsh club to allow him to take up a new contract with the IRFU and to play in Ulster for the next three seasons.

Bowe is looking forward to returning to Belfast, telling the Irish RFU webside: "Obviously, I have mixed emotions. I'm sad to be leaving a club and a region that I have been proud to call my home for the last three years and that has improved me immeasurably both as a rugby player and as a person.

"I am indebted to the staff, coaches, management, team mates and fans of the Ospreys, for welcoming me so warmly and making my time here so special.

"That said, I am also delighted to be returning to Ulster, the Province I grew up wanting to play for and where my family live.

"David Humphreys was a mentor of mine in my early playing days and we have remained friends during my time at the Ospreys. His vision for Ulster is impressive, with Ulster born players at the core of this vision.

" I hope to repay the IRFU and Ulster's faith in me by contributing to a team that is already delivering.

"The vibe at Ulster is undeniably positive. I've been training and playing with some of the Ulster boys during the Six Nations and there is a real energy and sense of anticipation as to what lies ahead for this Ulster team".

Ulster Director of Rugby David Humphreys added: "We are delighted to be in a position to finally confirm that Tommy will be playing his rugby with Ulster next season and I'd like to thank the IRFU for their assistance in bringing him home.

"Skillful, physical, and a proven finisher with a knack of being in the right place at the right time, there's no doubt that Tommy has consistently been one of European rugby's best players over the past few seasons and he'll bring a lot of experience and flair to our backline."

Bowe played for Ulster between 2005-'08 making 91 appearances, scoring 34 tries and playing in the side which won the 2004/05 Celtic League. He has won 47 caps and scored 24 tries for Ireland, including two in last weekend's 17-17 draw with France in Paris.

Will O'Sullivan be Osprey Option?

Andrew Hore says the Ospreys will consider finding a successor for director of coaching Scott Johnson, who leaves for Scotland in June.

The region's chief operating officer says the claims of head coach Sean Holley and forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys will also be assessed.

New Zealander Hore, a former Wales fitness coach, said: "We definitely will be looking at both scenarios."

Johnson will become Scotland boss Andy Robinson's senior assistant coach.

Hore said: "We've been talking for a long period of time about where to go from here, that kind of thing.

"What we want to do now is sit down and look at the blueprint.

"We started this exercise four years ago to bring him [Johnson] in to help develop those coaches and that coaching staff and put those systems in place.

"And we've just got to review that now and make a decision on whether we bring somebody else in, that maybe the process needs to be finished.

"Or, are we happy with where we're at and go with from within, as we said?

"And then it's who, from within, is going to head that up?"

Hore admits the festive period has made it difficult for the Osprey's power brokers, such as joint managing directors Roger Blyth and Mike Cuddy, to meet to discuss the issue.

"With some directors being away, obviously with the festive period and that, we just haven't had a chance to sit down because it [the news about Johnson leaving] came out a little bit earlier than we expected," Hore added.

"So yeah, we've got a bit of work to do yet."

The Ospreys stopped a run of three defeats with a 17-12 win over Welsh rivals Cardiff Blues on New Year's Day at the Liberty Stadium.

Johnson Set to Join Robinson

Ospreys director of coaching Scott Johnson is to leave the region at the end of the season and join the Scotland coaching set-up.

The 49-year-old Australian will become senior assistant coach to Scotland head coach Andy Robinson and will be in position for the June tour to Australia, Fiji and Samoa, the SRU has announced.

Johnson, a former Wales skills coach, Australia assistant coach and head coach of USA, was appointed as Ospreys director of coaching in April 2009.

He informed the board of his intention to move on ahead of Boxing Day's derby match against the Scarlets.

"Having initially committed myself to the Ospreys for three years, I've taken the time to consider my future plans and have advised the directors that while I intend to see out the remainder of my contract I will not be looking to renew at the end of the season," said Johnson.

"When I joined the region I had a remit to help set-up systems that would enable us to bring through home grown talent, coaches and players, a challenge I've thoroughly enjoyed getting my teeth into over the last three years.

"I feel that now is the right time for me to move on to other challenges but I remain 100 per cent committed to the Ospreys between now and the end of the season."

Johnson took charge of the Ospreys at the start of the 2009-10 season and the side reached the last eight of the Heineken Cup and won the first ever Magners League Grand Final.

Hugely missed

Ospreys Chief Operations Officer Andrew Hore said: "In 2008 we started a process which would see the Ospreys become a world leading player and coach development organisation with Scott joining us a year later as a part of this, to assist in producing such a development programme. Although this is now the end of the second phase, this process continues.

"As a region we have enjoyed success during his time with us but his biggest influence has been off the field, where he has played a major part in putting in place these new player and coach development structures while also having to deal with reducing the wage bill for the long-term good of the business. His work will help to ensure the long-term sustainability of the Ospreys."

"He'll be sadly missed by everybody at the Ospreys when he moves on, but by informing us of his intentions at this early stage, it allows us to use this time to consider our next course of action and the options available to us as we plan for the future."

Galacticos Ospreys Ban Fake Tans

The Ospreys management team are taking strict action to shed their 'Galacticos' image by banning fake tans and fancy coloured boots and creating a fresh identify based on hard work and professionalism.

With the departure of high-profiled names or the so-called 'pretty boys' such as Gavin Henson and James Hook, the Liberty Stadium side want to create headlines based on their performances on the pitch rather than for any beauty rituals or fashion statements.

Players are now not allowed to have a spray tan and must not wear coloured boots - unless they have earned the right to do so.

The substance over style approach has been introduced so that Ospreys can "represent the region in the right way".

“The fake tan and the coloured boots and the Galacticos label doesn’t interest us really,” coach Sean Holley said.

“We’ve banned the tan. It’s real tan only. And you are only allowed to wear coloured boots if you’ve played over 50 times for the Ospreys or over 15 times for your country.

“We feel that you have to earn the respect, you have to earn the right to do something.

“We want to work hard, we want to represent our region properly. We don’t want to be false or misrepresented.”

The new rules have clearly been paying off. Ospreys, who boost a number of youngsters in their ranks this season, have won six of their first seven Pro 12 matches and currently top the table.

“We are trying to get good people, good young lads through who represent us well and I think we are achieving that at the start of the season." Holley added.

“You can see by the likes of the people who have re-signed, Shane, Alun Wyn, Adam, Ryan Jones. These sort of people are the mainstay, Duncan, Paul, Huw Bennett, Jonathan Thomas, the list goes on.

“They are still good international players, but they are the cornerstone of what we want to be represented as.

“I think a lot of our good has been understated in the past.

“A lot of the expectations we’ve had placed upon us have been a little bit misplaced in some of the terminology used.

“We’ve still got good players. We’ve just tried to shift the cultural emphasis on representing our region as best we can."