Ospreys have 'moved on' from Sharks controversy

Osprey head coach Mark Jones says his side have moved on from April's controversial United Rugby Championship (URC) home victory against Sharks as the two sides open the new season in Durban.

Jones' side have travelled to South Africa to begin their league campaign against a Sharks side they defeated 21-17 in Bridgend, which helped deny JP Pietersen's side a play-off place.

The South Africans were not happy with a challenge by Ospreys wing Luke Morgan on Ethan Hooker and the fact the game finished with uncontested scrums.

Sharks boss Pietersen and owner Marco Masotti questioned the Ospreys' integrity after the match with incendiary comments that were not publicly punished by URC bosses.

Springboks prop Vincent Koch has said this week that loss is in the back of the Sharks mind.

"We want a good competitive physical game and I am sure both teams will have moved on," said Jones.

There were two areas of contention.

One was a challenge by Morgan on Ethan Hooker after the Springbok scored a try.

It left the South African international with a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season.

After the game, Jones defended Morgan's challenge and condemned the online abuse the former sevens star received after the game, with no further punishment coming from the URC.

"Luke and I were really disappointed Ethan hurt himself in the incident," said Jones.

"There was no malice in it and it's been great to see Ethan back performing so well for South Africa recently. He's a high quality player and I'm glad to see him back on the field."

Jones says he is confident Morgan will cope with any backlash.

"Luke's an experienced player and I spoke to him about the potential of playing in this game and he was more than happy to take part," said Jones.

"I did have a conversation with him because there were some things flying around at the time that were getting a little bit out of hand.

"He is all good and just wants to focus on the rugby and so do we, that's all we care about."

Then came Masotti's claim Ospreys officials should take a lie detector test about events in the game's final stages which led to uncontested scrums.

The Sharks had struggled in the set-piece during the first half but their scrum transformed when Springboks props Ox Nche and Koch entered the fray.

Ospreys loose-head replacement Garyn Phillips was then forced off the pitch with a hamstring injury ended his season.

The player he replaced, Gareth Thomas, failed his head injury assessment while starting tight-head Tom Botha was struggling with a neck issue.

Ospreys were subsequently reduced to 14 men but Sharks, denied their scrum weapon, failed to take advantage.

Jones says he bears no grudges.

"We've got a huge amount of respect for JP and his coaching staff and the team," said Jones.

"We just want to get out here and put a great performance in and earn the respect of the South African people with how we play the game."

Morgan is included in the Ospreys side, while Hooker is not playing because he is away with South Africa, among a number of missing Springboks.

Three Australians - flanker Luke Wright, centre Lalakai Foketi and fly-half Lawson Creighton - make their Ospreys debuts alongside Wales wing Tom Rogers, who joined from Scarlets.

But another former Wallaby, wing Marika Koroibete, has stayed in Wales after an administrative issue.

"Marika was due to travel but unfortunately, through no fault of his own, there was a bit of a paperwork hitch and it looked like he couldn't travel," said Jones, whose side face Lions in round two.

"So, we had pre-booked 35 spots and wanted to make sure with a couple of little niggles we had that we had enough cover on the trip.

"We decided to leave him behind and not risk him not getting in country through the visa issues but, typically, before we flew, his visa came through and he was good to go.

"Just due to cost he will remain in Wales. We've filled up our quota so he won't be with us.

"It was always going be a bit of a push to get some rugby out of him on this trip just because of the lateness of him arriving at the club, but we would have like to have brought him."

New co-captains Sam Parry and Owen Watkin lead the side as Ospreys aim to stop their five-match losing run in South Africa by facing a side without its current internationals.

"There's no good time to play the South Africans, they're the best rugby nation in the world at the moment across a lot of age groups and competitions," said Jones.

"They've got a lot of young talent coming through and just because you don't necessarily recognise the name today, within a few months they will be on the lips of a lot of people in the rugby world."

Sharks: Giliomee; Hartzenberg, Julius, Koster, Bester; Moyo, Jaden Hendrikse; Ganyane, Swart, Koch, Rahl, Landsberg, P Buthelezi, Tshituka, Hatton (capt)

Replacements: Mnebele, Roelofse, Jacobs, Jenkins, Romao, van Zyl, Masuku, Siyaya.

Ospreys: Hopkins: Rogers, Watkin (co-capt), Foketi, Morgan; Creighton, L Davies; S Thomas, Parry (co-captain), Botha, Ratti, R Davies, Wright, Moriarty, M Morris.

Replacements: Daniel, G Thomas, Henry, R Smith, Deaves, Hardy, Wilde, Boshoff.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)

Assistant referees: Griffin Colby (South Africa), Dylen November (South Africa)

TMO: Fillipo Russo (Italy).