The 31-30 victory over the reigning champions of Europe proved they are one of the best teams in the northern hemisphere. This is what they had to say about the sun-drenched thriller in Dublin.
Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys Captain
“It was pretty tough and it is just great to win a final in such a tough game. We kept saying we had to keep going because we knew that one mistake, or the team who kept going, would win this sort of tough game
“It was frustrating with all those scrums going down just before half time but in fairness to the ref he gave them a yellow although we did not really capitalize on being a man up.
“Dan is such a mature man for his years and some of the flak he has received has been totally unfair.”
Steve Tandy – Ospreys Head Coach
“Fantastic – the boys were just relentless and although at times some people probably we had lost the game they dug deep and what a way to end a final.
“There was a lot riding on today and we will miss Shane but it is about moving and finding another Shane.
“He has been second to none for the Ospreys, passing on his knowledge to the youngsters and I am sure we will see him around the place at the Ospreys.
“We have finished the season on a real high but there is still a lot of hard work to do because we cannot think everything is rosy in the garden.
“But we are in a real good place and we have sent a lot of the boys off the best possible way.”
Shane Williams – Ospreys Legend
“I have enjoyed every success and the one you remember is the latest one and what a great way this was for me to finish.
“I will never forget this day and it is nice to be retiring with some silverware – this is up there with anything else I have achieved – and I hope to continue to be involved with the Ospreys as much as I can.
“We did not play particularly well in the first half and it felt as if it took us time to get really involved and you do not have much time in a final.
“At half-time we said that we did not really feel as if we had really played and tested Leinster so we went out and did that and then stuck at it right to the end.
“Leinster are a fabulous side but we are also a good side and everyone could see how much this mattered to the boys and how much they wanted it.
“Leinster are one of the best sides European rugby has ever seen and we have a lot of youn players coming through like Ashley Beck and Jason Tipuric so I believe we will have the players to be competitive in the Heineken Cup
“Naturally I would have liked to have been successful in the Heineken Cup but that eluded me and that is a bit frustrating.”
Joe Schmidt – Leinster Head Coach
“I am pretty gutted. We knew it was going to be tough and we knew there would be a little fatigue but going down to 14 men twice meant they had to overwork.
“They scored tries when we were a man short and those yellow cards certainly cost us.
“I knew the most dangerous part of the game would be the back end and that we had to keep our noses in front but it didn’t happen.
“We won the Heineken Cup but it is hard to console ourselves with anything else because the last one is the one that hurts and this was just a bit of a bridge to far
Leo Cullen – Leinster Captain
“Losing three finals is not ideal and this defeat leaves a bit of a bad taste in the mouth – it is going to be hard to get this out of my head.”
