Indiscipline cost the Blues dear in their semi-final defeat

The simmering rivalry between the Welsh regions boiled over, three Blues yellow cards proving crucial to the result.

"I thought the cards were harsh, but I said to the team beforehand that we'd take some cheap shots," said Young.

"You can look at the tape to see our players' reaction, but we responded so we only have ourselves to blame."

Interview: Ospreys scrum-half Justin Marshall

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones, whose side advance to meet Leicester Tigers in another grudge match at Twickenham on 15 April, said:

We had some good and bad experiences against Leicester in the Heineken Cup last season Ospreys coach Lyn Jones

"It was always going to be a physical local derby and yellow cards will hurt any team.

"The boys are shattered but it went well for us. We had the bounce of the ball, but deserved the win.

"We had some good and bad experiences against Leicester in the Heineken Cup last season and we will look forward to it.

"We played 160 minutes of rugby against them and I thought we were the better team for 140 of those minutes.

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"But Leicester won both games, and they are not in the top two of the Guinness Premiership for nothing - we might have a cracker of a final."

Young, who acknowledged his side were easily second best on the day, saw his chances hit by the late injury withdrawal of Tom Shanklin.

"Tom has been struggling with a knee problem but we haven't had the full results from the scan yet," Young told BBC Sport Wales after the Millennium Stadium defeat.

There were grudge matches all over the Millennium Stadium

"It is the same knee he's had problems with before, although we haven't heard anything to suggest it's serious.

"Gethin Jenkins [shoulder] missed out as well and we were hurt by being without two Lions.

"But we didn't deserve to win, we were outmuscled, the Ospreys were far too physical and won the confrontations across the field.

"[Filo] Tiatia and [Brent] Cockbain wrecked a lot of ball for us, hitting the rucks at pace.

"If the Ospreys play the way they did against us then there's no reason they can't beat Leicester in the final.