Sean Holley calls for Ospreys' rethink on Test stars
The Ospreys will lose stars such as James Hook and Mike Phillips to Wales Six Nations duty
Ospreys head coach Sean Holley has questioned their wisdom in employing a glut of international stars in the wake of their shock Heineken Cup exit.
The Ospreys lost 24-12 at London Irish on Sunday to bow out of Europe.
Holley said: "We need to seriously look at... losing large chunks of players for large chunks of the season and what that does to our momentum."
Holley did not want to make excuses for the failure but added: "There are some big decisions to be made in future."
Toulon's 32-16 win over ex-Heineken champions Munster ensured they will top Pool 3 ahead of their visit to Liberty Stadium on Saturday.
That pool was viewed as among the 2010-11 tournament's toughest, but London Irish's win was only the second in this European campaign and ended their 10-match losing run.
I can understand [Sean Holley's argument] during the periods when those players aren't available to them, but they've... really got no excuse, have they?
Legendary Wales prop Graham Price
Victory would have given the Magners League holders a winner-takes-all clash against Toulon on Saturday in Swansea. But the Welsh region now have only pride to play for.
And Holley admits they have taken a backward step having reached the quarter-finals - and gone no further - in the last three seasons.
He told BBC Sport Wales: "The last three years has been about securing your home wins and getting something away, like in that Leicester game [a 32-32 draw at Welford Road in season 2009-10].
"Like I say, we haven't managed to do that this year so obviously it's a backward step.
"We felt we were in good shape this year off the back of the Magners win last year to get some momentum.
"And we don't want to make excuses, but clearly there are times in the season where we are disjointed.
"We lose a lot of players and we need to seriously look at that, Ospreys rugby does, as to the cost-benefit analysis of it, really, as to losing large chunks of players for large chunks of the season and what that does to our momentum and really whether that's cost-effective enough for Ospreys rugby moving forward.
"So there are some big decisions to be made in future."
However, Holley's views did not impress Wales and British and Irish Lions prop legend Graham Price.
The man who packed down in 12 consecutive Lions Tests during a glittering career told BBC Sport Wales: "I can understand [Holley's argument] during the periods when those players aren't available to them, but they've been available now since the end of November and they've really got no excuse, have they?
"That doesn't really hold water at this stage of the season. I mean there was nothing stopping them from preparing and picking their best side."
Holley says the looming Six Nations that kicks off on Friday, 4 February when Wales host England at the Millennium Stadium, will cause further disruption as the Ospreys lose their leading lights to international calls.
They can expect Ireland to call on wing Tommy Bowe and Scotland to include Nikki Walker in their plans.
The Ospreys' Welsh contingent could include Paul James, Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Ryan Jones, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Mike Phillips, Dan Biggar, James Hook, Shane Williams and Lee Byrne with Craig Mitchell Richard Hibbard, Duncan Jones, Justin Tipuric and Tom Prydie also Six Nations contenders.
Holley said: "They are top players, don't get me wrong. They are top players and when they've been with us a long time then they know what we're about.
"But the way the season is, we'll lose now I would imagine the best part of 13, 14, 15 players for the next six Osprey games after Toulon, so you make your own mind up."
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