Ospreys Disappointed With Munster Attitude.

Derwyn Jones has expressed disappointment with Munster over the manner in which they handled the situation that saw Marcus Horan completely cleared of allegations of racial abuse made against him

Neath-Swansea team manager, Derwyn Jones has expressed disappointment with Munster over the manner in which they handled the situation that saw Marcus Horan completely cleared of allegations of racial abuse made against him by Neath-Swansea Ospreys.

Speaking to Andy Howell in The Western Mail today Jones insisted that the Welsh regional side were right to cite Horan.

“If a player comes up to us and says that a remark has been made we have an obligation to treat it seriously. We believe in our guys.” Jones is quoted as saying.

However, in the statement fom ERC following the lenghty hearing, and after poring over the video of the incident, ERC pointedly state that, “the alleged remark had never been made.”

And while Richard Mustoe was clearly caught by television cameras stamping on the head of Horan, Jones manages to explain away the action of the 22 year winger by claiming he was provoked by Horan. “Richard could have been banned for longer but the committee accepted he had been provoked by Horan,” claimed former Wales lock Jones.

Horan had six stitches inserted in a head wound after that incident in the 21st minute. On Wednesday the panel ruled Mustoe had acted recklessly while last week they found that Horan had no case to answer in relation to the first Ospreys citing of kicking in the lead up to that incident. And this decision from ERC after viewing the video of an incident that according to Ospreys left the winger “stunned and dazed.”

According to the Western Mail story, Ospreys intended to take internal disciplinary action against Mustoe following the incident but Munster had rejected an overture and gone ahead and cited the exciting runner. A decision that did not please Jones, “I am disappointed with the attitude of Munster because we feel this matter could have been handled a lot better,” he fumed. “But they were determined to throw the book at a young player like Richard. “I find that a little ironic because I feel it was Horan who started the trouble. We cited him for kicking out at Richard and punching Elvis in a later incident, but the citing commissioner failed to recommend either of those allegations went to a disciplinary panel.”

And he concludes by saying, “We were disappointed with that to say the least because we felt and still feel there was a case to answer.”

If in fact Ospreys “still feel there was case to answer”, then they can of course appeal the decision. But all that aside, one has to wonder exactly what planet does Mr Jones live on.