Booth disappointed by Davies' 'trenches' remark

Toby Booth will leave Ospreys at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth says he was disappointed by Jonathan Davies' suggestion that he has "jumped out of the trench" by announcing he will leave the region at the end of the season.

Former Wales centre Davies was part of a discussion on Scrum V The Warm Up in which it was suggested Ospreys are struggling due to news that Booth will depart at the end of 2024-25 being announced before the season began.

Speaking ahead of Ospreys' heavy defeat in Ulster last Friday, Davies said: "You’re in the trenches, you’ve got to roll your sleeves up, you’ve got to go to work and it’s going to be a tough night.

"You’re thinking, well, the head coach is not going to be here, he’s already said he’s leaving, he’s already jumped out of the trench essentially.

"That can’t be helping the boys when it comes down to those tight games, those real key moments."

Fellow Wales internationals Alex Cuthbert and Ellis Jenkins also questioned whether the timing of the Booth announcement - made in early September - could be linked to Ospreys' poor run.

"I may not have any effect at all, but I wonder if that has any sort of influence in the way the team is or the atmosphere there," said Jenkins.

Cuthbert added: "It seems something is not quite right."

In response, Booth said "everyone is entitled to their opinion", adding: "I find it interesting that people that are making comments about me personally that don’t even know me.

"And anyone that knows me, to think that I’ve got out of the trench is sadly mistaken and obviously doesn’t know me at all.

"That was disappointing to hear, but people are entitled to their comments and that’s fine."

Ospreys face Edinburgh in Bridgend on Saturday, their final game before the international break.

The Swansea-based side are bottom of the United Rugby Championship having won only one of their five games so far this season.

"We are all determined, myself included, to put right what has been a disappointing block for us," Booth said.

"I am confident that everyone is still on board, still doing what needs to be done. The atmosphere in the room when it’s full of our players is still very determined and very buoyant.

"That tells me that the culture is good because that’s what gets tested in difficult times."

Ospreys will be without fly-half Dan Edwards (concussion) against Edinburgh but are boosted by the availability of Wales internationals Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Adam Beard, Owen Watkin and Gareth Thomas.

"When things aren't going as you want, and they are not going as we want from a result point of view, people look to your senior players, leaders, to lead by example, create confidence and show the way.

"We're dropping in four really important leaders and very important players for us.

"We're obviously hopeful that those things play a greater part than what we had to endure a little bit last week."