THE Ospreys have told their wider squad they must learn to hold the fort in the absence of the region's cavalry.

The region were today deciding whether to draft Tommy Bowe, Mike Phillips, Adam Jones and Alun Wyn Jones into their squad for the home game with Benetton Treviso in Swansea on Friday evening.

Without them, and other front liners such as James Hook and Ryan Jones, the Ospreys slipped to a 27-26 defeat against Ulster in the first round of Magners League matches.

And head coach Sean Holley has since declared that all the players have to step up to the plate rather than rely too much on the stellar names to deliver.

"We can't have a situation where we lean too heavily on Tommy and the others," said Holley.

"They are excellent players and we know they will do the business for us when they return.

"But we run a squad system here that is dependent on everyone delivering.

"There were a number of players who can be pleased with their performances last Friday, but we know there is scope to improve. It isn't about waiting for anyone to come back."

One player who did come through with flying colours at Ravenhill was Ryan Bevington.

The 21-year-old was part of a dominant front row and he caught the eye with a big display around the field, tackling hard and looking to contribute with ball in hand.

But the Ospreys' lack of composure, allied to indiscipline that saw them regularly incur the wrath of Scottish referee Peter Allan, meant they fell to only their second defeat on the opening weekend of a season since the Celtic league was started as a home-and-away competition in 2003.

Bowe and Co missed the season's opener after being on international tour duty in the summer.

"They have to put in a foundation of training for the season," said Holley. "What they are doing at this point will stand them in good stead over the next nine months."

Mark Orders