Bowe targets Magners crown

The Ospreys lifted the coveted trophy after triumphing over Leinster in last year's Grand Final and Bowe insists the Welsh region are focussed on retaining it.

Bowe admits the Ospreys have been frustrated by their form this season and claims their recent European heartache has made them all the more determined to come out firing in the Magners League.

"It's frustrating for myself and the team," said Bowe speaking of the Ospreys Heineken Cup exit.

"It's been a strange season, we have had ups and downs but we still have the Magners League title to play for and we have to pick ourselves up for that. The boys will be out to redeem themselves.

"We're trying to implement a game plan where we take teams up front. With the scrum being very dominant we're getting a lot of penalties but also the way scrums are going at the moment you rarely get to attack off the back of them.

"But I suppose as a back line we also haven't shown the attacking prowess we have. It's been a bit frustrating. We want to get our hands on the ball as much as we can.

"We know with such competition in the back line that we should be tearing teams apart."

The Ospreys suffered European heartbreak at the quarter-final stage last year but that only kicked their season on and Bowe is hoping for a similar affect this season.

"Last year it was coming towards the end of the season and we lost to Biarritz," added Bowe.

"That was the make or break point for us. We had to go to Thomond Park, the RDS and Ravenhill all in a very short period of time and we won.

"It was the turning point of our season and we ended up winning the Magners League."