Furious Ospreys accuse White of eye-gouging

England prop Julian White found himself at the centre of an eye-gouging storm tonight - just a fortnight before this season's RBS 6 Nations Championship.

Furious Ospreys coaches Sean Holley and Jonathan Humphreys spoke out after the Welsh side secured a 15-9 Heineken Cup victory at the Liberty Stadium.

Leicester secured a quarter-final place as Pool Three winners courtesy of their losing bonus point, but the Ospreys could still progress as one of two best runners-up.

Tigers forward White though, could now find himself in hot water with tournament disciplinary chiefs.

Ospreys assistant coach Humphreys said: "We've got a couple of players in our changing room with marks around the eyes.

"There were a couple of incidents at Welford Road (when the teams meet in October) with Julian, but we didn't go down the citing line.

"It is disappointing it happens, and disappointing it happens with the same guy.

"It seems to be becoming part of the game, and there are a few guys in there who are upset with Julian."

World Cup winner White was called into the senior England squad earlier this week as replacement for Matt Stevens, who is suspended from all rugby following his positive drugs test.

White, who has a chequered disciplinary history, is due to leave with the England party for Portugal tomorrow and a week's warm-weather training ahead of the Six Nations.

Ospreys head coach Holley added: "We know it happens, and we've got to question is it acceptable?

"If it warrants a citing, we will certainly do it this time. Apparently, there is some footage. The evidence is quite clear.

"I think we have a duty to eradicate this from our game."

Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard was extremely animated at one point in the game, and Holley said: "He is one of our players particularly disturbed by this."

Ospreys can make their views known to the match citing commissioner, who will make the final decision on whether any further action is taken.

If White eventually faces a disciplinary hearing, he could be hit with a lengthy ban.

Leicester forwards coach Richard Cockerill said he "had no knowledge" of any alleged incidents involving White.

Tigers, meanwhile, scraped into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals - and left Ospreys sweating on a last-eight place - despite losing an intense Liberty Stadium encounter.

Wales star James Hook kicked the Ospreys to victory with five penalties, but his team must now await the outcome of games involving Wasps and Bath tomorrow.

If the Ospreys survive, they could face an intriguing all-Welsh clash against Cardiff Blues in April.

Fly-half Derick Hougaard's penalty hat-trick was enough to give Leicester the point they needed.

But Tigers skipper Martin Corry admitted: "It is a very weird feeling in the dressing room.

"It was a very hard game, and in the end, we had to take stock and make sure we came out of it with something.

"It was a very tough group, and for us to get through as group winners is something we can take a lot of pride from. We've got to be pleased we have come through."

Cockerill added: "We fronted up physically, and we did enough to qualify. I thought the players' attitude was fantastic.

"We've done the job, and although it wasn't perfect, we've won the group and we move on."

As for the Ospreys' overnight position, Holley said: "It is quite a numb dressing room. We hope we have done enough to qualify."