Who Boxed clever on derby day?
IT was a busy Boxing Day on the rugby front with two Welsh derbies and a number of exiles on duty across the bridge. So who were the winners and losers? Here’s our take on the action.
MORGANThere was an array of Wales scrum-halves on duty in the two derbies, with Lloyd Williams, Gareth Davies, Rhys Webb, Tomos Williams and Kieran Hardy all in action.
But it was an uncapped 22-year-old who produced the individual moment of the day from No. 9, with a special solo score.
You can see Reuben Morgan-Williams has been working with Webb at the Ospreys, as it was a gem right out of his play-book.
Throwing a big dummy at a ruck, the youngster stepped inside pillar prop Javan Sebastian before bursting away on a 30-metre angled run to the line. He is a real prospect.
JAKE BALL: There have been rumours that the big lock may be thinking of returning to Australia, where he spent his late teens.
His wife and children have been out there staying with relatives while he has been on Wales duty this autumn, with his wife giving birth to the couple’s fourth child Down Under.
If the 29-year-old were to leave, it would be a big blow to the Scarlets and Wales, as he confirmed with a huge display in the 16-14 victory over the Ospreys.
Amid wretched conditions, it was an occasion made for his row-boned grunt, as he carried with power and intent, put in the big hits, smashed into rucks and even claimed a jackal penalty. He would be sorely missed.
BLUES BENCH: With the game against the Dragons hanging in the balance, it was the Cardiff Blues replacements who made the difference.
Tomos Williams brought a spark at scrum-half, with Rhys Carre, Dmitri Arhip and Shane Lewis-Hughes adding oomph up front, while Rey Lee-Lo is always a class act in midfield.
Prop Arhip and flanker Lewis-Hughes were both on hand to latch onto Josh Turnbull and help drive him over the line for the match-winning try 12 minutes from time.
REUBEN WILLIAMS:
JIM BOTHAM: Spending Christmas Day alone with his French Bulldog Roscoe clearly proved good preparation for the Cardiff Blues flanker.
His defensive work was crucial to the hard-fought 13-12 victory over the Dragons, as he put in 19 tackles to earn the man of the match award, while also carrying with purpose and dynamism.
He really has had a few months to remember. OSPREYS FLANKERS: Dan Lydiate and Justin Tipuric have delivered together so many times over the years for the Ospreys and Wales and they were at it again on Boxing Day.
Blindside Lydiate is now 33 and hasn’t played international rugby for more than two years, but he is back to his destructive best, putting his body on the line to such an extent that he required treatment a couple of times.
As for Tipuric, we know all about the footballing class, but he showed again he can also deliver the nitty gritty on days when the conditions demand, as exemplified by his ruck clearout turnover ahead of MorganWilliams’ try.
DAN JONES: It didn’t all go Dan Jones’ way against the Ospreys, with the Scarlets fly-half twice hitting the woodwork with penalty attempts and twice being done for stepping offside in defence.
But he kept his nerve and kept on putting his team in the right areas, sending raking touch-finders through the driving rain and into the corners.
It was fitting that he should land the winning conversion to cap a man of the match performance.
THE BRISTOL WELSH: Flanker Dan Thomas was named man of the match following an all-action tryscoring display in Bristol’s 27-19 victory away to Harlequins.
Teenager Ioan Lloyd also shone brightly, showing his versatility by starting on the left wing and shifting to fullback.
Welsh-qualified No. 9 Harry Randall was outstanding too, demonstrating sheer pace for his sniping try, while his half-back partner Callum Sheedy brought tactical control at 10.
DAN BIGGAR: Helped the Saints to their first win in four months, scoring one try and setting up another in a man of the match effort (see panel, right).
LOSERS DRAGONS AND OSPREYS:
There was a strange symmetry to the two Boxing Day derbies in Wales.
In both, the home side led for much of the game, only to ultimately lose out to the visitors, who were actually playing on their home ground! Work that one out.
Rodney Parade has been Cardiff Blues’ temporary home this season, with the artificial Arms Park surface being re-laid.
They were the away team on this occasion, but the venue remained a happy hunting ground as they came from behind to leave the Dragons to mull over what might have been.
The relaying of a pitch - at the Liberty Stadium - was also the reason for the Ospreys moving their home game to Parc y Scarlets.
They looked to make a statement pre-match by covering up the Scarlets’ “West is Best” slogan in the stand with a banner to emphasise it was their home for the day.
But their hopes were dashed as the tide turned late on and the slogan was back on show after the game.
PREMIER SPORTS: Problems with their streaming service meant viewers were unable to watch the first half hour of the Dragons v Cardiff Blues match. Of course, there is an argument they did people a favour, given it was such a turgid affair.