RAINBOW CUP RAIN IS HALFPENNY... AND THE
THE Wales selectors were out in force over the weekend, watching the two Welsh derbies that were played in the Rainbow Cup – the first of those in monsoon-like conditions in Llanelli.
The Scarlets and Cardiff Blues, both beaten in round one of the new competition, emerged triumphant this time.
Head coach Glenn Delaney may have left the Scarlets with immediate effect after the game, but his players served up an emphatic 22-6 win over the Ospreys.
And the Blues were 17-6 victors over the Dragons.
MARK ORDERS puts together a form XV from the weekend.
15. LEIGH HALFPENNY
Rain can be a nightmare for those who play their sports outdoors.
But a select few somehow manage to cope whatever the conditions. Leigh Halfpenny is one.
On Saturday evening, conditions in west Wales were so bad it was as if the weather gods had teamed up to do their worst with Llanelli as their principal target. After drawing back their curtains in the morning and seeing the rain lashing down, 999 goalkickers out of a thousand might have been tempted to phone in sick.
But Halfpenny’s brilliance as a marksman doesn’t bow to any cloudburst.
He lined up seven shots at the posts against the Ospreys and sent six of them through the middle.
It was a stunning exhibition of the goalkicking art.
14. JONAH HOLMES
In two Rainbow Cup games the Dragons wing has made five clean breaks and beaten 15 defenders. He’s also scored two tries.
There’s an argument he could have added to that tally against Cardiff Blues, but he otherwise had a strong game with his powerful and incisive running. Every time he had the ball the hosts had to be alert.
13. JONATHAN DAVIES
If only.
If only Davies had produced this kind of display a few weeks earlier he might have tempted Warren Gatland to name him in his Lions squad to tour South Africa this summer.
Whatever, the Scarlet responded to being overlooked with his best performance of the season, one that saw him make a mess of the Ospreys defence with muscular carrying backed up by awareness of support. There was authority in all he did -and streetwise know-how, too, as he won penalty for his side at one point by tying Luke Price into a ruck.
Accepted, the player known as Foxy was figuring at inside centre, and, accepted, Aneurin Owen had his moments for the Dragons.
But, really, Davies looked in the kind of mood where it wouldn’t have mattered what number he had on his back.
12. JAMIE ROBERTS
The Dragons should have won at the Arms Park. Leading the way for them behind the scrum in the second half was Jamie Roberts, who can still dent a defence as well as anyone. He was the focal point for the best of the rugby his team dished up in Cardiff.
11. JOSH ADAMS
He might have been tempted to go through the motions just three days after his Lions selection, but that isn’t Adams’ style.
Not only did he take his try well, steaming through the defence after good work from Ben Thomas, he also achieved a key tryline turnover on Ioan Davies.
There were also some fine takes in the air and strong running throughout from a player whose hard work in all areas underlined why Gatland had named him in his Lions squad.
10. ANGUS O’BRIEN
The Scarlets won the half-back battle hands down against the Ospreys in Llanelli on Saturday night, playing the conditions impressively.
O’Brien varied his kicks skilfully and intelligently and had an awareness of what the game required.
It was a fine effort from the former Wales U20s and Wales Sevens man.
9. KIERAN HARDY
Man of the match against the Ospreys, Hardy deserved the award, too, as he tormented the Scarlets’ neighbours with a series of hanging kicks in the rain.
There was also a beautifully manufactured pass under pressure at one point.
Hardy bossed the game, demonstrating game-control the opposition lacked.
On this evidence, he could be the Welsh scrum-half to watch next season.
1. ROB EVANS
Rhys Carre caught the eye with some good running for Cardiff Blues, while his scrum duel with Leon Brown proved a match highlight.
But forgotten man Evans was also to the fore, helping to ensure the Llanelli-based side enjoyed forward dominance against the Ospreys.
Evans banged in a solid scrummaging display backed up by forceful carrying and uncompromising tackling.
The Grand Slam loosehead from 2019 has missed a significant chunk of this season with concussion, but he still has plenty to offer. 2. KEN OWENS
If the requirement is for someone to stop the rot, after the concession of 109 points over two games, then it might be handy to have Owens’ number on speed dial.
The Sheriff put in a dozen tackles without missing one. He also carried strongly, and largely found his targets at the line-out. He wears the look of a Lions Test hooker.
3. DILLON LEWIS
In front of the Wales selectors,
Lewis gave a timely reminder of his qualities.
He didn’t feature in the Six Nations because of injury but he was at his best against the Dragons.
His scrum held up and there were four turnovers around the field, plus plenty of tackles and carries.
Those possession shifts were key to his team securing a 17-16 victory, with momentum changing at important points.
4. CORY HILL
When Cardiff Blues were under pressure in the second half they needed to stay firm at forward and there was no one more resolute than Hill.
The Wales international had a rocksolid game as the Arms Park club saw off their neighbours.
How important is he to the capital team?
The Blues have won every game in which Hill has played this season bar the last-minute setback against London Irish in Europe.
5. BEN CARTER
Seb Davies did well enough for Cardiff Blues, but youngster
Carter caught the eye with several purposeful charges off the bench.
In two matches in the Rainbow Cup, he’s put in 22 carries for 55 metres. He also has a 94 percent tackle
completion rate.
At 6ft 6in and 18st 4lb, the 20-yearold is one of the reasons the Dragons are optimistic about the future.
6. JOSH TURNBULL
It’s a basic requirement for a professional sportsman to turn up for his team each weekend, but Turnbull does more.
He fronts up. Always.
Had he not played on Sunday, Cardiff Blues would have lost.
They were down to 13 men and trailing 13-10 when Jonah Holmes looked certain to cross for a try that might have done for the hosts. It didn’t happen.
Not only was Holmes stopped a metre short of the line, he was also turned over, with Turnbull the man achieving the possession steal.
There were also 23 tackles and nine carries from the Cardiff Blue in a huge individual display.
Ross Moriarty and Aaron Shingler were also prominent.
7. JAC MORGAN
He’s continuing to produce outstanding displays as he plays out his final games with the Scarlets before heading for the Ospreys.
The Premier Sports commentary team were full of praise for his effort in Llanelli on Saturday, with Eddie Butler saying the youngster reminded him of Sam Underhill during the Englishman’s time at the Ospreys.
Tom Shanklin agreed, noting: “He’s that type of player. He’s robust in the tackle, so aggressive, goes low. He probably has more of a running game than Sam Underhill. He looks good with ball in hand, as well.”
And Sean Holley said: “I think he’s more skilful than Underhill.
“He’s a huge prospect. He had a lot of influence in quiet areas against the Ospreys and he does a lot of unseen things -- passes from dummy mauls, hard carries from the 22.
“There are things that don’t catch the eye, but then the eye catching things, you go: ‘Wow! Look at this player.’
“He has X-factor.”
What’s been impressive about Morgan is how much he has improved this season, developing his carrying game. while continuing to excel in defence. He pulled out two turnovers against the Ospreys, made 20-plus metres with ball in hand and completed all 13 of his tackles.
The watching Wales selectors would have been impressed.
8. AARON WAINWRIGHT
There were two exceptional performances from No. 8s in the derby games. Blade Thomson stood out with a lively carrying show for the Scarlets, while Aaron Wainwright had another excellent game for the Dragons which saw the Wales international repeatedly crashing over the gain-line.
Perhaps Wainwright edges it.
Credit Thomson, though.
He played a key role in the Scarlets’ best display since their win over Bath in December.