After testing times, there’s no let-up for Wales stars heading back to regions
AFTER a gruelling autumn series, there is no let-up for Wales’ leading players as European battle resumes this weekend.
The Scarlets and the Ospreys have it all to do in the Champions Cup with both regions suffering narrow defeats in the opening two rounds.
It is a different tale in the second-tier Challenge Cup competition with the unbeaten Cardiff Blues and Dragons firmly in contention for a place in the knockout stages.
Here, ROB LLOYD assesses the state of each of the Welsh sides as they head into the pivotal December doubleheaders... OSPREYS The misery continued for Steve Tandy’s side in Cork on Saturday evening, with a 36-10 loss to Munster leaving the four-time champions rooted to the foot of their Guinness PRO14 conference.
As Europe takes centre stage for the next fortnight, Tandy will at least be consoled by the fact that his underperforming team produced their best two performances of the campaign in the opening rounds of the Champions Cup, particularly the thrilling 36-34 defeat to holders Saracens at Allianz Park, a rare beacon of light in a miserable season.
A week earlier, the Ospreys had battled back strongly against French champions Clermont before succumbing to a 26-21 loss, but apart from a gritty display in the derby loss to the Scarlets, it has been season to forget at the Liberty.
They head into Saturday’s clash against Northampton Saints in a sorry run of league form, with the Munster loss coming off the back of a woeful home defeat to Glasgow (47-6) and a 37-10 setback in Edinburgh.
At least the Ospreys are facing a Saints side in a similar rut with a run of eight defeats in nine matches prompting grumblings of discontent amongst the Franklin’s Gardens faithful.
Already, Pool 2 looks like being a straight shoot-out between Clermont and Saracens, who do battle in north London on Sunday. The Ospreys will welcome back Lions Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, Dan Lydiate and skipper Alun Wyn Jones from international duty and will hope Justin Tipuric’s thigh injury isn’t a serious one.
They need as much quality as they can gather. SCARLETS The pre-tournament optimism surrounding the Scarlets’ European ambitions was punctured by a disappointing home loss to Bath at a wet and windy Parc y Scarlets in round two.
In previous years, two defeats from your opening two matches – the PRO14 champions were edged out 21-20 in Toulon first up – would spell a swift exit from the competition.
However, with two losing bonus points banked, head coach Wayne Pivac is adamant his side can still haul themselves back into contention for a place in the last eight over the next fortnight.
If the Scarlets can do the double over a Benetton side they have already beaten in the league and if the spoils are shared between Toulon and Bath, suddenly it’s a three-horse race with two matches remaining for the west Walians – a pivotal clash at The Rec followed by a pool finale against the French giants in Llanelli.
The issue for Pivac is that a number of his players will be arriving back at Parc y Scarlets battered and bruised from the demands of a competitive autumn Test series that has seen them lose Jonathan Davies and Jake Ball to long-term injuries.
There are doubts over the fitness of prop Samson Lee (Achilles) and scrum-half Gareth Davies (shoulder), while preparation time will be limited with the remainder of the squad arriving home on Monday morning following 12 days in South Africa.
At least the return from injury of star openside James Davies provides a major boost ahead of Saturday’s lunchtime clash against the Italians in Llanelli where a bonus-point win has to be the target. The Scarlets also have Scotland skipper John Barclay, who missed the opening two rounds because of concussion, back in the ranks. CARDIFF BLUES A stunning 17-15 victory over the once kings of Europe Toulouse has hoisted Danny Wilson’s side into pole position in Pool 2 of the Challenge Cup, backing up an opening bonus-point win over Lyon.
After two rounds they lead the way with nine points, with Lyon second (four), followed by Toulouse and Sale, who both have three.
The Blues have been a mixed bag in the league with Friday night’s 40-16 loss in Glasgow – a match where the Warriors ran away with it late on – coming after a gritty 36-30 Arms Park win over Connacht and at the halfway stage of the PRO14 campaign, they have plenty of work to do to secure a play-off spot.
There is still no sign of Lions skipper Sam Warburton, who is targeting a January comeback from his back issues, but the return from injury of Gareth Anscombe and potential availability of veteran Wales prop Gethin Jenkins gives the Blues a welcome injection of international experience ahead of their trip to Salford to take on the Sharks on Saturday. DRAGONS The Dragons’ win over Enisei in Russia has kept them in the hunt for a quarter-final spot, although the high-flying Newcastle Falcons are in control of Pool 1 thanks to their 21-20 win in Bordeaux in round two.
How interested the French side, ninth in the Top14, will now be in this second-tier competition remains to be seen and another loss to the Falcons in the north east could see them field second-strings for the remainder of the pool stages, which will favour the Dragons’ qualification hopes. The focus for the Men of Gwent is to back up their impressive Rodney Parade performance against Ulster last weekend with a convincing win over the Russians in Newport on Friday night.
There is a sense of something building amongst Bernard Jackman’s squad, which will be bolstered by the Wales contingent of Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Cory Hill and Hallam Amos.
While the Falcons are now firm favourites to top the pool, there is every chance of the Dragons snapping up one of the three available runners-up berths.