Pivac’s waiting game as Wales aces take the field
RHYS Webb and Taulupe Faletau will start for Bath this weekend, giving them just six days to recover in time to face England at Twickenham next Saturday.
Webb is in line to make his debut for the club after signing with immediate effect earlier this week.
Faletau, who has started the first three games of Wales’ Six Nations campaign, takes his usual place at No.8.
Other frontline Wales stars are also in action, with Nick Tompkins starting and Rhys Carre on the bench for Saracens as they face Northampton today.
Lying in wait at Franklin’s Gardens will be fly-half Dan Biggar, who also returns to start for his club side, and comes face-to-face with referee Matthew
Carley – the official in charge of last week’s Wales-France clash.
Will Rowlands, who came off the bench to make an impressive debut in the 27-23 defeat to France will also be in action tomorrow as he travels with Wasps to face London Irish.
Elsewhere, tight-head prop WillGriff John was playing for Sale
Worcester, today)
Taine Basham (DRAGONS v Cheetahs,today)
Aaron Shingler (Munster v SCARLETS, today)
Will Rowlands (London Irish v WASPS, tomorrow)
Rhys Webb (BATH v Bristol, tomorrow)
Taulupe Faletau (BATH v Bristol, tomorrow) against Gloucester last night and Jonah Holmes starts for Leicester against Worcester today.
Uncapped Gloucester teenager Louis Rees-Zammit is not available for selection through illness.
In total, eight of Wayne Pivac’s Wales Six Nations squad are in action for their English clubs this weekend, while Eddie Jones’ England stars enjoy a week off.
This is because English clubs have an agreement with the RFU that players in their national squad are to be released to Jones for the entirety of international windows.
However, the clubs don’t have such a deal to release players from other nations. Therefore, during the fallow weeks, Wales players who operate in England must return to their clubs and be available for selection.
Wales are not obliged to give players back to the Welsh regions during the fallow weeks, though Pivac opted to release Taine Basham, Aaron Shingler and Seb Davies. All three players are in action this weekend.
Hallam Amos, who was also released by Pivac, missed Cardiff Blues’ clash at Edinburgh with a minor leg injury.
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