Pivac’s anxious weekend with seven stars in action
COACH Wayne Pivac faces an anxious wait as seven of his Wales squad be go into action this weekend.
Ospreys centre Owen Watkin and Dragons back rower Aaron Wainwright have been released by Pivac to get some game-time in tonight’s derby clash between the two regions at the Liberty Stadium.
Meanwhile, all seven of Wales’ England-based players have had to be released back to their clubs.
That’s the standard procedure during fallow weeks in the Six Nations under World Rugby rules.
Five of those will be on duty for their clubs in Gallagher Premiership matches over the weekend.
Pivac will have his fingers firmly crossed that all goes well at The Rec this afternoon, with Wales No.8 Taulupe Faletau starting on the blindside flank for Bath against Exeter, who have prop Tomas
Francis among their replacements.
Similarly, he will be hoping Callum Sheedy comes through unscathed when he lines up at flyhalf for Bristol against Worcester at Sixways on Saturday evening.
Elsewhere, second-row Will Rowlands starts for Wasps at home to Gloucester, while uncapped prop WillGriff Jones was the first squad member in action, at No. 3 for Sale at home to Newcastle last night. He was called up to the Wales squad in February after Dillon Lewis was released due to a neck injury. Gloucester winger Louis Rees-Zammit is rested, which will be a big relief to Welsh fans, while fly-half Dan Biggar sits outs Northampton’s visit to Harlequins on Sunday due to “a small tweak in a part of his leg”, according to Saints coach Chris Boyd.
The exiled players will link up with Grand Slam-chasing Wales again after the weekend to prepare for the fourth Six Nations match against Italy in Rome on March 13.
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