Has late clincher seen Sheedy move into pole position in the race for No. 10?
IT was a mixed bag for Welsh rugby on a weekend of European competition, with the regions having contrasting fortunes while qualified stars playing across the border also impressed.
Here are the winners and losers from this weekend’s action...
Winners Callum Sheedy
Another week, another fine performance from the Bristol Bears man, who again put his hand up for a place in Warren Gatland’s Six Nations squad with a dramatic late drop-goal winner against Lyon.
Bristol were trailing by a point as the clock went nearly five minutes into the red, but Sheedy held his nerve to convert a drop-goal in front of the posts, sealing a stunning 36-34 win and sparking wild celebrations with his team-mates.
Remarkably, Sheedy confessed after the match that he had been suffering from cramp in both his calves when he made the decisive kick. You would never have guessed, however, as he got the ball out of his feet with impressive speed to beat the onrushing Lyon defence and slot it between the posts.
It was the latest in a string of eyecatching performances by the 16-cap international. And with Gatland sure to be watching again, a return to Test duty will be on the cards in the new year if he can keep it up.
Dewi Lake
With 17 senior career tries to his name going into the Ospreys’ Challenge Cup clash with Benetton, Lake would have probably been happy to just get another one on the board.
But to score nearly 25 per cent of that total figure in 80 minutes caught everyone – not least him – by surprise.
The hooker was ruthless from close range as he became the first player in 15 years to score four tries for a Welsh club in a European match, after Tommy Bowe did so.
The Italian side couldn’t deal with the power of Wales’ World Cup cocaptain as he bulldozed his way over the line twice in the first half before securing his hat-trick just after the break.
A fourth try off the back of a lineout capped a remarkable haul for the 24-year-old, who played down his stunning achievement at the fulltime whistle.
“I rarely score one, to be honest,” he told Viaplay.
“It was hard work done by the boys and just me on the back of the maul dotting it down. But credit to everyone’s work through the week in terms of getting the mauls going. I’m just the one lucky enough to be on the end of it.”
Ashton Hewitt The Dragons may have left it late to secure their 24-7 win over Oyonnax in the Challenge Cup, but the victory was a sweet one indeed for the Rodney Parade faithful.
Rio Dyer proved the hero with a late brace of tries, but the comeback was kickstarted by opposite wing Ashton Hewitt, who wrote himself into the club’s history books with his score minutes into the second half.
Not only was it his 14th try in the Challenge Cup, it was also the 36th try of his career, which puts him level with Hallam Amos as the Dragons second all-time top try-scorer. He is just seven tries off leader Aled Brew, who played for the club across three spells.
It is a just reward for Hewitt’s effort, who has endured a torrid time with injuries that have ultimately denied him international honours. But after being rushed back from injury last season, the 29-year-old says he is in a good place and feeling back to himself.
“Last season was tough,” he said following the win.
“I never felt completely right and always felt I was playing catch-up, but I didn’t want to turn down the chance to play.
“But I’m feeling back to myself over the last few weeks.”
Cameron Hanekom
While he has played down talk surrounding his international future, Welsh fans will certainly be talking up South African rugby sensation Hanekom after a stunning performance against Saracens.
Just 21, the Welsh-qualified star continued his fine form against the Premiership champions, as his Bulls side claimed a well-earned 27-16 win with his powerful carrying and neat footwork proving a handful for the Sarries defence.
With the Six Nations fast approaching, the question is sure to be asked about Hanekom – but it could become a tug-of-war with the Springboks also tipped to swoop in and claim him.
Cardiff’s youngsters
In the end, there was nothing that could have changed the result, but Cardiff’s young side can be largely proud of their performance against Toulouse, despite the 52-7 scoreline.
Head coach Matt Sherratt put his faith in several young members of his squad to take on a side who he dubbed ‘the Real Madrid of rugby’, even handing a baptism of fire to teenager Lucas De la Rua.
The 19-year-old formed part of a back row with an average age of less than 22, with young No. 8 Mackenzie Martin also impressing as he didn’t look out of place against the five-time European champions.
He grabbed his first senior try in only his third appearance and was quite rightly left buzzing by his achievement at the full-time whistle.
Martin was one of a few crumbs of comfort for Sherratt, with Wales internationals Keiron Assiratti and Rhys Carre also performing well in France.
Losers Welsh Rugby Union
Oh dear. After both Cardiff and the Scarlets fell to heavy defeats on Saturday afternoon, the WRU felt the ire of regional fans as they suggested that the clubs were experiencing the benefits of recently slashed budgets.
Sharing an article on X, the union appeared to claim that the start handed to Cardiff’s teenage flanker Lucas de la Rua represented the “unexpected benefits” being reaped by the regions, with clubs forced to rely more on young talent.
With all four regions struggling in the URC and further cuts set to happen next season, the suggestion leaves something of a sour taste – and fans aren’t happy.
“Absolutely shameless” wrote one fan, while another added: “The pro clubs are making the best out of the mess you created”.
A third wrote simply: “What a shocking headline”.
Ioan Lloyd
Scoring all of your side’s points with another fine individual display and still ending up on this side of the ledger may seem rather harsh, but
Lloyd will be disappointed with how this weekend ended up for him.
Claiming a try and scoring 11 points from the tee, Lloyd continued his impressive start to the season for the Scarlets, but he couldn’t stop Dwayne Peel’s side from falling to a 34-16 defeat at Top 14 high-flyers Castres.
Peel’s men were ultimately outclassed and outmuscled by the French outfit, despite Lloyd’s best efforts. His consistency with the boot kept his side in the contest until half-time, while he was in the right place at the right time to close the gap with a try after the break.
But after taking another big step towards the Wales squad, Lloyd’s afternoon ended in frustration as he was forced off with a painful-looking shoulder injury, and he could join teammate and fellow fly-half Sam Costelow on the sidelines.
With Callum Sheedy impressing for Bristol, could this injury mean Lloyd misses out on a place in the Six Nations squad?
Dragons’ treatment room
He was delighted by his side’s win, but Dragons boss Dai Flanagan has yet another injury to contend with after Sio Tomkinson was forced off against Oyonnax.
The centre took a knock to the shoulder and could become the latest squad member to face a spell on the sidelines.
Dan Lydiate is set to be out until the end of the year with a rib injury, while Ben Carter has been ruled out for months after suffering a severe hamstring tear. Wales internationals Leon Brown and Elliot Dee are among several other players who have spent time out with injury so far this season.
While Tomkinson’s knock allowed Wales U20 star Harri Ackerman – himself out with injury earlier this season – to make his debut off the bench, Flanagan will be hoping the news is not as bad as first feared.