WALES

beating England prompted an outpouring of national euphoria, but for those with an eye on the overall wellbeing of Welsh rugby, the comedown was swift. Below the surface, all is not well. An overhaul of the regional structure is looming and the Ospreys are fighting for their lives. This seems perverse. Over the years, the Swansea-based region have exceeded their domestic rivals in terms of winning titles and producing players for the national cause. The creation of a northern region — building on the strong foundations laid by the upwardly-mobile RGC 1404 operation at Colwyn Bay — makes sense, to establish a greater geographical spread. But any move to kill off the Ospreys would be wrong. Based on a harsh but logical audit of results and prospects, the Dragons should be in greater danger of being cut.