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Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, January 17.
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Saturday, January 17.
URC looking at another alternative to Welsh team
The United Rugby Championship are reportedly considering Georgian club Black Lion to replace one of the four Welsh regions in the league.
WalesOnline reported this week that the league had given their approval to the Welsh Rugby Union’s plans to cull one of the four existing sides, with a London-based club their preferred option.
However, with the Rugby Football Union seemingly ready to block any switch by London Irish or Ealing Trailfinders, RugbyPass report that the URC are ready to turn their attention towards Georgia.
They report that the league will now consider Black Lion, who have claimed some notable scalps in recent seasons – including beating the Scarlets.
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The WRU have still not revealed how they will get to three clubs. A decision on the new owners of Cardiff is expected next week, with that likely to have a knock-on effect in terms of how the WRU get rid of a club.
A tender process would be the next step if a consensus wasn’t reached, while the WRU are also battling the threat of a possible EGM.
Morris tipped for long-awaited Wales chance
Morgan Morris has been tipped to finally earn a Wales call-up after returning from injury.
The Ospreys No. 8 has endured an injury-hit season, but is back in the Ospreys side now – starting in today’s clash with Montpellier. The 27-year-old has fond memories of facing the French club, scoring in both of the Ospreys’ wins against them in the 2022/23 season.
Despite his form for the Ospreys, Morris never managed to break into Warren Gatland’s squad. But with Steve Tandy having replaced Gatland, Morris will be hoping the slate has been wiped clean in terms of Test selection.
Morris remains hopeful of earning a Test recall, even if a Six Nations squad place – with Tandy naming it next week – might come a little too soon in his return to regular rugby.
“Since I’ve been 18, I’ve been the same,” said Morris. “I want to play for Wales.
“Nothing will ever change that. For me, nothing will ever change the motivation to play for Wales.
“I’ve had it since day one and I’ll probably have it until the day I retire. I can only control what I do on the weekend. I’ve got to go out there and perform for the Ospreys.”
Injury to Taulupe Faletau – who will miss the first three games of the Six Nations – could open up a space for a No. 8, although Morris isn’t getting ahead of himself.
“He’s been there the whole time I’ve played,” said Morris on Faletau. “He’s probably the greatest No. 8 Wales have ever had so it’s not bad competition.
“It makes no difference to me, though. I’ll still be putting my best foot forward at the Ospreys here. Everything else is out of my control.”
Morris’ club coach, former Wales wing Mark Jones, believes the No. 8 can step up to the Test game if he was to get the call.
“He has (the ability to play international rugby), he definitely has,” said Jones. “When I speak to the other coaches in the URC, a lot of the Irish and South African guys look at him and target him as a threat.
“Their defence coaches say how good he is at carrying the ball. Not just how he carries the ball, but it’s the quantity and the repeatability, how he just keeps coming.
“That’s a huge weapon to have and he’s got one of the post-contact metres in the league, never mind our team. To have a player like that back in our team is massive.
“There was a stat last year where he was one of two or three players who had only missed one tackle in about 15 games. That’s good going.
“He’s been great. He’s had a tough time at the start of the season, being injured and having a foot operation in the summer.
“Coming back through that, he had some calf issues so it’s been frustrating for him. He’s been so durable, plays such an uncompromising role.
“He does all the tough carrying but also a lot of work defensively. To have him back has been massive. He’s led really well over the last couple of weeks. He’s done really well since coming back in.”
Bulls stun Pau to hinder Scarlet’s knockout hopes
South African Bulls pulled off a surprise victory against French Top 14 leaders Pau, coming from behind to win 26-24 in southwest France – boosting their chances of reaching the knockout stages while simultaneously denting the Scarlets’ hopes.
The Bulls established a 12-7 lead at the 31-minute mark, thanks to their scrum dominance, robust tryline defence, and tries from Celimpilo Gumede and Armand Akker Van der Merwe.
However, Pau continued to apply pressure, with Jimi Maximin and Youri Delhommel’s second try, flanking a yellow card for Bulls’ lock Reinhardt Ludwig, giving them a 21-12 lead at half-time.
A penalty by Thomas Souverbie further extended Pau’s lead, but the tide turned just before the hour mark. The Bulls demonstrated their prowess in broken play, running the ball from inside their 22 and utilising the speed of wing Cheswill Jooste to complete a coast-to-coast try.
Sensing an opportunity, the South Africans capitalised on Pau prop Thomas Laclayat’s sin-binning, with Nizaam Carr powering over the line seven minutes from the end. Handre Pollard’s conversion put the Bulls ahead.
Despite a late push from Pau for a winning score, they conceded a penalty deep within the Bulls 22, dashing their hopes.
The Bulls now await the outcome of Scarlets’ match against last season’s finalists Northampton on Sunday to determine if they’ve made it to the last 16, while Pau have been knocked out.
Dragons find another gear to keep European hopes alive
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia was delighted to see his side find another gear as they moved to the brink of the Challenge Cup knockout stages.
Their place in the last 16 isn’t sealed yet, with Perpignan playing the Lions on Saturday. A high-scoring draw – with both teams needing four-try bonus points – would knock the Dragons out.
But, they did all they could on Friday night with a bonus-point win over Newcastle in Newport.
“First-half we had a lot of pressure and momentum which we didn’t execute,” said Tiatia. “We conceded a late try with an advantage that was played on.
“We went back into the sheds and were clinical about areas we could tidy up. I felt we were in second gear and we needed to go up another gear. There were some solutions in the second-half.
“It’s the value of a lot of hard work. What’s happening here in Wales with governance and uncertainty, people are trying to find a way to play well. It’s positive.”
