Five things we learned from Welsh URC openers

Cardiff is to blame for avoiding a complete whitewash during the United Rugby Championship’s opening weekend.

After Matt Sherratt scored five points in the final two games of Dragons, Ospreys, and Scarlets, the Blue and Blacks came out victorious in a wet Arms Park to end the season.

With the victory, all four regions lost, so there was no chance of the URC campaign’s final round from last year.

Although Dragons and Ospreys’ defeat was a positive experience, Scarlets had a difficult start.

Munster simply couldn’t compete with Dwayne Peel’s side at home, which was Wales’ best last season.

Taulupe Faletau, who only played eight club games last season, will miss the next few weeks while he recovers from a summer calf injury.

Alun Lawrence continued as number eight after making an impressive start as the match’s man in Cardiff’s 32-20 victory over the Lions.

With Taine Basham, Dan Thomas, and Alex Mann as try-scorers off the bench, the 27-year-old produced 16 carries and 12 tackles in a well-balanced back-row display.

Van Zyl, the new head coach, called him an “unbelievable machine.” It seems like he enters the game and is so consistent, which makes it difficult to choose him because he has an engine on him.

Dewi Lake, the Ospreys’ captain, cut a frustrated figure in the process, but Loftus Versfeld had something to show for their efforts.

Although Mark Jones’ side’s success at home will depend on their results at Brewery Field, optimism can be found in their 53-40 loss to Bulls in Pretoria, which ended the season with a win.

Ospreys have a formidable pack, but their deftness outweigh the Bulls, who scored four of their six tries in a strong opening half.

The team produced strong performances from wing Dan Kasende, midfielder Phil Cokanasiga, and two-try centre Kieran Williams, who had a strong start to the game with a strike play to put Keelan Giles over.

With a ball in hand, there is plenty of promise when you add in Dan Edwards and Jack Walsh’s playmaking and the threat from back-rowers on the edges.

Bulls allowed their hosts to put the pressure on them and did not perform at set-piece with their usual standards, but Ospreys made 12 clean breaks to six.

Head coach Mark Jones remarked, “We encouraged the Bulls into our red zone, which caused a lot of self-harm.”

“We spent too much time without the ball with a side this good as the Bulls at this altitude,” said one player.

The proposals made by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) for the elite game had sparked hundreds of protests in Parc y Scarlets.

However, the build-up was soon ceased as Munster quickly established that they were a much better team when they won seven straight against Scarlets.

As the home side toiled in a narrow attack with scrum-half Gareth Davies living off slow ball, an all-Wales international back line did not live up to its billing.

In the second half, there was a chance for improvement thanks to Davies and Sam Costelow’s successful pairing to set up Blair Murray.

After being promoted from the bench, Harry Thomas impressed bosses Joe Hawkins and Jake Ball, but the signings for summer put in a shift.

He said, “He’s a tough cookie and a Llanelli lad, which is great, and he can probably walk home from here.”

Aaron Wainwright made money off of Ulster’s failure to claim the kick-off, which equaled Shay McCarthy’s record against Ospreys in October and Dougie Fife’s mark of 10 seconds later.

Although Dragons showed tenacity and were only a short way away from a fourth try and a bonus point, four tries in 15 minutes gave Ulster the upper hand.

Fly-half Tinus de Beer made his debut, but Dragons’ lack of discipline meant they only managed six tries and 42 points, which needs to be addressed if they want to get better.

After being determined to have caught Nico Steyn high, Ben Thomas saw his yellow card upgraded to a 20-minute red in review.

Referee Filippp Russo and TMO Stefano Roscini were able to get their hands on the South African scrum-half’s performance when their Melbourne counterparts matched those of Australian star Carlo Tizzano.

A debut try was denied to Basham, which caused Cardiff to work much harder for a win that was deserved.

It’s a tough one, Van Zyl declared. They could have just received a yellow card and played on it, but they had more views and probably liked it more.