Wales boosted by trio as South Africans go on charge

The positivity continued for Steve Tandy a week after the end of the Six Nations with the return of three experienced Wales players.

There were green shoots for Welsh rugby – and a long-awaited win – at the end of the championship and the return of the United Rugby Championship (URC) provided more good news.

Number eight Taulupe Faletau, flanker Jac Morgan and hooker Elliot Dee made comebacks from injury on what was ultimately a disappointing weekend.

They all suffered defeats with Cardiff, Ospreys and Dragons with Scarlets the only Welsh winners.

Flanker Alex Mann, number eight Aaron Wainwright and hooker Dewi Lake were leading lights for Wales in the Six Nations, but Tandy will welcome more competition.

Morgan is arguably Wales’ only world-class player and the Lions forward showed his quality on Saturday.

After being out since a dislocated left shoulder in November, the 26-year-old was straight into the fray off the bench for Ospreys at Benetton.

Morgan produced a textbook jackal on his line to win a crucial breakdown penalty, although his efforts were not enough in a costly defeat.

Italy boss Gonzalo Quesada watched on at Stadio Monigo and Tandy was no doubt keeping track back home.

The Gloucester-bound flanker will be desperate to finish strongly at Ospreys before rejoining his country this summer.

Faletau was named in Tandy’s first squad, but missed the autumn campaign with a knee injury, then suffered a calf issue ahead of the Six Nations.

The 35-year-old returned with 24 minutes against Bulls on Friday and showed his class with some strong and rapid carries.

Wainwright stepped up for Wales – and flankers Mann and James Botham were impressive alongside him – but Faletau remains a quality performer for Tandy to call on.

Hooker Dee featured in all five Six Nations games in 2025, but suffered a shoulder injury on the opening weekend of the season.

The 32-year-old returned as a starter against Stormers and, after a typically feisty display, will have ambitions of battling Lake, Ryan Elias, Liam Belcher and clubmate Brodie Coghlan for action this summer.

Dee established himself as a dependable sub under Warren Gatland, a role that frustrated him at the time, but one he would love to earn back.

Stormers beat Dragons to make it a South African clean sweep in round 13 after comprehensive wins for Bulls, Lions and Sharks against Cardiff, Edinburgh and Munster.

It is squeaky bum time for the Blue and Blacks, who missed out on the top eight by a point in 2025.

Cardiff remain in a strong position and are just two points off third, yet they could well slip to seventh if games go to form next weekend.

They face Sharks in Durban on Friday before Bulls and Lions chase maximum hauls against Munster and Dragons.

Every point matters for Cardiff and they could do with returning to Wales with something from their tour after failing to get a URC match point for the first time this season in the loss at Bulls.

Ospreys have little margin for error if they are to sneak into the top eight and a defeat at Benetton felt terminal to their hopes given that Bulls and Lions both have three home fixtures in the run-in.

Ninth-place Connacht look to be the most likely chaser courtesy of their surprise win at Ulster, their fourth on the spin.

Ospreys travel to Galway on Saturday, 28 March (14.15 GMT) and a win would keep them in the top-eight conversation, and would be cheered loudly in Cardiff.

Scarlets got the job done against bottom club Zebre to be Wales’ only winning side in round 13, and climbed above Dragons in the process.

They are also the only Welsh side that will not play knockout European rugby so have a fortnight off after Friday’s trip to Leinster.

Nigel Davies’ side have made strides since the turn of the year, but face a stern challenge in Dublin, one that is not helped by their situation at hooker.

Ryan Elias and Marnus van der Merwe went off with head injuries against Zebre and that leaves them needing another specialist to join 20-year-old Harry Thomas for a daunting task.

“We are playing Ireland away and it’s a great challenge,” said interim director of rugby Davies. “We can go and put in a big performance then who knows.”

Dragons are one from bottom, but it has been an encouraging season and they showed more signs of progress in a 29-21 defeat by Stormers.

The South Africans wasted several opportunities but were also frustrated by the tenacity of Filo Tiatia’s side.

“I was really happy with the character and staying in the fight,” said the head coach. “The last passage of play when we kept them out was a real Gwent mentality.”

Dragons lost by double figures in 11 of 18 fixtures in the URC last season, when they finished bottom with one win.

That tally is just three in 13 so far in a 2025-26 campaign that has featured two wins and three frustrating draws.

Last season’s final points difference was -302 and it is currently -67.

Dragons, who scored three tries at Stormers, will hope to produce another fighting performance against Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday, 28 March (14:30 GMT).