Welsh Rugby: What we learned from URC derbies

New Year’s Day brought mixed fortunes for the four Welsh regions.

In contrast to Cardiff and Ospreys drawing in the capital, Scarlets welcomed 2025 by returning to winning ways against Dragons.

Neither derby set the world alight, but the United Rugby Championship (URC) table makes for much better reading with Cardiff (third) and Scarlets (sixth) currently occupying play-off positions.

Ospreys are struggling in 14th place as they try to rebound under new leadership, while Dragons are bottom after not achieving success since the first round.

Ospreys threatened to do the same in the capital after nicking West Wales’s bragging rights at the death.

After James Fender was red carded just before half-time for a risky tackle, they had a battle that was on their hands.

But their scrum dominance, obstinate defense, and 13 points from match winner Dan Edwards secured a spot at Arms Park.

Lewis Lloyd and Morgan Morse both had chances to win the game after their dramatic ending tries were both rejected.

An unhappy head coach, Mark Jones, expressed his regret by saying, “I feel like the players, I feel really frustrated that we didn’t take that opportunity at the end.”

We believe we can now work together to maximize those opportunities, as we demonstrated last week.

” Last week we nailed it, this week we didn’t. “

If a draw was an opportunity missed for Ospreys, Cardiff will almost certainly be kicking themselves.

With Teddy Williams yellow leveling the field and allowing Edwards to take full advantage with a try from nothing, they were unable to capitalize on the red card.

Rhys Litterick also spent ten minutes in the garbage as Matt Sherratt’s side’s first victory over Ospreys at Arms Park since 2007 were facing indiscipline.

Louie Hennessey, who recently signed on loan from Bath, made a memorable debut as well. He began in the centre, found himself thrown up in the lineout, saved a try and ended up on the wing.

Sherratt claimed after the game that it “felt like a few points dropped” but also “snuck a few points in as well.”

After being picked just before Christmas, Scarlets needed to rediscover their winning ways.

Blair Murray showed what a miss he had been in the opening half of Sam Costelow’s typical Scarlets heads-up running rugby.

Dragons’ defense caused a disjointed second half, but head coach Dwayne Peel promises to “take the points and move on” in the second half.

” When we’re disciplined, when we’re clinical we look like a good team, but a lesson for us maybe we relax too much and let the opposition in to the game, “Peel said.

Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland said Scarlets had shown” glimpses of some great rugby”.

” They’re very competitive this season, and if they can be a little bit more clinical, maybe they have a chance to finish in the top eight, “he said.

With all four of Scarlets’ previous victories in Llanelli, Parc y Scarlets is starting to become a fortress once more.

The Dragons’ unlucky decision to defeat Cardiff at Rodney Parade on December 26 would have put an end to ten years of pain.

They were supposed to take a test against Scarlets, but they didn’t show up in the first half, with head coach Filo Tiatia the first to admit that they weren’t at the races.

After the break, they were getting better, but the damage had already been done.

Former Wales prop Chris Horsman said the Dragons need more players on the field because they have lost eight games in a row.

Some real leaders, those talented players who can drag the team with them and win in those difficult circumstances, he told BBC Radio Wales, “What they’re lacking through the spine of the team.”

Tiatia called it unfair.

” It’s definitely an area we’re working really hard on, “he said.

” It’s easy to ask people to lead, but sometimes people don’t actually know what they’re leading.

With Dewi Lake’s bicep injury and Ryan Elias’ neck injury making up the first half of the Six Nations, Warren Gatland could hardly afford to lose any of his big players.

Wales take on France in their opening game on Friday, 31 January.

Due to an ankle injury, Elliot Dee was scheduled to make his first start for the Dragons, but a niggle prevented him from doing so.

Aaron Wainwright left the field on 25 minutes after being suspected of having a concussion, but he came back after passing his head injury assessment. Late in the game, Rhodri Williams also suffered a knock.

There were many performances that would appeal to Gatland, and Ospreys’ Jac Morgan, who will likely step up as captain in Lake’s absence, was once more outstanding.

Sam Parry, who left the national training squad in June in controversial circumstances, also showed his international pedigree.

Dan Edwards continued to impress at 10 while Rhys Davies made a big shift in his first appearance since March.

Teddy Williams, a jerk in the lineout before his yellow card, and Seb Davies, a jerk, both annoyeed the crowd, and he was also spotted.

Josh Macloed led from the front, while Sam Costelow added two tries and Blair Murray added two to his finishing woes for Scarlets.