Wales ‘Complacency’ Causes Six Nations Struggles
Carwyn Harris
Wales’ 0-40 defeat against France on Sunday was the latest in seven successive Six Nations defeats and their fourth of this years’ Six Nations Championship.
That run came on the back of finishing third in the Six Nations both in 2022 and 2023, along with a first ever win over USA last summer.
Former Wales three quarter Elen Evans won 73 caps for her country before retiring after the 2017 World Cup and believes complacency has played it’s part in Wales’ recent struggles.
“From how positive we were last year, in the best six teams in the world and now we can’t score points,” said Evans.
“There’s not as much oomph, energy or excitement it’s almost as if they proved a point last year and are now relaxing this year. They’re carrying the ball and going down too easily.
“The questions are going to flip because now there have to be questions to the coaches and players. If we get the wooden spoon this week against Italy then it’ll be awful.
“Ioan Cunningham would be the first person to answer the question as to what’s gone wrong but I’m not sure that he and his coaching staff know.
“It’s easy to point fingers but there wasn’t much of an improvement against France compared to Ireland.”
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Head coach Cunningham has often referred to this campaign as a transitional campaign following the retirements of experienced players in Elinor Snowsill, Sioned Harries and Caryl Thomas.
Evans believes despite those players no longer being in the dressing room there still should be plenty of experience to help the next crop of youngsters.
“You look at the players they’ve lost, the three experienced heads, I’m not sure what they brought to the dressing room exactly as I’m not there but since that we’ve struggled,” said Evans.
“There are still some experienced players in camp there with Keira Bevan, Carys Phillips and Hannah Jones.
“If I’m honest I think it’s the experienced players who are not performing to the level they should.”
Wales have only scored four tries in the Six Nations so far and failed to cross the whitewash against France despite dominating both territory and possession.
During this campaign Wales have tried to get the ball wider but as yet passes haven’t stuck and the attack hasn’t clicked, particularly against Ireland.
Evans is surprised that the midfield combination from Wales’ first three games haven’t been able to convert their club form with Gloucester Hartpury, who currently sit top of the Premiership Women’s Rugby competition, onto the international scene.
“You see with Lleucu George, Kerin Lake and Hannah Jones are at the same club Gloucester and scoring tries for fun,” said Evans.
“These girls can do it for their club with a different coach, so why can’t they do it in the red for Wales as they do in the red and white of Gloucester.
“The question needs to be asked how they can perform so well for their club but not internationally.
“Lleucu doesn’t look confident on the pitch, I don’t know if it’s because Mo Hunt [scrum-half at Gloucester] isn’t there who is such a clever player, but someone needs to sit these girls down and understand why they can’t replicate their club form for their country.
“Jaz Joyce is another who scores tries for fun but for whatever reason she’s not finding the room on the wing for Wales, she’s standing still when she catches the ball when you want her coming onto the ball at pace.”
This has been the first bump in the road for Ioan Cunningham and his players since the first professional contracts were awarded in 2021.
Since then, it has been a case of progression, but in Evans’ eyes, with the professional contracts there has to be more scrutiny.
“These girls are professional and on contracts, it’s not as easy to just drop them and move to the next player as it’s money coming from the union,” said Evans.
“The girls get so many opportunities now. I hate the phrase ‘back in my day’ but then I’d be playing for Caernarfon with five or six competitive games and then going straight in to the Six Nations.
“There was never the competition at local levels that these girls have with their clubs and now the Celtic Challenge.
“I thought that competition was really positive for Wales although it was difficult to judge at times with squads changing from one week to the next but we did see some players really put their hands up.”
One of the positives this tournament has been the arrival to the international scene of a number of young talents who have come through the Celtic Challenge.
Scrum-half Sian Jones was coached by Evans at Rygbi Gogledd Cymru under-18s and Evans tips her as one who has the “right attitude” to reach the top of the game.
“It’s an honour to now see her on the international scene, she doesn’t talk a lot and just does her talking on the pitch,” said Evans.
“She’s going to improve rapidly having had that exposure after playing for Sale and the Celtic Challenge.
“It’s a great experience for the young players but they need the more experienced heads to show the way.”
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The Stats Behind Being 0 From 4
Carwyn Harris
It’s a bleak time to be a Wales rugby fan right now.
The men’s Six Nations saw a first wooden spoon since 2003 with a young squad that battled hard but ultimately came up well short, particularly in the second half against France, ultimately losing all five games.
The backdrop to that has been cuts to the budgets of the regions with three of the four struggling as a result, the outlier being Ospreys who still have a chance of the play-offs.
When it came to the women’s Six Nations there was hope of a better tournament.
Wales have finished third in the last two competitions, earning a place at rugby’s top table in WXV1 last Autumn, playing against the best teams in the world.
However, after losing all three of those games against Canada, New Zealand and Australia, Wales have since lost their first four games in the Six Nations bringing their winless run to seven.
The 36-5 loss in Ireland saw the team come in for particular criticism, having beaten the same opposition 31-5 in Cardiff a year ago.
There have been positives. Debuts for Jenny Hesketh, Sian Jones, Molly Reardon, Gwennan Hopkins, Cath Richards and Mollie Wilkinson, while Alex Callender at flanker has been brilliant.
According to the statistics from Sage on the Women’s Six Nations’ website, Callender has made the second highest amount of carries in the tournament, 53 for 222 metres, whilst also making the most tackles, 65, and is second for most defensive ruck arrivals, 32, and breakdown steals, four.
If you look at the team statistics however, the reasons behind Wales’ struggles become a bit more obvious.
Wales have made the second fewest metres in the championship, ahead of Scotland and have also made the least offloads and joint fewest linebreaks.
On the flip side, Wales have made fewer tackles than everyone bar England but also have the second worst tackle success rate.
Summation, Wales aren’t clinical in attack and are slipping off tackles defensively, arguably the worst combination for any coach.
Despite failing to cross the try line, in between the 22s Wales’ close quarters attack and play off 10 was much improved against France especially when compared to Ireland the week before. However, the three quarters have struggled to click.
In a game where Wales had 62% of territory and possession, France wing Joanna Grisez scored two interception tries when the ball was spread wide, while several passes went to ground which contributed to 28 handling errors.
Ultimately however, one statistic stands tall amongst the rest.
Wales failed to score against France, with the 0-40 final scoreboard a stark reminder of the distance between both sides.
If Wales wish to compete, they need to score more tries, having only scored four this championship so far.
They know a similar performance this weekend against Italy will mean they follow the path of the men and have the ignominious honour of receiving the wooden spoon.
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Ellis Jenkins Retirement Exclusive
Carwyn Harris
Former Wales and Cardiff captain Ellis Jenkins has announced that he will retire from rugby at the end of the season.
The Cardiff flanker has made 146 appearances for the region along with 15 Wales caps but has decided to finish his career when his contract comes to and end this summer.
Speaking exclusively on a special Sportin Wales podcast Jenkins said he’s “known for a while” that this season will be his final one in rugby.
“I told the coaches in pre-season that this was going to be my last season playing rugby,” said Jenkins.
“I’ve just tried to enjoy it as much as I can, and I have. I’ve enjoyed most of it, wish the results had gone a bit better for us but I’m looking forward to the end of the season and the future.
“There are big parts to the game that I’ll miss but I’m excited for the next chapter.”
Jenkins has had some stellar performances this season, including last time out in Ulster and believes his impending departure from the playing side of the game has had a part to play in that.
He is also cherishing the opportunity to say goodbye to the game while he is still able to play, rather than the decision being forced upon him.
“It’s really nice to be able to end on my own terms and if I picked up a bump between now and the end of the season, I’d still feel like it was on my own terms because I’ve made the decision,” said Jenkins.
“I’ve seen so many of my friends not being able to do that and had injuries force them to retire, but I’m very lucky that I get to call it a day when I feel it’s right.”
Jenkins admits he will miss playing but is looking forward to an extended break from the game.
“I’m going to enjoy the summer with my wife [singer Sophie Evans] and my one-year-old,” said Jenkins.
“We’ve got holidays booked, going skiing for the first time in 15 years without worrying about having my contract ripped up!
“We’re very lucky to play rugby for a living and it is a privilege, but it does come with some negatives in terms of your schedule is dictated to you, you have your four weeks off in the summer and that’s it.
“So, to have that freedom to run my own schedule is what I’m looking forward to most.”
Any sportsperson will tell you a career in their field is full of incredible highs and deep lows and Jenkins has had his fair share of both.
He spent 26 months out with a serious knee injury from November 2018 to February 2021, with the injury coming in the final minute of a man of the match display against South Africa, a game which had him being touted as a possible World Cup captain.
But additionally, he captained his region to the European Challenge Cup title, lifting the trophy in 2018.
“You grow up wanting to play for Wales and being able to do that and captain Wales has been amazing,” said Jenkins.
“It sounds a bit cheesy but all the people I’ve met along the way has been the best part. Most of my best mates I’ve met playing rugby, even back to my best mate when I was 11 years old, we started playing rugby together and he was best man at my wedding.
“When it gets to finishing you look back and it’s not really the games you remember but the occasions and the nights out afterwards and all the people you’ve spent time with and the people who’ve had influence over you.”
Jenkins admits he hasn’t decided what will come next in his career but is prepared to take his time in picking his next venture.
“I’ve done my level one and two [in coaching], I’m thinking about doing level three next year but I’m not sure it’s what I want to go into to be honest,” said Jenkins.
“I’ve thought about it a lot and have not come any closer to finding out if it’s what I want to do or not. The coaches all seem quite stressed and I’m not a stressy person so I don’t know if I’d be that well suited to it.
“I’ve been studying the last couple of years so I’ll reassess and after some time out, hopefully something will stand out that I want to get my teeth stuck into and attack it like I did rugby.
“I enjoy the commentary stuff, you get paid to watch the game and have an opinion on it, I like to think I understand the game and have an opinion on how the game should be played and it’s something I’ll try my hand at.
“I don’t want to jump into something and hate it, just doing something to pay the bills, I’d rather make my decision slowly.”
So when might we see Jenkins in a Cardiff shirt for the last time? Cardiff have four games remaining in the season with a home game against Edinburgh, before a double header in South Africa and then finally Judgement Day against Ospreys.
“Out last home game at the Arms Park is on the 27th of April [against Edinburgh], hopefully I can get selected and have one last run out there,” said Jenkins.
“I’ve had some amazing memories at the Arms Park, the fans have been really good to me, and my family have come down from a young age. I’ve played there from Blues under 16s I think, so to have my last game at the Arms Park and two days before my birthday as well would be a nice weekend.
“A big factor in my decision has been not being able to do the things I used to be able to do in terms of training and prepare myself as well as I can for games, I found that tough to be honest, knowing what my shortcomings are but not being able to put as much work in as I want to rectify it.
“They say when you know you know, and I definitely know.”
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Dragon Kuti On Netball's New World
Carwyn Harris
When Nansi Kuti came on at Goal Keeper for Cardiff Dragons to replace Leah Middleton against Surrey Storm she was greeted by arguably the loudest ovation of the match.
In her first full season with the Dragons in the Netball Superleague, Kuti’s reception was largely due to a pocket of Cardiff University students, cheering on their former teammate.
Whilst Kuti attempted to stay focused on the game in hand, she did allow herself a wide grin to acknowledge the reception.
“I loved every minute of it,” said Kuti.
“Our captain Nia Jones is also coach of Cardiff University’s netball club. I used to go to Cardiff and the girls come out, all 40 of them to support us.
“It’s nice having them and a game a lot of my friends and family could come to, I tried to stay in the zone, but I did enjoy their cheer.”
Having been a Training Associate with the Dragons last year, it has already been a whirlwind 12 months for Kuti, representing Wales at the Netball World Cup last summer.
Kuti studied neuro-science at Cardiff University and graduated last summer but the 21-year-old already has eyes on a return to her studies
“I’ve taken a year out and I’m going to Swansea to study medicine in September,” said Kuti.
“I’m keeping it Welsh and local to Cardiff so I can keep my netball going.
“I call it year of the netball, giving myself time to build on the opportunities I’ve been given with the Welsh Feathers and Dragons and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. It’s been a big year and a big season as well.
“Where my netball is now I’m happy to prioritise that.”
Currently Cardiff Dragons are semi-professional but with the growth of netball and women’s sport in general, that could well change.
While Kuti admits it will be a “balancing game” between her netball and studies from September she hopes in the future she will be able to focus all her attention on the sport she loves.
“With the game developing how it is, there’s going to be opportunities to potentially play netball as a full-time career, hopefully that develops in the Welsh Feathers programme as well,” said Kuti.
“I’m keeping my options open, studying medicine has been my ultimate goal since I was in school so it was an opportunity I had to take but I’m definitely looking to balance them both and keep them going for as long as I can.”
“The girls who play in the Superleague have put in so much whilst also working full-time jobs, that’s a big big task, coming from 9 to 5 jobs, drive an hour or two hours to their franchise and then put in the hours at training sessions.
“The fact we can play at this level whilst also doing our full-time jobs shows the sport has so much potential, if you can imagine us training full-time you can only imagine what the league will look like.
“It’s a really exciting transition and everyone’s ready for us to get a move on.”
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Wales Football's Weekly Roundup
Carwyn Harris
It was a good weekend for most of the Welsh sides in the EFL!
Teenager Cian Ashford’s 96th minute winner gave Cardiff a win over David Brooks’ Southampton which was a huge blow to The Saints’ automatic promotion hopes.
Swansea’s sights were set on the other side of the table and hammered Huddersfield 4-0 away from home for a third consecutive win and increased The Terriers’ relegation worries.
Already promoted Wrexham grabbed a 3-0 win at Crewe in League Two with Paul Mullin scoring his ninth goal in seven games but Newport weren’t able to make it a Welsh full house with a 1-0 home defeat to Salford City.
In the Premier League, Rob Edwards’ Luton suffered an embarrassing 5-1 home defeat against Brentford. The result leaves The Hatters stuck in the relegation zone.
Both Harry Wilson’s Fulham and Neco Williams’ Nottingham Forest suffered Merseyside defeats to Liverpool and Everton respectively.
In Scotland, Rabbi Matondo and Rangers reached the Scottish Cup final with a 2-0 win against Hearts, setting up and Old Firm Derby after Celtic beat Aberdeen on penalties.
Elsewhere, Aaron Collins continued his fine run of form with his sixth goal in five games for Bolton Wanderers as they relegated Port Vale from League One whilst simultaneously keeping their hopes alive of automatic promotion.
Bolton are in a three-team battle with Derby and Peterborough for the second promotion spot.
They currently trail Derby by three points and will need help from Carlisle United who travel to the Rams on the final day whilst needing to win at Peterborough’s London Ground.
Jonny Williams’ Gillingham’s hopes of a play-off spot were finally dashed with a 2-1 loss at Mansfield.
In Wales’ Cymru Premier, Colwyn Bay were relegated despite a 1-0 home win against Barry Town United as Aberystwyth Town held their nerve with a 3-0 win at home against already relegated Pontypridd United.
Colwyn Bay manager Steve Evans lost his job as a result of their relegation.
On the other end of the table, The New Saints secured an unbeaten Cymru Premier season with a 2-0 home win over Connah’s Quay Nomads.
In women’s football, despite an assist for Wales’ Gemma Evans, Manchester United were held at home by Spurs in a 2-2 draw but there was better news for Chelsea’s Sophie Ingle as her side took a 1-0 lead after their semi-final first leg win over Barcelona.
Rachel Rowe scored in Rangers’ 3-1 win at Partick Thistle in Scottish Women’s Premier League as they kept up the pressure on Celtic.
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Osprey Amongst The Pigeons
Carwyn Harris
When Sportin Wales co-founder Alex Cuthbert was asked on Monday’s Sportin Wales podcast if any Welsh team would win over the weekend his answer was unequivocal.
“None.”
The stats backed up that prediction. Before this weekend, no Welsh region had won outside of Wales this season.
With all four on the road a safe bet would have been no Welsh wins from four.
First up on Friday night was Cardiff as they travelled to Ulster.
“Cardiff will have a chance, especially after Ulster got pumped out of Europe against Clermont,” said Cuthbert on Monday.
“That could be the closest one.”
That prediction appeared to be correct when Cardiff lost controversially on Friday night by just two points, after winger Theo Cabango’s would-be hattrick try was disallowed for a perceived deliberate knock-on by Welsh international Rhys Carre.
It was another heartbreaking loss for Cardiff in the URC this season, of 14 games this season, they have won three, drawn one and lost 10, with nine of those losses by seven points or less, including three successive losses at Glasgow, Munster and now Ulster.
When you looked at the other fixtures this weekend it looked like Wales’ only hope of a win had been extinguished.
Dragons travelled to Treviso on Saturday and the game went much to form. In five first halves away from home since Christmas Day 2023 Dragons have conceded 121 points while scoring just 26.
Against Benetton, after 40 minutes Dai Flanagan’s men were already 19 points to nil down before they ate their half-time oranges and in truth things should have been worse.
However, in the second they began to come back into the game. Interception tries from Jarred Rosser and Dane Blacker narrowed the gap to just 12 points with 25 minutes remaining and then Rosser thought he’d broken free from Will Reed’s cross-kick only to be penalised for not releasing the ball after the tackle was completed.
Shortly after, substitute scrum-half Che Hope’s clearing kick was charged down with Edoardo Iachizzi scoring and the comeback was firmly off.
Next up, Ospreys in Cape Town to face Stormers. The Welsh region won on their last trip to South Africa, a 28-38 victory against the Lions in the European Challenge Cup but few gave them a hope of a win.
On the back of a disappointing loss to Gloucester last time out, the majority of pundits said a good result for the Ospreys would be a single four-try bonus point.
They’d do that, but oh so much more.
Tries from Luke Morgan and Sam Parry had given Ospreys a 7-10 lead with seconds remaining in the first half then Springbok fly-half Manie Libbok’s cross kick was fielded by Jack Walsh who fed Morgan for his second try and a 10-point lead at the change of ends.
The second half and the inevitable Stormers reaction as Evan Roos went over, but under masses of pressure, Ospreys’ defence stood strong with brilliant turnovers from Huw Sutton and Harri Deaves in particular.
With fewer than 20 minutes remaining, Deaves scored Ospreys’ fourth try, securing the crucial bonus point and gave his side a 10-point lead with time on their side.
As the Stormers pressure increased, Ospreys held strong until the final play of the game when Max Nagy’s deliberate knock on gave Stormers a penalty try and what may yet be a crucial losing bonus point as it lifted them above Ospreys into sixth in the URC.
Despite that, Ospreys took home five crucial points after a memorable 21-27 win and a first victory on foreign soil for a Welsh side in the league this season.
Morgan Morris was awarded player of the match although in truth anyone in an Ospreys shirt could have won the award.
“I don’t really know what to say, a load of boys put in the shift and I’m probably the lucky one to win Player of the Match, all 15 could have had it,” said Morris.
“To come here, I don’t think many teams win here so to do that is incredible for us.
“Mark Jones has come in and given us a defensive boost, we want to work really hard for each other, we love playing with each other and every game we fight till the end for each other.”
Not to be outdone by their West Wales rivals, Scarlets came out of the traps in the first half at Edinburgh later on Saturday evening, tries from Tom Rogers and Gareth Davies giving them a 7-15 half time lead.
However, in the second half Scarlets’ ill-discipline and Edinburgh’s physical dominance proved too much as they lost the second half by 36 points to three for a final score of 43-18.
It was another disappointing second half with Dwayne Peels’ men now having conceded 30 points or more 10 times this season in all competitions.
“I thought first half we were right in the game and good value for our half time lead,” said Peel after the match.
“I thought ill-discipline in the second half cost us some field position and put us under pressure. We weren’t clinical in our exit, couldn’t get out of our 22.
“I just felt we couldn’t sustain enough pressure, we 28% possession second half and it’s difficult to win when you don’t have the territory as well, when we had the ball in their half I thought we looked dangerous.”
With all the talk of financial difficulties for the Welsh regions this season, Cardiff, Scarlets and Dragons sit 12th, 14th and 15th respectively.
Ospreys are seventh and will hope to continue to buck the trend as they push for the top eight and play-offs.
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Dragons Suffer Agonising Home Defeat To Storm
Carwyn Harris
Cardiff Dragons lost 55-58 to Surrey Storm in a hard-fought game at Cardiff’s House of Sport on Friday night.
Both sides came into the game on the back of wins following Cardiff’s 46-52 victory at Bath while Storm had beaten Strathclyde Sirens 62-48 at home.
With the Cardiff fifth in the table and Surrey just a place and point below them the game was set up to be close and went that way throughout in front of a sold out House of Sport.
Welsh international Georgia Rowe scored 46 goals for the home side but sadly it wasn’t enough from a Dragons perspective with Surrey Goal Shoot Proscovia Peace scoring 42 and Goal Attack Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, 16 to share their sides goals.
The game began with both teams exchanging goals without a change of possession before Cardiff began to open up a small advantage.
Initially they led by two goals before some solid defence and great play between the middle and final third gave Rowe the opportunity to extend the advantage to four with seven minutes left in the opening period.
However, some accurate shooting from Proscovia, combined with the industry of Bethany Dix brought Storm back into the period, as it closed with their deficit down to two.
Going into the second quarter Cardiff held a two-goal lead and with Storm Centre come coach Mikki Austin facing a suspension for a foul they would have hoped to press home their advantage.
However, it would be the Storm who started the second quarter the stronger, quickly eliminating the home side’s lead.
Some dead-eye shooting from Proscovia later and the visitors held a two goal lead.
Dragons began to force passes whilst the visitors called on goals from Drakeford-Lewis to supplement Peace’s threat in attack.
Rowe’s wingspan and height continued to be Dragons’ prime threat whilst, Peace’s efficiency and consistency in attack allowed them to hold on to a two-goal lead at the half.
Midway through the third quarter Dragons scored consecutive goals from Phillipa Yarranton, the first two by a player who wasn’t Rowe from a Dragons perspective, and looked to add to their momentum but the aforementioned Rowe’s shot hit the rim.
Moments later, Peace made no mistake with a shot of her own. Rowe made amends however with three goals in succession giving her side a two-goal lead with only five minutes of the quarter remaining.
However, with Leah Middleton put on report for repeated fouls, she was replaced and the visitors seemed to take advantage, Proscovia managing to score clinically to open up a four point lead with a quarter remaining.
No sooner had the final quarter begun than the visitors opened their lead to six, however, following a huge steal by Yarranton with barely 11 minutes remaining and with the home crowd’s support the Dragons were reinvigorated.
Another turnover a minute later and a goal looked inevitable only for Rowe to be called for footwork.
Proscovia’s experience was beginning to tell against Nansi Kuti but another turnover, this time an error by the Ugandan international gave Dragons a final opportunity to close up once again.
Hannah Passmore came on for Rowe late on, grabbing a goal and then a turnover. Two further goals from Yarranton and another from Passmore brought Dragons withing three inside the same number of minutes as they threatened to set up a grandstand finish.
Dragons thought they had the turnover they needed, but the referee reversed her call giving Storm back possession and the visitors were able to manage the score and clock to secure a crucial win.
Next up for the Dragons is a home tie next Friday night again at the House of Sport.
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Wales' EFL Picture
Carwyn Harris
Wrexham have been automatically promoted, while Cardiff, Newport and Swansea are sitting comfortably in mid-table, so which Welsh players have interests left on both ends of the EFL tables?
Starting with the Championship and what is starting to become a battle royale for the two automatic promotion places.
At the moment, Ipswich sit top on 89 points only one point ahead of Leicester and two ahead of Leeds in third. Southampton sit three points further back on 84 points in fourth.
Ipswich and Leeds both have three games remaining, having played 43 times in the championship, one more than Leeds and Leicester.
The Tractor Boys boast a three-strong Welsh contingent with Nathan Broadhead, Wes Burns and Kieffer Moore, but haven’t won since the 1st of April after Jeremy Sarmiento’s 97th minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Southampton.
Since then, they’ve struggled for goals with only one in their last three games, while Burns has been absent since mid-March due to a hamstring injury, although there are hopes he will return before the end of the season.
Ipswich don’t play this weekend and will be keeping an eye on other results before they travel to play-off chasing Hull on the 27th of April.
They then stay on the road at eighth placed Coventry before hosting relegation candidates Huddersfield on the last day of the season.
Whilst they have a week off this weekend, second placed Leicester will be hoping to leapfrog them at home to West Brom.
With their superior goal difference, if they avoid defeat against the fifth placed Baggies they will retake first place, a position they’ve held for the majority of the season.
Danny Ward is the soul Wales representative in the Foxes’ squad, although he is yet to appear for them this season, with Wales’ number one having fallen down the pecking order domestically.
Leicester have three home games remaining including the one against West Brom with promotion rivals Southampton along with Blackburn Rovers visiting the King Power Stadium either side of a trip to Preston North End.
They will be glad of home comforts having lost 1-0 in their last two games, both on the road at Millwall and Plymouth Argyle.
Leeds in third, boast a core of Welsh players with Ethan Ampadu, Dan James, Connor Roberts and Joe Rodon all based at Elland Road.
Like Ipswich, Leeds haven’t won in their last three, losing at Coventry before drawing 0-0 at home to Sunderland and then a 0-1 defeat against Blackburn at Elland Road.
Next up, they travel to Middlesbrough on Monday night and continue on the road as they head southward to face Queens Park Rangers before finishing with Southampton at home on the final day.
In contrast to the three teams above them, Southampton have won each of their last three, with Wales’ David Brooks on loan from Bournemouth to the fore with a couple of assists.
However, undoubtedly they have the toughest run-in, travelling to Leicester and Leeds.
They will know they need to get wins at Cardiff on Saturday and at home to Stoke on the 27th while hoping to take points from the King Power and Elland Road.
At the bottom of the table, Jordan James’ Birmingham are fighting to avoid the drop, currently sitting a point and one place above the relegation zone.
They had a resounding 3-0 win against Coventry last time out and travel to already relegated Rotherham before a crunch test at Sorba Thomas’ Huddersfield who currently sit just a point behind before a home clash against play-off chasing Norwich on the final day.
Dropping down to League One, and while Portsmouth have already been promoted as champions, three teams are fighting for the other automatic promotion spot.
Derby currently sit on 86 points, Bolton on 83 while Peterborough are three points further back with a game in hand.
Bolton’s Aaron Collins has been consistently overlooked by Wales and is yet to be capped at senior level, but after signing from Bristol Rovers in January he has played a crucial role in Wanderers’ run-in, scoring five goals in their last four games, while Josh Sheehan has been a constant in midfield.
Wanderers host relegation candidates Port Vale before a huge clash on the final day away at Peterborough.
Elsewhere, Jonny Williams and Gillingham are just three points off the play-off places in tenth, with an eight-team fight for just two play-off positions.
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Six Of The Best Aim For Crucible Triumph
Carwyn Harris
Once again, Sheffield’s crucible theatre will welcome the world’s best to it’s tables for the Snooker World Championships this weekend.
Amongst the 32 competing for the title are six Welshmen hoping to emulate some of their national heroes of the past.
Wales have already had three world champions in the forms of Ray Reardon, Terry Griffiths and current great Mark Williams.
The 70s in Welsh sport are often remembered for the sideburns of J.P.R. Williams or the dazzling sidesteps of Phill Bennett and Gerald Davies, however, in Snooker, Wales were enjoying a period of World domination.
Reardon won the championships six times between 1970 and 1978 before Griffiths would win his own title in 1979.
It was a period when Wales were right at the top of the game, with Gary Owen a runner-up in 1969, while Doug Mountjoy and Reardon were beaten finalists in 81 and 82 respectively.
Like the national rugby team, Wales’ fortunes waned in the 90’s but were reinvigorated by the arrival of Williams and Matthew Stevens on the world stage at the turn of the century.
Williams was a beaten finalist in 1999 while the pair faced off in a famous all-Welsh final in 2000, with Williams the victor before going on to clinch another title in 2003.
‘The Welsh Potting Machine’ won the latest of his three World crowns in 2018 and comes into the tournament this year in good form having clinched victory at the World Tour in Manchester in early April.
Williams is ranked sixth for the tournament and faces China’s Si Jiahui on Monday in the first round.
DragonBet have put odds of 4/9 for Williams to win the first round while he’s at 14/1 to go all the way and clinch a fourth title.
Jak Jones is the first Welshman to play and faces Zhang Anda on Saturday with DragonBet offering odds of 6/4 for him to make the round of 16.
He is at 125/1 to lift the trophy along with Ryan Day and Jamie Jones who face 2013 finalist Barry Hawkins and four-time World Champion John Higgins respectively.
Former World Championships quarter finalist Dominic Dale, 52, has reached the Crucible for the first time in a decade, in doing so becoming the oldest qualifier since Steve Davis in 2010.
He faces former finalist Kyren Wilson and is a rank outsider at 300/1 to become the oldest champion in history.
Finally, Jackson Page faces arguably the toughest draw of all as he faces current world number one Ronnie O’Sullivan in the first round.
In an exclusive interview with Sportin Wales earlier this month, Page said he’d found it difficult to gather momentum after being drawn against the likes of O’Sullivan and other top players in the early rounds of events.
However, 22-year-old Page reached his maiden rankings quarter-final and semi-final at last month’s World Tour Open in China beating Higgins and Mark Selby on route.
Dragon Bet have put him at 9/2 to beat seven-time champion O’Sullivan and at 200/1 to become the youngest winner since Stephen Hendry in 1990.
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Wales Happy With Underdogs Tag For France Test
Carwyn Harris
Wales host France at the Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday hoping to win their first game in this years Six Nations.
The home side haven’t beaten France since 2016 and have lost each of their last six games in all competitions.
After a 36-5 defeat in Ireland last Saturday, Wales’ Carys Cox said she and her teammates were “hurting” and face a tough task this weekend against a French side who beat New Zealand in last years’ WXV1.
Wales’ back three player Courtney Keight said her side have “drawn a line in the sand” following the defeat to Ireland.
“We’ve got two matches to put the things right we didn’t against Ireland,” said Keight.
“We haven’t put our best foot forward, ultimately we want to show what we can do as a team because we are a very good team but haven’t put our best performances in yet.
“France are a very physical team, they’re going to pressurise us with a lot of line speed, it’s about balancing how we play and where we play.
“We know we’re the underdogs going into this weekend, France are a fantastic team but we’re fantastic as underdogs and perform well under that pressure so I think we can put the performance in we’ve wanted to and we’re confident we’ll do that.”
Keight started all five of Wales’ games in last years Six Nations but suffered an ACL injury in training for Bristol Bears’ Premiership play-off semi-final which meant she missed the WXV1.
Capable of playing both full back and winger, she made her comeback in a Welsh jersey off the bench against England alongside Bristol and Wales teammate Kayleigh Powell and is loving the opportunity to be back in the red of Wales.
“Tearing my ACL was tough, as it is for any professional sportsperson,” said Keight.
“It makes you step back and focus on other things outside of rugby, but I’ve enjoyed getting back to where I was pre-injury.
“It makes you stronger as teammates, going through the tough times together.
“Kayleigh and I both got our first cap back from ACL injury against England and it’s nice to have that relationship with someone who knows what you’re going through and someone who understands it as well.”
Powell and Keight have both worn the 15 jersey for Wales in the past but the current incumbent is another Bristol player in the form of 21-year-old Jenny Hesketh.
Wales are spoilt for choice at fullback with fellow squad members Jasmine Joyce, Nel Metcalfe and Niamh Terry all capable of playing at fullback, Keight believes the competition for places will spur them on.
“We’ve got a lot of strength in depth in the squad which is a fantastic thing,” said Keight.
“It excites me to see a lot of young girls coming through showing what they can do, playing rugby from such a young age and their skillset is fantastic.
“We’re enjoying learning from each other, we’re very different players, I would say I’m more of a power back three, get go-forward more than I would kick or use my footwork to beat a player.
“It’s good having different players to learn from and it’s competitive but we all know how we play and communicate, it’s working really well in training and we know each other’s strengths which helps as well.”