After an excellent first weekend of URC action for the Welsh sides – particularly the Dragons – the message from all four coaches is to go again and back up the performances and build consistency.

Whether they can do that is yet to be seen, but with another Welsh derby on the horizon and tough matches for Dragons and Ospreys, there is much to look forward to this weekend.

Dragons Look To Back Up Derby Win in Dublin

Following their last-gasp win over Ospreys on Saturday, Dragons face the toughest test in the URC this weekend as they travel to Dublin to face Leinster.

Leinster, who beat Edinburgh 31-33 in thrilling fashion last Friday night, have an excellent record at the Aviva Stadium and backing up the Ospreys win will be a difficult ask for Dai Flanagan’s men.

Dragons have made changes to their midfield, with Steff Hughes and debutant Harry Wilson coming in for young duo Aneurin Owen and Joe Westwood. Elsewhere, Chris Coleman comes in at tighthead for Leon Brown, and George Nott replaces Matthew Screech in the second row.

While the mood around Rodney Parade is positive, Dragons’ record in Dublin is poor. Dragons have never begun a championship campaign with a pair of victories and have not won successive URC fixtures since March 2021.

Their only previous victory on Leinster soil was 16-14 in February 2015 with the Irish side having won their last 13 meetings with Dragons since the Welsh side’s 23-13 victory at Rodney Parade in January 2016.

Leinster: Jamie Osborne; Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Charlie Tector; Jimmy O’Brien; Ross Byrne, Luke McGrath Cian Healy, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson, Brian Deeny, James Ryan, Max Deegan, Will Connors, Jack Conan (capt).

Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Rabah Slimani, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier, Fintan Gunne, Harry Byrne, Aitzol King.

Dragons: Angus O’Brien; Rio Dyer, Harry Wilson, Steff Hughes, Jared Rosser; Lloyd Evans, Dane Blacker; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter (capt), George Nott, Ryan Woodman, Harri Keddie, Shane Lewis-Hughes.

Replacements: Oli Burrows, Rhodri Jones, Luke Yendle, Matthew Screech, George Young, Rhodri Williams, Joe Westwood, Ewan Rosser.

Another Saturday Afternoon Welsh Derby

Cardiff, the other Welsh side to record a victory on the opening weekend of the URC, travel west to Llanelli for another Welsh derby on Saturday afternoon.

The Black and Blues sit atop the URC table thanks to a bonus point victory over Zebre that featured tries from Cam Winnett as well as debutant Iwan Stephens, Dan Thomas, and Josh McNally.

They face Scarlets, who earnt a very creditable draw out in Treviso, ending the game with a heroic defensive display to end the match 20-20.

Vaea Fifita is a casualty from that match, but they do welcome back captain Josh Macleod after a nine-month absence following a knee injury suffered in January. Macleod is one of a number who are back in red this weekend, with props Henry Thomas and Alec Hepburn also in the 23.

Scarlets: Ioan Lloyd; Tom Rogers, Macs Page, Johnny Williams, Blair Murray; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias, Henry Thomas, Alex Craig, Max Douglas, Jarrod Taylor, Josh Macleod (capt), Taine Plumtree.

Replacements: Marnus van der Merwe, Alec Hepburn, Sam Wainwright, Jac Price, Dan Davis, Efan Jones, Eddie James, Ellis Mee.

Cardiff: Cameron Winnett; Mason Grady, Ray Lee-lo, Ben Thomas, Iwan Stephens; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher, Keiron Assiratti; Josh McNally, Teddy Williams; Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Ed Byrne, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Mackenzie Martin, Ellis Bevan, Tinus de Beer, Harri Millard.

Ospreys host Stormers at the Brewery Field

From Cape Town to Bridgend: that’s the journey that South African outfit Stormers will have taken this week as they prepare for very different conditions to the recently concluded Currie Cup.

Ospreys, who were in control of their match with Dragons for 75 mins, will be looking to put those last five minutes in the rear window at the Brewery Field.

Toby Booth will be hoping that a little rain and some forwards-dominated rugby plays into the hands of his side as they look to put a first win on the board at the second attempt.

He has named an unchanged XV for the match, with the only changes being Ethan Lewis, Garyn Phillips, and Ben Warren coming onto the bench.

Ospreys: Jack Walsh, Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Keiran Williams, Ryan Conbeer; Dan Edwards, Reuben Morgan-Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha; James Ratti, Adam Beard; Jac Morgan (capt), Justin Tipuric, Morgan Morris.

Replacements: Ethan Lewis, Garyn Phillips, Ben Warren, Huw Sutton, Harri Deaves, Luke Davies, Phil Cokanasiga, Max Nagy.

DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse; Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Dan du Plessis (capt), Leolin Zas; Jurie Matthee, Paul de Wet; Sti Sithole, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche; JD Schickerling, Ruben van Heerden; Marcel Theunissen, Dave Ewers, Keke Morabe

Replacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Leon Lyons, Brok Harris, Adre Smith, Ben-Jason Dixon, Stefan Ungerer, Jean-Luc du Plessis, Angelo Davids.

Super Rygbi Cymru continues at pace

Welsh rugby fans have another (almost) full round of Super Rygbi Cymru action to enjoy this weekend. The sour note is that Aberavon vs Newport RFC – selected for TV – was abandoned at halftime due to torrential rain.

On Saturday, though, the weather is set to be much better and the other eight side will be in action, with early leaders Cardiff RFC travelling to Carmarthen Quins in the headline fixture.

Fixtures

Friday

Leinster vs Dragons

Saturday

Scarlets vs Cardiff Rugby

Ospreys vs Stormers

Carmarthen Quins vs Cardiff RFC

Ebbw Vale vs Llandovery

RGC vs Pontypool

Swansea RFC vs Bridgend Ravens

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