-Credit:Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency
These are your evening rugby headlines on Friday, January 24
New Wales star ‘absolutely cacking it’
Ospreys star Dan Edwards has admitted he was “absolutely cacking it” when he arrived for his first day in camp as a Wales squad member.
The fly-half is one of Warren Gatland’s two new call-ups for the Six Nations, with the 21-year-old joined in the squad by Scarlets back Ellis Mee.
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Edwards has impressed in the URC so far this season with some standout individual displays, with his ability to read the game frankly beyond his tender years. But despite the composure and maturity he has shown on the field with the Ospreys so far this campaign, he understandably felt the nerves as he joined up with his new international team-mates earlier this week.
In a candid chat with team-mate Owen Watkin, the youngster said of his experience in camp so far: “I was absolutely cacking it [on Monday], genuine. I’m trying to learn a lot of stuff. My head was in the shed!
“All the detail, trying to get all of the new terminology-type stuff, it’s quite hard. Like last night, I spent three hours on the computer.”
After his first proper training session with Wales, Edwards added: “It was tough, wasn’t it! [I’m] blowing. It was a lot shorter and snappier [than Ospreys training]. That bit in the middle was tough. It’s good though.”
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Wales international back after 10 months
Welsh international Steff Evans will return for Scarlets this weekend after 10 months on the sidelines.
The 30-year-old wing has been out of action since March last year after suffering a serious Achilles injury, but will line up against Edinburgh on Saturday, having featured for Llandovery in Super Rygbi Cymru last weekend.
He is one of seven personnel changes made by Dwayne Peel for this weekend’s URC clash, with the head coach without Wales Six Nations squad members Tom Rogers, Blair Murray, Mee, Joe Roberts, Eddie James, Kemsley Mathias and Henry Thomas.
In the backs, Johnny Williams has recovered from a toe problem to start in a new-look midfield alongside Macs Page, with wing Jac Davies making his first URC start and full-back Ioan Nicholas also coming in. The half-back pairing of Ioan Lloyd and Gareth Davies is unchanged from last weekend
In the pack, Australia A international Archer Holz replaces Thomas at tighthead, while Alex Craig returns at lock, with Max Douglas moving into a reshuffled back row which sees Vaea Fifita move to eight and Taine Plumtree drop to the bench.
“This is always a defining part of the season and the three teams we play next, Edinburgh, Munster and Ulster will all be affected by international rugby in the coming weeks,” said Peel. “It is going to be a big period for us.
“When we won the league in 2017, this was the time when we really kicked on. It is a time of year when the strength of the squad is brought into question.
“Losing five backs to Wales as well as the injury to Sam [Costelow] is a challenge, but it is great to have someone of the experience and quality of Steff back following his injury lay-off and I’m excited to see how young Jac Davies goes on his first URC start.”
Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Jac Davies, Macs Page, Johnny Williams, Steff Evans; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Archer Holz, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Max Douglas, Josh Macleod (capt), Vaea Fifita.
Replacements: Shaun Evans, Sam O’Connor, Gabe Hawley, Jac Price, Taine Plumtree, Efan Jones, Charlie Titcombe, Jarrod Taylor.
Winnett returns for Cardiff
Cam Winnett is back in the Cardiff starting line-up as he looks to impress following his omission from Wales’ Six Nations squad.
The young full-back’s return is one of six changes made by head coach Matt Sherratt for the visit of the Sharks on Saturday, while summer signing Josh McNally will captain the side for the first time with Liam Belcher injured and regular deputies Teddy Wiiliams and Ben Thomas away with Wales.
Daf Hughes and Rhys Litterick come into the starting pack with Evan Lloyd and Kieron Assiratti also away on international duty, while Seb Davies joins McNally at lock. Winnett is one of three changes in the backs with South African scrum-half Johan Mulder partnering fly-half Callum Sheedy.
Regan Grace is named amongst the replacements as he returns from his HIA absence, while Cardiff RFC scrum-half Ethan Lloyd is in line for his URC debut.
Cardiff sit third in the URC table but with a sizeable injury list and eight players away with Wales, Sherratt admits this weekend’s clash will be a tough test for his side.
“It’s great to return to United Rugby Championship action and we are in a decent place in the table, following a good start to the season,” said Sherratt. “However, we are under no illusions of how tough it is going to be on Saturday, against a strong Sharks team. We have done well against them in the past but this will be a level up and we have to put as much of our game on the pitch as possible.
“The depth of the squad is really being tested at the moment but we are on our pitch, in front of our home support and it is important that we finish this block well. A big performance will put us in a strong position for the remainder of the campaign and the squad are determined to repay our supporters for the way they have backed us all season.”
Cardiff Rugby: Cam Winnett; Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Rey Lee-Lo, Rory Jennings, Tom Bowen, Callum Sheedy, Johan Mulder; Rhys Barratt, Daf Hughes, Rhys Litterick, Josh McNally (c), Seb Davies, Alex Mann, Thomas Young, Alun Lawrence.
Replacements: Efan Daniel, Danny Southworth, Will Davies-King, Rory Thornton, Mackenzie Martin, Ethan Lloyd, Jacob Beetham, Regan Grace.
Tiatia bolsters Dragons midfield
Dragons interim head coach Filo Tiatia has made six changes to his side to face Munster on Saturday, with captain Aneurin Owen being shifted out a position in a big call.
Owen, who skippered the side for the first time last weekend, is a natural inside centre but has been given the No.13 jersey this weekend to allow hard-hitting youngster Harri Ackerman to start at 12 as he returns to the line-up.
Tiatia’s side were overpowered last weekend as they went down 60-10 to the Sharks and the coach is well aware of the ‘big weapons’ that their opponents on Saturday will bring.
There is a new-look half-back pairing for the Rodney Parade side, with Lloyd Evans returning alongside scrum-half Morgan Lloyd. Wing Jared Rosser also returns, with Brodie Coghlan starting at hooker and Dan Lydiate handed the No.7 jersey with Ryan Woodman moved to the second row.
James Benjamin, Barny Langton-Cryer, Dane Blacker and Harry Wilson are among those named as replacements.
“Munster have some new coaches in place, and I like the way they are playing,” said Tiatia. “They are playing a bit more than they used to and are a real threat. Munster’s set piece is traditionally always strong, they have some big weapons, really good players and are a quality team.
“It will be a challenge for us on home soil, but we have a team highly motivated to produce a positive performance back at Rodney Parade in front of our supporters.”
Dragons: Huw Anderson, Rio Dyer, Aneurin Owen (c), Harri Ackerman, Jared Rosser, Lloyd Evans, Morgan Lloyd; Rodrigo Martinez, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Ryan Woodman, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Dan Lydiate, Taine Basham
Replacements: James Benjamin, Dylan Kelleher-Griffiths, Paula Latu, Barny Langton-Cryer, George Young, Dane Blacker, Will Reed, Harry Wilson