Welsh rugby: Five things we learned from opening URC weekend
- Published
- comments
All four regions lost on the opening weekend of the season for the first time
The 20th anniversary of regional rugby could hardly have got off to a worse start.
For the first time since the regions began in 2003, all the Welsh sides lost on the opening weekend of the season - including a record defeat for Scarlets.
For many, it was the start they feared given the mass exodus of players that came as a consequence of regions losing £2m each from their budgets.
So what can we take from the first week of the United Rugby Championship (URC)?
Patience
In the words of Take That, Welsh rugby is going to need a little - in fact a lot - of patience.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland said a potential silver lining to reduced budgets will be greater opportunities for younger players. However, that long-term growth will mean short-term pain.
Wales and Ospreys wing Alex Cuthbert told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast: "We're relying on an awful lot of younger players who are going to be learning on the job, so we're probably going to see more weekends like this.
"Long term it's going to be good for Wales, but short term, we're going to have to sacrifice maybe some big losses and go through some harsh lessons against the top teams.
"That's frustrating for the fans, but the next couple of years are going to be a struggle and we just need to be patient."
Discipline
Ospreys and Scarlets creditably both kept their penalty count to single figures despite defeats away from home, but indiscipline cost Dragons and Cardiff crucial home wins.
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan said after his side conceded 18 penalties in a 22-17 loss to Edinburgh: "Fatigue set in during the second half and our discipline was poor, it really cost us."
Cardiff were leading Benetton 22-20 with 90 seconds to go when replacement prop Ciaran Parker was sent off for a high tackle that gave the Italians their winning penalty.
Cardiff captain Liam Belcher said: "Ciaran just got his timing wrong. It looks bad and he has hit him hard, but he's not that type of person and we just have to get round him."
Timing
Tinus de Beer's ruled-out conversion proved costly for Cardiff
Parker was not the only new Cardiff player to get his timing wrong.
Outside-half Tinus de Beer generally impressed on his debut with one assist and a try-saving tackle as well as his general distribution, but his third conversion was ruled out after he ran out of time.
He was not helped by the fact the giant screen that he would normally be able to keep an eye on was not working due to a partial power failure at the Arms Park.
However, the two points proved costly given Cardiff only lost 23-22.
Bright lights
Tom Rogers impressed for Scarlets despite their record defeat to Bulls in Pretoria
It may be difficult to pick out decent performances after such disappointing results, but there were a few.
Ospreys number eight Morgan Morris weighed in with more carries, offloads, tackles and turnovers than any of his team-mates in the 34-26 defeat by Connacht.
Ollie Griffiths, Jared Rosser and Sio Tompkinson were lively for Dragons while Wales Under-20s full-back Cameron Winnett showed his potential for Cardiff.
Taine Plumtree scored two tries on his Scarlets debut despite their record 63-21 loss at Bulls.
Wales wing Tom Rogers also impressed with a try, an assist and a try-saving tackle in Pretoria.
Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel said: "[Rogers] is going to have a big season. He has the versatility to play on either the wing or full-back and I'm sure we'll see him in the 15 jersey. It's exciting for him."
Tipuric hits 200
While so many of his long-term team-mates were heading for pastures new, Justin Tipuric pledged what remains of his club career to his home region.
The flanker became only the sixth player to make 200 appearances for Ospreys and has done as much as anyone to develop the region.
Surely a future in coaching beckons whenever the 34-year-old retires, having already stepped down from international rugby.