Wales boost from best URC weekend in three years

Cardiff celebrate a remarkable win over Ulster

Warren Gatland believes Wales are a reflection of the regions, so the head coach will no doubt have been delighted by their timely revival before the autumn Test series.

Welsh rugby enjoyed its most successful weekend in the United Rugby Championship (URC) for more than three years with a hat-trick of wins.

Not since March 2021 had the regions racked up three victories in the same round that did not include a Welsh derby.

The Scarlets' turnaround continued with a third win in a row, Ospreys hauled themselves off the foot of the table and Cardiff produced a stunning comeback.

Only Dragons were beaten on a weekend that will at least give Gatland hope that the national team can end its own nine-Test losing run next month.

Wales welcome Fiji to Principality Stadium on 10 November before facing Australia and world champions South Africa.

BBC Sport Wales assesses what we can take from the weekend.

Who starts at 12?

Gatland has a welcome headache at inside centre with Ben Thomas and Eddie James impressing enough to divide Scrum V pundits Alex Cuthbert and Richie Rees.

Thomas was hailed the best back in Wales by Gatland but former Wales wing Cuthbert believes James' size could edge it.

"I'm not sure having Gareth Anscombe and Thomas at 10 and 12 will be as defensively strong as Warren Gatland would want," said the 58-cap ex-wing.

"That's when you start looking at someone like Eddie James, who is big, has good hands and has a kicking game as well.

"It could be a great battle between him and Thomas for the 12 jersey and a great headache for Warren to have."

But former Cardiff coach Rees retorted: "People don't give Ben enough credit for his defence and he's a very good ball carrier."

Nick Tompkins, meanwhile, gave a reminder of his credentials with his first try of the season for Saracens against Leicester.

Watch your language

Eddie James showed he is more than just a ball-carrier against Zebre

Anscombe was shown a yellow card for verbally abusing referee Ian Tempest during Gloucester's win over Newcastle Falcons, in which scrum-half Tomos Williams scored again.

But if the fly-half must wash his mouth out, then so might James after letting slip a four-letter word during his live post-match interview with Scrum V.

James was justifiably elated with a man of the match display in Scarlets' 30-8 win over Zebre just days after his Wales call.

Wales is in desperate need of a ball carrier but he also showed a deft touch to set up tries for Tom Rogers and Macs Page.

"There is a lot more to his game, he's a real good ball player," said Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel.

"He's got intent, carries really well, has that ability to carry and slip the ball in contact. He's only going to grow at 12."

'Incredible' captain Morgan

Jac Morgan takes the ball into contact

Jac Morgan missed out on the Wales captaincy in Gatland's autumn squad but inspired Ospreys from the front to secure a much-needed win over Edinburgh.

Morgan returned from a rest along with fellow internationals Dewi Lake and Adam Beard as Ospreys continued their love affair with Bridgend's Brewery Field.

The flanker won three turnovers, made 18 tackles and carried 13 times in an all-action display.

"He's just an incredible player," raved Ospreys head coach Toby Booth.

"One of the reasons for him taking over the [Ospreys] captaincy is we believe in a captain that leads by example and Jac, like Justin Tipuric before him, does that.

"From the get go, you saw the collisions, driving people backwards, ball carrying relentlessly, getting off the floor, he is a special player."

Cardiff defence

Having conceded three tries during a disastrous yellow card for Evan Lloyd, Cardiff turned the tables dramatically to nil Ulster in the second half of their 21-19 win.

"The biggest part of that performance was not conceding a point in the second half," said head coach Matt Sherratt.

"It would have been so easy to have another situation like against Glasgow when you mount a comeback but then leave gaps to conceded another 20.

"I was so pleased with the way we closed out that game and it showed a real growth in our game.

"We showed fighting spirit with experience like James Botham and Thomas Young coming off the bench to provide a real calmness at the end."

Cardiff so far have a meaner defence than Irish trio Munster, Ulster and Connacht.

Dragons frustration

Dai Flanagan is cutting an ever-more frustrated figure at the end of the first block of league games as Dragons struggle to shake off old failings.

After a promising start to the campaign, they have now conceded the most points in the URC and only Zebre have scored fewer.

It was a similar story in their 31-7 loss at Connacht, where they missed early chances to get a stake in the game.

"We've competed in games throughout this block and only been a point here or there off getting more but we have to be frustrated that we've not taken more," said Flanagan.

"We have a chance to freshen up the group with some players coming back for this next block which are the Welsh derbies and Europe.

"That's the highlight of the season for many, so we have got to ensure we make it count and get both performances and results."

Williams waits

Wales centre Scott Williams could be one of those players to freshen up the Dragons having trained with them last week.

The 34-year-old is keen to carry on playing after being released by Scarlets in the summer and Dragons are looking to replace USA-bound Steff Hughes.

"Training by yourself doesn't compare to rugby training with a squad," Williams told BBC Radio Cymru.

"It's been tough but it's good to be back a part of a squad, giving 100% and I still feel like I can play to a high standard so I hope I can get something off them."

Chart toppers left out by Wales

Ospreys number eight Morgan Morris made 25 carries against Edinburgh

Looking at the statistics following the first block of games in the URC makes interesting reading, not least for the players who have not been picked by Gatland.

Taine Basham and Gareth Davies are the league's joint leading try-scorers while Ioan Lloyd, Lloyd Evans and Dan Edwards are the top-scoring Welsh players.

Scarlets' Lloyd has also made more metres than any other regional player while Morgan Morris has made the most successful carries in the entire URC.

Teddy Williams is just one tackle off topping that chart, followed closely by Brodie Coughlan. Dan Thomas leads the league for turnovers with Shane Lewis-Hughes just behind and Angus O'Brien statistically has the biggest boot in the URC.

None of those players are in the Wales autumn squad.

Quote of the week

"He will probably have me at the garage on Monday selling cars."

Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies fears his father may have plans for him now he has a rare mid-season break following retirement from international rugby.