Talking points as Welsh regions return to Europe

None of Ospreys' three home wins this season have been in Swansea

A welcome distraction or an additional burden - Europe has been both for the Welsh regions.

This season appears no different other than the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup tournaments coming to a head in Cardiff in May.

And while Ospreys were the only Welsh winners on the opening weekend, the other three regions all picked up points against French opposition.

Scarlets were three minutes from victory at high-flyers Bayonne, Cardiff twice led at Lyon while Dragons came within a TMO call of beating Montpellier.

That was all after making wholesale changes with key players rested after a challenging start to the United Rugby Championship (URC) and with Wales.

So there were encouraging signs, but ultimately three losses from four games.

And with just four pool matches in the competition format, this weekend's ties could prove make or break for their ambitions.

Ospreys dilemma

Ospreys are the first Welsh team in action in the second round of the Challenge Cup and head coach Toby Booth has a dilemma.

Does he pick his key players for the Pool 2 trip to Montpellier - expected to be at full strength - with the west Wales derby against Scarlets just seven days later?

"We can't afford to be strategic. It will be about having fit soldiers and off we go," said Booth.

"In this competition, even in its original format, you look to win your home games and pick one up on the road and you were pretty much there [in the knockout stages]. We will try and take care of business next weekend, go as strong as we can."

It would not have been lost on fans that two former Scarlets helped Ospreys beat Lions 30-14 in familiar surroundings in Llanelli on Sunday after the venue was switched due to Storm Darragh.

Kieran Hardy grabbed his first try since joining last summer while captain Jac Morgan, who started his career at Scarlets, also scored in another player of the match performance.

"Jac was unbelievable. Here is a guy who is committed and has world-class attributes and that is a great combination," raved Booth.

Ospreys enjoyed Champions Cup success two years ago at Yves du Manoir Stadium before suffering a 38-5 Challenge Cup defeat there 12 months ago.

Cardiff target knockouts

Cardiff host Cheetahs in Pool 1 on Saturday in what head coach Matt Sherratt has already billed as a "huge" match.

There was frustration at not taking more than just one bonus point from Lyon having come from behind to take the lead with 18 minutes to go.

But there were positives with Josh Adams scoring his first Cardiff try for a year, Wales full-back Jacob Beetham returning and 18-year-old centre Steffan Emanuel making his senior debut.

"It was pleasing to get that point but it's a shame we didn't get another try and the end to get a losing bonus as well," said Sherratt.

"Hopefully at the end of the pool stage it's a point gained rather than a couple lost.

"Cheetahs will be a massive game in terms of climbing the table. This is a tournament we've historically done well in and we want to secure knockout rugby at the Arms Park."

Scarlets with score to settle

Black Lion beat Scarlets 23-7 in Llanelli at the same stage of last year's Challenge Cup

Scarlets have a point to prove to eradicate the memory of perhaps their lowest point - last year's home defeat to Georgian newcomers Black Lion.

Less than half of the Scarlets pack that day are still at the club and Sunday's game will go some way to proving their progress from that bleak result.

Dwayne Peel is hoping the point in France is also a step towards the next stage but knows just how close they came in the 17-16 loss at Bayonne.

Scarlets are experiencing what Cardiff went through last season having lost a third game by a margin of two points or less.

But this one was more of their own making after an off-the-ball shove by prop Archer Holz - who had impressed on his debut until that point - saw a penalty reversed and Bayonne kicked the winner three minutes from time.

"An away point in France is never easy and could be important for us at the end of the pool stage," he said.

"It could have been a lot more but these are the lessons this young team has to learn when it comes to closing out games."

Dragons dig in

Dragons - in the same pool as Ospreys - are already up against it after failing to get off to a winning start on home soil.

The 18-14 loss to Montpellier represented a seventh straight loss for the Gwent side who also prop up the URC table.

They head to Newcastle, who threw away the lead three times in their 32-19 defeat in Pau, with both sides aware that another loss could prove fatal to hopes of progress.

"Newcastle are similar to our region, they are tough and a hard-working team that play percentages," said Filo Tiatia.

"They will be tough up there and we're under no illusions as to the size of the assignment."

Quote of the week

"I never thought I'd be coming here hoping for a home victory."

Ospreys chief executive Lance Bradley after their cup tie was switched to the home of local rivals Scarlets.