Key lessons, stats and memories from Welsh URC weekend

Gareth Davies has now scored 54 league tries for Scarlets

Scarlets broke their duck, Wales back-row contenders thrived and thirteen proved unlucky in the latest round of the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Dwayne Peel's side will wish they could play every game in Cardiff after a sell-out 12,000 crowd saw them claim a fifth win in a row at the Arms Park.

That was despite being reduced to 13 men for the final frantic moments of a pulsating derby.

Ospreys also failed to capitalise on yellow and red cards as there were more close calls against South African opposition for both them and Dragons.

However, the competition for places in the Wales back-row and midfield is hotting up before Warren Gatland's selection for the autumn series.

Scarlets smiling

Even the normally reserved Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel could not play down the significance of clinging on for a first win of the season.

Having led 25-12 in the second-half, they were in danger of imploding against Cardiff just as they had done two weeks earlier against the same opponents in Llanelli.

But they held on despite late yellow cards for both Josh Macleod and Tom Rogers to gain a morale boosting 25-19 victory.

"You can't underestimate how important it was to see that game out," said Peel.

"We've been in control of our own destiny in all four games. Three of them have come down to the last few minutes.

"We've been down to 13 men twice in three games. We did brilliantly to hold out and the defence was heroic but you can't keep doing that.

"It wasn't a vintage performance but it's something to build on for the Bulls [on Friday] who have brought a lot of their Springboks."

Injuries mounting

Four games into the season and a common theme among all four regional coaches was how thin their squads are looking.

They saw their budgets trimmed even further before the start of the season to £4.5m each and even the Welsh Rugby Union has admitted that is £2m short of what is needed.

Now resources are being stretched to breaking point as injuries mount and the clubs try to limp their way to the autumn international break.

Ospreys head coach Toby Booth said his squad is "very depleted" while Cardiff may be forced to beg, borrow or steal a hooker for this weekend's trip to Edinburgh.

They finished against Scarlets with their fourth choice hooker Dafydd Hughes and are sweating over medical updates on both Efan Daniel and Evan Lloyd.

Dragons new signing Steve Cummins, who broke a bone in his hand during a pre-season friendly, could be ready for a competitive debut this weekend.

Head coach Dai Flanagan said after a lacklustre display against Lions: "We've asked a lot of the same group of lads and perhaps it showed. But we haven't got much left, that's the brutal truth.

"We're a small squad with just 27 or 28 players training each day. We have to prepare but where do you take your foot off the gas? We're at the bare bones, so we have to tap into emotion this week."

Centres of attention

Johnny Williams and Eddie James have formed a physical centre partnership for Scarlets

If Gatland is looking for size in his Wales midfield then they do not come much bigger than Scarlets centre pair Eddie James and Johnny Williams.

At 6ft 3in (193cm) and 6ft 2in (191cm), respectively, they form a formidable presence in the middle of the field and outshone Cardiff duo Ben Thomas and Ray Lee-Lo, not least when Scarlets were down to 13.

"They are two big boys, I certainly wouldn't want to tackle them - or even run into them," said captain Josh Macleod.

"They are becoming keys figures for us. Johnny is becoming a real leader on the pitch. I would certainly follow him into war."

Scarlets now have real competition in that position given Macs Page scored in the opening two games of the season and Joe Roberts is set to return after the autumn internationals.

Morgan shines in loss

Jac Morgan may have ended on the losing side as Ospreys went down 29-19 to Bulls, but he continues to impress as he leads Ospreys from the front.

The Wales captain tops the league for tackles, though has now been matched by Dragons hooker Brodie Coughlan with 68.

But he also set up a try with a barnstorming run that had the Scrum V pundits purring.

"It wasn't the best from Ospreys but Morgan keeps producing these moments week after week," said ex-Wales fly-half James Hook.

"It was so impressive to see him bumping off big South Africans for the try but it was disappointing for Ospreys to miss out on two bonus points after a poor start."

Quip of the week

"We send a warm welcome to all the visiting Scarlets fans who have made the long journey here, along Cathedral Road."

Arms Park announcer Rob Toogood hints at why Scarlets enjoyed such big support at the derby in Cardiff, suggesting many of them live in the capital.

Back-row ambitions

Taine Basham has scored three tries in his last two games for Dragons

Taine Basham has made no secret of his desire to claim the number seven jersey for Wales and two tries against Lions - wearing number eight - in front of Gatland at Rodney Parade will have helped his cause.

But former Cardiff and Wales openside flanker Ellis Jenkins believes Basham will struggle to dislodge either Morgan or Tommy Reffell.

"The Dragons back-row has been excellent and Taine's ability to beat the first defender and stay on his feet is impressive," Jenkins told Scrum V.

"Wales are strong at seven but are on the hunt for a number eight to succeed Taulupe Faletau.

"Aaron Wainwright [recovering from injury] has done brilliantly and Mackenzie Martin came through last season.

"Warren Gatland wants a big man to fill that position and I'm just not sure he will see Taine as that man.

"Gatland also wants a strong, defensive number seven who can get those turnovers and he's got both Morgan and Reffell, so that's something Basham needs to build into his game to compliment his ball-carrying."

However Jenkins did tip Basham's teammate Shane Lewis-Hughes to be knocking on the door of a Wales recall.

Key Stat

54 - The number of league tries scored by Gareth Davies. His double against Cardiff drew him level with teammate Steff Evans for fifth place in the URC all-time leading try-scorers.

Bowring remembered

Bowring was Wales' first full-time professional coach when he took over in 1995.

Welsh rugby paid its collective tribute to former Wales coach Kevin Bowring, who has died aged 70.

All the regions acknowledged his passing, in particular Ospreys head coach Toby Booth who was mentored by Bowring under the RFU's elite coach development programme alongside the likes of Stuart Lancaster, Rob Baxter and Shaun Edwards.

"His knowledge was unbelievable and he had a huge influence on some of the best rugby coaches in the northern hemisphere," said Booth

"What set him apart was his beside manner and the relentless support he gave us all. He knew exactly what to say and never told you what to do, just where to look.

"He was a rugby man through and through and stood for all the good things rugby offers. I've lost a real friend and rugby is a poorer place without him."