Summary

  • Ospreys qualify for the URC play-offs in eighth place after a dramatic 33-29 win over Cardiff at the Cardiff City Stadium

  • Ospreys will now face Munster at Thomand Park in the knockout stage of the competition

  • Earlier on Saturday, Scarlets scored four tries as they earned a bonus-point win over the Dragons.

  1. Fun in the sunpublished at 14:52 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    It's always a festive atmosphere at Judgement Day and the Cardiff City Stadium is bathed in sunshine.

    That's one bonus from leaving the Principality Stadium.

    Interesting to see a real selection of jerseys from Pontypool to Pontypridd, Caldicot to Llanelli... remember them?

    I've also seen a fez and a stuffed chicken hat!

    However there are also a few too many vuvuzelas... not a fan!

    Boy wearing Wales flagImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  2. Postpublished at 14:49 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    Phil Steele
    BBC Wales commentator on BBC Radio Wales

    Filo Tiatia [Dragons' new defence coach] will make a difference not just technically with the defence but the whole attitude off the field.

    He's down there talking to former Dragons hooker Richard Hibbard, now there's two you wouldn't want to get in a scrap with!

    The difference he will make will be phenomenal.

  3. Not the last of Lydiatepublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    Dan LydiateImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    This is not the last we will see of Dan Lydiate in a Dragons jersey, according to head coach Dai Flanagan.

    The 36-year-old Wales flanker is among the replacements today.

    Talks are on-going with Lydiate who is now out contract, having re-joined Dragons last summer on a one-year deal.

    “This won’t be his last game, I can guarantee you that,” said Flanagan.

    “He is a player I don’t want to leave this region for multiple reasons – playing, experience, what he can bring off the field going forward.

    “It won’t be his last game of rugby, otherwise there would have been more made of that this week.”

    Lydiate has 69 caps for Wales and played for the British and Irish Lions in the series win over Australia in 2013.

  4. 'They just haven't fired'published at 14:43 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    James Hook
    Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

    They’ve [Dragons and Scarlets] been pretty poor to be honest

    There’s been moments, particularly from the Dragons, when they’ve put themselves in positions with 20-30 minutes to go, but for whatever reason they have dropped off.

    You look around and at the boys warming up, there’s some really good young talented players.. but for whatever reason they just haven’t fired.

    The Scarlets have had a really disappointing season, just four wins.

    The defence has been really poor, so off the back of that it has made them really undisciplined. They’ve conceded so many line breaks and so many penalties.

    I think the front five has been a real worry as well this season.

  5. The stage is setpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    Media caption,

    The stage is set for Judgement Day

    From a team perspective, there is little on the line to play for.

    It will definitely be the final game of the season for Scarlets, Dragons and Cardiff, with only Ospreys going into the final weekend with a slim chance of finishing in the URC top eight and reaching the play-offs.

    They need a series of results to go their way and got the first result they needed when Connacht got nothing from their trip to Dublin against Leinster last night.

    Ospreys have already won the minor Welsh Shield accolade with their performances in the derby matches.

    But any hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup next season were ended by Sharks winning the Challenge Cup last week.

    All four Welsh teams are languishing in the bottom half of the table with Ospreys 11th, Cardiff 12th, Scarlets 14th and Dragons 15th.

    Dragons are hoping to complete a league double against Scarlets and repeat their Judgement Day success in the same fixture last year.

    Dai Flanagan's side will not finish bottom after Glasgow defeated Zebre on Friday night. Dwayne Peel's Scarlets side have the chance to overhaul Sharks and finish 13th.

  6. Word from the campspublished at 14:37 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    Ryan Elias and Aaron WainwrightImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Scarlets and Dragons are 14th and 15th respectively in the URC with only Zebre below them going into the final round of regular league matches.

    Dragons know they are getting the Wooden Spoon in Wales as they cannot overtake Scarlets.

    And they will be mighty relieved to know they will not become the first Welsh region to finish bottom of the league - in 20 years of regional rugby - following Zebre's loss to Glasgow last night.

    Scarlets beat Zebre last time out and could jump into 13th place ahead of Sharks, who host Bulls this afternoon.

    Scarlets head coach Dwayne Peel: "It is an important game for us. Results have not been on our side this year, but we are determined to finish the season strongly.

    "It should be a good occasion. I have been at the stadium for Wales football matches at the Cardiff City Stadium and the atmosphere is electric."

    Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan: "We’re excited for the game in the capital and looking to finish our season on a high note.

    “We enjoyed the experience of Judgement Day last season and it’s important we mirror that performance if we want to achieve the same result.

    “It’s great to see players like Joe Westwood, Ryan Woodman, and Brodie Coghlan earning a place back in the team for the final weekend."

  7. Team news - Dragons make four changespublished at 14:24 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    Brodie CoghlanImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
    Image caption,

    Brodie Coghlan starts in place of Elliot Dee

    Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan was bullish this week when he named his team 48 hours early.

    Wales hooker Elliot Dee is missing with an ankle injury so is replaced by Brodie Coghlan as one of four changes from the side that lost to Ospreys.

    Wales Under-20s duo Ryan Woodman and Joe Westwood start, while scrum-half Rhodri Williams is also included and takes over the captaincy.

    Flanker Woodman is named in the back row, alongside Wales duo Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright, while centre Westwood lines up with Aneurin Owen, who makes his 50th Dragons appearance.

    Squad skipper centre and ex-Scarlet Steff Hughes is named on the bench as he prepares for his 100th league appearance, while Wales flanker Dan Lydiate is also named among the replacements.

    Dragons: Ewan Rosser; Rio Dyer, Joe Westwood, Aneurin Owen, Chris Hollis; Will Reed, Rhodri Williams (capt); Rhodri Jones, Brodie Coghlan, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Ryan Woodman, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.

    Replacements: James Benjamin, Rodrigo Martinez, Dmitri Arhip, George Nott, Dan Lydiate, Che Hope, Steff Hughes, Sio Tomkinson.

  8. Team news - Costelow returns for Scarletspublished at 14:17 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    Sam CostelowImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Head coach Dwayne Peel has made two Scarlets changes to the team that defeated Zebre.

    In come Wales fly-half Sam Costelow and Samoa lock Sam Lousi for today's clash.

    Lousi has recovered from a rib problem, while Costelow comes in with fellow Welsh international Ioan Lloyd dropping to the replacements bench.

    Wales prop Kemsley Mathias will make his 50th Scarlets appearance while Wyn Jones and Kieran Hardy, who are both leaving at the end of the season, are among the replacements.

    Tom Rogers, Vaea Fifita, Steff Evans, Joe Roberts, Josh Macleod, Teddy Leatherbarrow and Jac Davies are missing because of injury.

    Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Tomi Lewis, Johnny Williams, Eddie James, Ryan Conbeer; Sam Costelow, Gareth Davies; Kemsley Mathias, Ryan Elias (capt), Harri O’Connor, Alex Craig, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Dan Davis, Carwyn Tuipulotu

    Replacements: Shaun Evans, Wyn Jones, Sam Wainwright, Morgan Jones, Jarrod Taylor, Kieran Hardy, Ioan Lloyd, Macs Page

  9. Welcome to Judgement Daypublished at 14:06 British Summer Time 1 June

    Scarlets v Dragons (15:00 BST)

    Welsh ShieldImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Welcome to the finale of the domestic Welsh rugby season... welcome to Judgement Day.

    We are in the unfamiliar surroundings of the Cardiff City Stadium because some singer called Swift is taking over the Principality Stadium.

    I think it’s fair to say tickets for that gig are harder to get than today and the argument whether the games could have been staged separately at Parc y Scarlets and Arms Park this season will rumble on.

    But we're here and it's always a feisty affair when there are bragging rights on the line, old rivalries and the small matter of a Wales squad selection on the horizon.

    We have got Cardiff against Ospreys at 17:30 BST, but first it is Dragons against Scarlets.

    So let's have a look at the teams.

    Cardiff City StadiumImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency