Your rugby evening headlines for Monday, May 23.
LRZ goes missing in crunch match
Gloucester's play-off hopes are now hanging by a thread after their defeat to Harlequins at Twickenham over the weekend. The Cherry and Whites were in a commanding position, leading 24-7 at the break but Quins came roaring back in what is now trademark style.
But the game largely passed Louis Rees-Zammit by as he touched the ball just four times in the entire match. Getting his hands on the ball more was identified as a work-on for the speedster by Wales during the Six Nations.
READ MORE: Welsh regional rugby team of the season dominated by players Wales don't pick
Since he was dropped during that tournament, Rees-Zammit has been in stunning form for his club side but was a quiet on the weekend. Our sister site Gloucestershire Live rated him 6/10, saying: "A game that the Welshman couldn’t seem to get into as much as he would’ve liked to. Only four carries in the game he was starved of the ball making life difficult for him to have any impact.
"In truth there was a just a single flash of his stunning pace when he chased after a kick over the Harlequins defence but couldn't get to the ball before it rolled dead.
"An attempted intercept that led to a late yellow card didn’t help his score either."
Faletau makes team of the week
Wales No.8 Taulupe Faletau has received plenty of plaudits following his final home appearance for Bath. The 31-year-old will join Cardiff next season and has trotted out in blue, black and white at The Rec for the final time.
As a turbulent season for the club draws to a close, Faletau played a key role in a narrow 27-24 victory for his side. He created a score for Ben Spencer with a break after the restart and produced a try-saving tackle three minutes from time to close out the win.
It's a performance that saw the Telegraph name him in their team of the week.
On Faletau's performance, Bath coach Neal Hatley said afterwards: “You see Toby make a 60-metre break for Ben’s try and then, with three minutes to go, make a tackle he’s no right to make. It just shows what a quality player he is and how much he puts in.”
URC play-off schedule confirmed
The knockout stages of the United Rugby Championship have been confirmed following the conclusion of the regular season. No Welsh team will be involved as they all failed to make the play-off spots in the league this term.
It means they'll be watching from their sofas as others do battle, looking to topple heavy favourite Leinster.
Quarter-final matches will take place across the weekend of June 3 and June 4.
QF1: Leinster v Glasgow Warriors
QF2: DHL Stormers v Edinburgh
QF3: Ulster v Munster
QF4: Vodacom Bulls v Cell C Sharks
Semi-Final 1: Leinster/Glasgow Warriors v Vodacom Bulls/Cell C Sharks
Semi-Final 2: DHL Stormers/Edinburgh v Ulster v Munster
'Hungry' Owen Farrell back
Owen Farrell has returned to England camp with his hunger sharpened by finally emerging from an injury-hit spell, according to attack coach Martin Gleeson.
Farrell was struck down by an ankle problem in the autumn and was then forced to miss the entire Six Nations because of a similar issue to his other leg, but he has since made a successful comeback for Saracens.
The 30-year-old is hoping to regain his place in England's midfield and the captaincy for the July tour to Australia and his presence has already been felt at a three-day training camp in Richmond.
"Owen is key for us, a really important figure within the squad. He's been great. He drives a lot of the behaviours, the attitude, the desire in the team," Gleeson said.
"The guy is hungry. He has had a big lay off, got injured in the Aussie game, missed the Six Nations.
"He just wants to play rugby, he's a rugby player, he loves it out there and every day he loves it. He's a student of the game and is speaking about stuff all the time.
"The thing with Owen is that he's a good all-round footballer, he can play at the line, he can organise, he can kick well. He has a full range of attributes.
"It's good to have him back in camp, really good to have his presence back again. I think it's going to be a massive positive for the group."
