These are your latest rugby evening headlines on Thursday, March 31.
Halaholo sent for scan
Wales and Cardiff centre Willis Halaholo has been sent for a scan on a hamstring injury which is likely to at least keep him out of this weekend’s match against the Scarlets.
The hot-stepping centre picked up the problem during the Blue and Blacks’ thrilling win over Glasgow at the weekend but boss Dai Young is now sweating over the fitness of one of his most potent attacking weapons.
He said: "Willis’ hamstring really tightened up and he’s the same, really. It’s getting slightly better but it’s very unlikely that he’ll pull through. We’ve sent him for a scan and we’ll get that back this afternoon [Thursday] before we push him any further."
There are also injuries to fellow Wales star Josh Navidi, who is also struggling ahead of this weekend’s match, and starlet Theo Cabango. "Josh was a groin," Young added. "He let us know on the pitch it was tightening up and we took him off as soon as possible but he’s another who is struggling to do much in the early part of the week. He’s another one, I believe, that if he doesn’t make it this week he should be alright for next week."
On Cabango, Young added: "It’s an ankle impingement. It’s nothing that will keep him out for a length of time but obviously it was swollen up and he wasn’t 100% in the early part of the week."
New North schedule as Alun Wyn misses South Africa
The Ospreys are getting George North ready for the three Welsh derbies they still have to play this season.
The 102-cap three-quarter has been sidelined since rupturing anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee playing against Cardiff 12 months ago. His region had hoped he would have been able to face Zebre in the United Rugby Championship in February but "a couple of setbacks" jettisoned those plans and also knocked North out of contention for their current tour of South Africa.
But the Welsh team are hopeful the 6ft 4in, 16st 7lb player will feature at some point in the run of local jousts they have on the horizon, starting with the date against Cardiff at the Arms Park on April 23, followed by home games against Scarlets and Dragons.
Asked if North flew out with other Wales internationals to reinforce the Ospreys’ squad for the date with the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, coach Toby Booth said: "George never travelled and so isn’t with us. We are getting him ready for the Welsh derbies."
Also off limits for this weekend is Alun Wyn Jones. He has been left at home in Swansea, presumably to also prepare for the round of derbies.
But everyone else who is fit and well is with the Ospreys as they seek to show their resilience after last weekend’s 45-15 beating against the Lions. "Friday was disappointing from a result point of view and the nature of it," Booth added. "What’s great is to have an influx of people who care about each other and the region, to come in and bring some buoyancy to the group. I can’t think highly enough of what those international boys have done off the pitch as well as on it."
Wales warrior's future unresolved
Ospreys have yet to nail their former captain Dan Lydiate down on a new contract. The 65-cap Wales warrior recently returned to play action after 12 months out.
He marked his comeback against Leinster by banging in nine tackles in 26 minutes, then he walked off with the man-of-the-match award in the win over Zebre in Swansea. And Ospreys head coach Toby Both picked him out for his effort in adversity against the Lions last weekend.
But Lydiate becomes a free agent in the summer and his contract situation at the Ospreys remains unresolved. "Nothing to report yet," he said this week from South Africa. "I’ll just keep my head down. Hopefully, I can put in some big shifts for the Ospreys over the next weeks and months. Watch this space, hopefully."
Even at 34, Lydiate remains one of Welsh rugby’s most formidable defensive players. He was named Ospreys’ Supporters Club player of the season for 2019-20 and can be relied on to man the barricades in any game.
Owen Farrell comeback stalls with concussion
Owen Farrell's comeback from repeated ankle injuries has stalled for concussion reasons arising from Saracens' Gallagher Premiership victory over Bristol. Farrell was replaced in the 71st minute of the clash in north London on Saturday after departing for an HIA, which he passed.
However, the England playmaker has still been following the return to play protocols this week and has not been picked for Friday's visit to Sale.
It is another blow to the 30-year-old, who was making his comeback after four months out because of injuries to each ankle, the first of which was sustained during England's autumn campaign. He was poised to return for Saracens in January, in the process aiming to prove his fitness in time for the Six Nations, only to damage the same joint on his other leg during training.
Farrell's 12-point haul was key to securing a 27-23 victory over Bristol at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although he also produced the type of controversial tackle that has littered his career. The veteran of three Lions tours can ill-afford any more setbacks as he battles to reclaim a place in England's midfield, as well as the captaincy role that has been filled by Courtney Lawes and Tom Curry in his absence.
Manu Tuilagi set for latest comeback
Manu Tuilagi will make his latest comeback from injury as a replacement when Sale host Saracens in Friday night's Gallagher Premiership clash at the AJ Bell Stadium. Tuilagi was picked at inside centre to face Wales in round three of England's Guinness Six Nations on February 26 only to be withdrawn hours later because of a hamstring injury.
It was set to be his first international appearance since the autumn when he damaged the same hamstring while scoring a try against South Africa and he has not played since.
Eddie Jones called the powerful centre into their Six Nations squad after he completed just 81 minutes of rugby for Sale, whose director of rugby Alex Sanderson believes he was rushed back too soon. It was the demands of England training that caused the latest setback in a career beset by injury but the Sharks hope he will now stay fit as they look to reach the latter stages of the Premiership and Heineken Champions Cup.
Tuilagi's destructive carrying in midfield has been missed by club and country with Jones to date unable to find an alternative capable of getting the team on to the front foot through force.
