It was an eventful weekend both on and off the field in the world of rugby.
All four Welsh regions were at home on the United Rugby Championship, but only one of them — the Dragons — came away with a win. On the international stage, Wales were knocked out of the Women's Rugby World Cup at the quarter-finals by the Black Ferns, whose male counterparts — Wales’ opening autumn opponents — beat Japan, but at a cost, while there was heartbreak for Scotland against Australia.
Then there was the controversial outcome of the WRU AGM. So much to mull over in picking the winners and losers...
WINNERS
Dragons
There haven’t been too many times over the years where the Dragons have been Wales’ only region to win in a weekend, but then these are pretty heading times at Rodney Parade. Having won just two games in the URC all last season, they have now already surpassed that total after the first seven rounds of matches.
Dai Flanagan’s team routed Zebre 47-7 in Newport on Saturday to claim their third victory of the campaign, adding to earlier home wins over Munster and the Ospreys. Young winger David Richards marked his first league start with a two-try man-of-the-match display, with fly-half Sam Davies landing nine out of nine shots at goal.
The resurgent Gwent region are now up to 10th in the table, making them the second-highest placed Welsh team after Cardiff. Head coach Flanagan said: “It’s a good reward for the effort this group have put in for the last six to eight weeks. They have been outstanding to work with. If I could place myself in any environment, it would be exactly where we are now.”
Louis Rees-Zammit
The 21-year-old winger could hardly be in sharper form going into Wales’ autumn opener against New Zealand. He produced an outstanding man-of-the-match display for Gloucester against Exeter at Kingsholm on Friday night.
First he demonstrated his footballing skills with a perfectly weighted kick ahead which allowed him to show off his pace and pounce for a first-half try. Then, four minutes from time, came a world-class assist, as he stepped his way inside the Exeter defence and delivered a one-handed scoring pass out of the side door to flanker Lewis Ludlow.
It was a display which prompted Austin Healy to say Rees-Zammit has the potential to be one of the greatest wingers the game has ever seen. The young man broke out in laughter when that was put to him on BT Sports, saying: “It’s maybe a bit soon, I’m only 21. I’ve got a lot to work on, but I appreciate it.”
It was a classy interview with Welsh broadcaster Sarra Elgan, with the Cardiff born and raised winger making a point of thanking the Gloucester fans for their support, as well as saying hello to his parents.
He also gave his thoughts on facing New Zealand: “I can’t wait. I have never played against the All Blacks, so I am very excited.” So are Welsh fans at the prospect of seeing this special talent take on the Kiwis.
Nick Tompkins
The Saracens centre was another England-based Wales player to lay down a marker ahead of the All Blacks game. He helped his club secure a 33-22 victory over Sale in a Premiership top of the table clash at the StoneX Stadium, claiming the bonus-point try.
His performance was described as “outstanding” by Sunday Times rugby correspondent Stephen Jones, with others hailing him as immense and world-class, praising his defence in particular.
Will Reed
There were worrying scenes at Rodney Parade a month ago when young Dragons fly-half Will Reed was stretchered off and taken to hospital after sustaining a nasty-looking head injury against the Sharks. But, happily, the 20-year-old from Cwmbran has made a full recovery and is back providing further proof of his sizeable talent.
He played a pivotal role in Newport at the weekend, pulling off arguably the result of the season so far in the Welsh Premiership. The Black and Ambers had lost their first four league matches, while their opponents Aberavon had won all six of theirs to top the table. But they turned the form book on its head, beating the Wizards 30-20, with Reed kicking 15 points in a man-of-the-match display.
LOSERS
Welsh rugby
The most significant event of the weekend in Welsh rugby happened not out on the field but at the Parkgate Hotel on Westgate Street. That was the setting for the WRU’s annual general meeting.
The key matter on the agenda was a motion which would have allowed the WRU board to appoint their own independent chair, someone not elected by the clubs, a person with the skills to head a business which turns over £100m. But it failed to secure the required 75 per cent approval from the member clubs, receiving 65.6% of the 221 votes.
That is an outcome which has provoked widespread condemnation, with Dragons chairman David Buttress among those to comment strongly. He tweeted: “Everything that is wrong with Welsh rugby, totally heart breaking for those of us that love the game that self interest and personal gain are out ahead of what is right for players, supporters etc. What business in its right mind allows this amateurism. Appalling. So depressing.”
It was indeed a real retrograde outcome for Welsh rugby, the spurning of an opportunity to take a major step forward.
Wales Women
They achieved their goal of reaching the quarter-finals, but Ioan Cunningham’s team bowed out of the World Cup with a second heavy defeat to New Zealand. Having lost 56-12 to them in the group stage, they went down 55-3 in the last-eight clash on Saturday, conceding nine tries. It provided further evidence of the challenge they, and the rest of the quarter-finalists, now face in closing the gap on the game’s top teams. England, Canada, New Zealand and France have all progressed to the semi-finals.
All Blacks trio
New Zealand’s unconvincing 38-31 victory over Japan in Tokyo certainly came at a cost, with two experienced players definitely out of the Wales game and a third in serious danger of joining them on the sidelines.
Flanker Sam Cane, the tour captain, and Dane Coles, have both had to head home injured with cheekbone and calf injuries respectively. As for second row Brodie Retallick, he faces a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday and a potential ban having been red carded for a dangerous ruck clear out in the Japan game.
Blair Kinghorn
It was a tale of real highs and lows for the Scotland fly-half in the 16-15 defeat to Australia at Murrayfield. He claimed an opportunist kick and chase try, while his overall performance was positive. But presented with a chance to win the game in the last minute, he pulled his penalty attempt wide.
To rub salt in the wound, fellow Scottish fly-half Finn Russell, who has been left out of the autumn squad, kicked 23 points in Racing’s 43-38 win away to Brive.
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