Here are your rugby headlines for Sunday, October 9.
Fresh Wales blow for Pivac
Wales boss Wayne Pivac has been dealt a fresh autumn blow after it was confirmed Sarlets centre Johnny Williams will miss at least the start of the upcoming autumn campaign.
The centre missed the Scarlets' defeat to Cardiff on Saturday with a calf problem. Afterwards, Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel says the problem is bad enough to rule out of the November international programme, with Williams facing a spell on the sidelines.
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Wales meet New Zealand on November 5, followed by Argentina, Georgia and Australia on back-to-back Saturdays.
The news about Williams, who injured himself playing in the previous game against Benetton, piles on the problems for Wales coach Pivac.
He is already without Liam Williams (shoulder), with doubts also persisting for the New Zealand opener over Gareth Anscombe (ribs) and Alex Cuthbert (leg). In the forwards Justin Tipuric is also a doubt with a rib problem.
Like Liam Williams, Owen Lane (ankle) and Dragons prop Leon Brown (neck) have been ruled out of the four-match series.
Following the return of scan results, Peel said Johnny Williams is facing an extended spell out of the game.
"He's going to be out for a while. I don't think he'll be ready for the start of the autumn internationals," revealed the Scarlets coach.
Although Nick Tompkins and George North are expected to start as Wales' 12-13 pairing, Williams has been one of the form centres on Wales this season and would have been strongly pushing for a place in the match day 23 against New Zealand.
It also creates another dilemma for Pivac who needs as many players fit as possible to get his side through a gruelling schedule of games.
Peel admits Scarlets 'in a hole'
Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel admits his side are stuck in a hole after their 16-10 home Welsh derby loss to Cardiff.
Three defeats and a draw in their first four games means the Scarlets are yet to win this season. Only Italian minnows Zebre are below them in the United Rugby Championship.
The two teams meet in a basement battle next weekend in a game the Scarlets simply have to win.
"We are in a bit of a hole, that's the truth of it," conceded Peel as he surveyed the wreckage of his team's Welsh derby defeat.
"There is only us who can fight out of that. We have to relish the fight in getting out of this situation. We don't want to be here but it is the reality.
"We have to be better. There is a bit of nervous tension and it is down to me and the staff to alleviate that."
Young issues update on Cardiff furore
Cardiff boss David Young hopes the coming days will bring clarity over the clubs investigation into the behaviour of some players at a pub last Saturday.
The build up to yesterday's derby against the Scarlets was dominated by allegations that some Cardiff players behaved 'appallingly' and threw eggs at The Grange pub following their defeat to the Lions the previous weekend.
Young said he was not involved in the investigation but hoped it would reach some form of conclusion in the coming days.
"As we've already said, the process is underway and we're in the middle of the process at the minute," he said. "I'm not a part of that process.
"I'm sure you'll respect that I can't say any more than that on the subject."
Asked if there were some players in his squad that he wasn't able to pick for disciplinary reasons, Young responded: "Obviously we didn't put the injury update out today for that reason. Hopefully we can clear those situations up next week."
Pressed further on whether any players would be back into consideration for the upcoming clash with the Dragons, Young said: "I think we'll talk about that next week."
Ospreys fall to heavy defeat
A brace of tries from Luke Marshall and Sam Carter helped Ulster to a comfortable 47-17 victory over the Ospreys at the Kingspan Stadium last night.
Ulster also crossed over through John Andrew, Stuart McCloskey and Marcus Rea in a one-sided clash where they had already secured their try bonus before half-time.
Ospreys scored a first-half try from Jac Morgan in addition to a conversion and penalty from Jack Walsh and ended the contest with a touchdown from Morgan Morris which Walsh converted.
Glasgow stun South Africans
A scintillating first-half performance set Glasgow Warriors up for an impressive 35-21 win over last season's United Rugby Championship finalists the Bulls.
Glasgow ran out of steam in the final quarter at Scotstoun but dug deep to defend stoically, which meant the scoreboard accurately reflected the home team's on-field superiority.
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