Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, March 4.
Warburton puts Italy as favourites
Former Wales captain Sam Warburton believes Italy are favourites to beat Wales and condemn Warren Gatland's side to the Six Nations Wooden Spoon next weekend.
Wales have only scored three tries on their way to their worst start in the Six Nations since 2007 - with the prospect of a whitewash on the cards.
Many reasons have been given for Wales' inability to score points, with the breakdown once again a key one. However, having looked at the statistics, Warburton believes the breakdown isn't the main problem.
Writing in his column for the Times, he said: "This tournament is showing that you cannot win games by a scoreline of, say, 15-12 any more, unless conditions are particularly poor. Now, if you don’t score at least two tries and 30 points you are going to struggle to win. In nine games so far, only on three occasions has a team won with fewer than 30 points, and two of those were with 29.
"Can Wales score that many points? Of all the teams, their average metres carried is ranked sixth, but I was quite surprised how close the statistics were for all countries in terms of ruck speed in the opposition half. They were all between 2.5 and 3.0 seconds. Wales’s is 2.7, which says that they are actually generating quite quick ball but then not making good decisions with it.
"In breaks conceded Wales are sixth too, as they are for penalties conceded. It’s so unlike Wales, so I think Italy are favourites next Saturday, even if I also expect Wales to bounce back.
"It should be remembered that this Six Nations is about discovery for Wales. While head coach Warren Gatland would never want to disrespect the competition, he will have known that his team were never going to be challengers, so he is just trying to find out what his best team is. Against Scotland he went with young forwards and against England he went with young backs, so I would really like to see him go with a young team throughout against Italy and see how they go."
Williams linked with Lyon move alongside Wales team-mate
Reports in France say that Lyon are not just interested in Wales international Josh Adams, but his Cardiff team-mate Liam Williams as well.
Both have been linked with moves away from the Arms Park as Welsh rugby tries to make ends meet amid reduced budgets.
Rugbyrama report that Williams, who is also a target for Japanese club Kobe Steelers, is an option for Lyon along with Adams.
Of course, there are some stumbling blocks that could spoil any potential move - such as the Welsh Rugby Union being able to block a deal.
WRU acting CEO Nigel Walker has revealed talks will be held between players, their agents, region and Warren Gatland about offers made to Wales stars who have another year on their contracts, like Williams and Adams. Cardiff are likely to be keen to offload the highly-paid stars as they struggle to afford a squad next season, but the WRU are keen to keep as many frontline players in Wales as possible.
Peel bemoans slow start as stunning comeback falls short
Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel bemoaned giving Munster such a sizable half-time lead as his side fell desperately short of a stunning second-half comeback in Cork.
Having trailed 35-7 at the break, they came back with five tries in the second-half - losing 49-42 but managing to earn two bonus points.
Despite the positive finish, Peel couldn't help but be frustrated at how much work his side had given themselves to do early on.
"We spoke at half-time that we had two choices, we either roll over or we fight," Peel told BBC Scrum V. "We weren't happy with giving them 35 points in the first-half and with some of our play and discipline in the end.
"We were really confident. We prepped well to come here and give them a good game. It was a good game in the end, but 35 points was too much.
"At one stage, we came back well. We showed spirit and what we're capable of, but ultimately we gave them too much field position and we didn't exit."
He also offered an update on Wales international Johnny McNicholl, with the in-form full-back having limped off in the first-half.
"It doesn't look good for him," he added. "It's a nasty knee injury. He'll be scanned this week and we'll see how that pans out. But it's disappointing for him because he's been playing well for us."
Lloyd crosses twice in record win
Wales international Ioan Lloyd crossed twice as nine-try Bristol claimed their biggest Premiership win with a 62-8 victory over Northampton Saints.
The margin of 54 points is Bristol's biggest top-flight win, while it is also Northampton's record defeat in the league.
Speaking to BBC Radio Northampton afterwards, Northampton director of rugby Phil Dowson said: "That's not acceptable. I've just been told it's our record defeat in the Premiership so something's not quite working in that space and we need to make sure we rectify that very, very quickly.
"It's not a record that any of these players want to have their fingerprints on and unfortunately they do, they're going to have to deal with that, I'm going to have to deal with that as a DOR and come to terms with that and we simply have to be better.
"We started well then dropped off then fell behind and then stopped.
"We've seen throughout the season our capability and I think we've also shown the chinks in our armour as well and they were exposed cruelly today."
Read more:
Shocking abuse of referees by Welsh rugby coaches, players and spectators revealed
Munster 49-42 Scarlets: Dwayne Peel's side fall agonisingly short in dramatic comeback
