Gatland has great talents as intriguing Six Nations fullback appears
It was a significant weekend for any Wales prospect because Warren Gatland named his Wales team for the Six Nations tomorrow. It’s fair to say this past weekend of European rugby gained extra relevance. Rugby fans worldwide are called to book Six Nations 2024 tickets from our online platform ticketing. co. Rugby fans can book Wales Six Nations Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
Only the Ospreys emerged winners after easily defeating Perpignan in Swansea on Friday night, making it far from a golden round of results for the Welsh teams. Of course, there were a few good individual performances and a few Welsh players available for English clubs.
Rugby writer Steffan Thomas figures out his top performers and losers from an interesting round of European rugby.
Winners
Here is the list of Wales’ top performers:
Thomas Young
Even if he didn’t win, the seasoned openside had a fantastic solo performance in his first game back from a calf injury in November. In addition to scoring two tries in the first half for the Welsh team, Young was a continual nuisance in the breakdown.
The 31-year-old accomplishes a tremendous lot of unnoticed work in addition to having an exceptional skill set. But the former Wasps star has never been afforded much opportunity at Test level which is perhaps no surprise knowing the strength in depth Wales boast at openside flanker.
However, given that Jac Morgan is anticipated to miss the entire Six Nations, would this be his chance? Though only time will tell, he didn’t hurt his prospects on Saturday night.
Louis Rees-Zammit
The 22-year-old is as close to a lock for the Six Nations selection as you can get, but on Saturday, he was in commanding form for Gloucester as they defeated Edinburgh. Rees-Zammit started at full-back and had a superb all-round game which will have delighted Gatland since he is short of legitimate international quality options in the number 15 shirt with Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams no longer available.
Right now, Rees-Zammit appears to be the most likely option to address that issue with his starting position in the first game. And the Wales speedster made a spectacular 60-meter try in Edinburgh by sidestepping Emiliano Boffelli and brushing past a defender to display his incredible speed. Wales will be looking to him over the next few months to duplicate that performance in the global arena.
Unsung Ospreys heroes
The Ospreys have played brilliantly during a difficult time for Welsh professional rugby. Their convincing 25-3 victory over Perpignan in Swansea guaranteed them a spot in the Challenge Cup knockout stages. Despite having several senior Wales international players on its roster, the Ospreys also boast a lot of unsung heroes.
James Fender, a second-row player, has perhaps been the season’s best discovery thus far. On Friday night, he performed admirably against Swansea. When Fender is playing well, he could be considered for the Six Nations team of Gatland. But a serious arm injury could have ended his chances of playing for Wales soon.
The Ospreys’ victory was cemented by a fantastic solo try by Keelan Giles, who was also very good. After a string of serious injuries kept Giles from receiving a cap. It seems like a lifetime ago that he was sitting on the bench for Wales’ victory over Japan in 2017. Despite his obvious ability to finish, the 25-year-old is trying his hardest to make Gatland sit up and take attention.
Owen Watkin is another one who has done so in a whisper. Six Nations team of Gatland should consider taking a chance on the 36-cap Wales centre. He serves as the backbone of the Ospreys midfield. The Ospreys’ prolific streak is also being contributed to by scrum-half Luke Davies. Outside-half Dan Edwards, and Friday night’s player of the match, Iestyn Hopkins.
Archie Hughes
With the formidable Stade Marcel-Michelin as his opponent. The former scrum-half for Wales U20s could hardly have wished for a more difficult place to make his Scarlets debut. Hughes handled the situation admirably against a formidable Clermont Auvergne team. Despite spending the majority of the game on the back foot.
With his service, box kicking, and decision-making not out of place in France, the 20-year-old has extremely solid fundamentals to his game. In addition. Hughes is a dangerous player who doesn’t hesitate to dominate his group of attackers when he has the ball.
Scruum-half Tenby has long been identified as a future Wales international by those in the higher echelons of Welsh rugby. Though it seems premature for him to be playing in the Six Nations. It won’t be long until he dons the red and blue of Wales on the international front. Rugby fans can book Wales Vs France Tickets Six Nations on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
Losers
Here is the list of Wale’s Losers:
Johnny Williams
The strong Scarlets centre has struggled recently to stay healthy as a result of a string of ailments. When playing at his peak, the 27-year-old has excellent technique and is an energetic ball handler who almost always puts his team ahead.
Williams had a strong start in Clermont, but in the 26th minute, he was rightfully sent off after coming into close contact with Julien Heriteau’s head. The former Newcastle Falcons and London Irish midfielder was a strong candidate to join team of Gatland. But it’s quite likely that he will serve a suspension that will do absolutely nothing to help his chances of making the national team.
Late injury woes
In professional rugby, few things are crueller than becoming hurt just a few days before a crucial announcement about the national team. Regretfully, during the last several days, a few Welsh footballers have found themselves in that situation. It started on Friday night when Dewi Lake, the co-captain of Wales during the Rugby World Cup. Departed the field early in the Ospreys’ victory over Perpignan due to a hamstring injury.
In the coming months, Wales will want his leadership and unadulterated physicality, so maybe this is only a precaution. Sadly, James Fender, the dynamic lock for the Ospreys. He was also forced to leave the game due to what appeared to be a serious arm injury. Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod’s departure from the field with what appeared to be a major leg injury in the Massif Central was perhaps the cruellest blow of the weekend.
With his string of injuries, Macleod would have been a strong candidate for a spot in the Gatland Six Nations team. Sam Costelow was another participant who left his position in Clermont with a head injury. Both Cameron Winnett and Corey Domachowski also experienced injuries during Cardiff’s devastating home defeat to Harlequins.
The Cardiff defence
Let’s be clear: the Harlequin attack proved to be quite effective at Arms Park and can score tries even against the most formidable opponents. Despite Cardiff’s valour in attack. Their midfield defence let up like a sieve and as a result. They were thoroughly outclassed by a ruthlessly effective Harlequins team.
A large portion of this was due to Cardiff’s poor performance in the contact area. They gave up eight tries and 54 points. Naturally, they will have to strengthen this area if they want to avoid losing badly against a star-studded Racing 92 team in Paris the following weekend.
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