The Dragons secured an impressive victory over the Scarlets, while Cardiff claimed a comfortable win against Zebre, and the Ospreys suffered another defeat in South Africa. Louis Rees-Zammit was outstanding for Bristol Bears, and there were encouraging individual performances from the Welsh contingent.
Rees-Zammit Stars for Bristol
Rees-Zammit crossed for two tries as Bristol Bears beat reigning English champions Northampton Saints 41-26 at Ashton Gate. The 25-year-old looked deadly whenever he had the ball and also made key defensive interventions, including a stunning 50/22 in the second half. He also taunted England star Henry Pollock with his celebration.
Steve Tandy will be happy to see his deadliest finisher in red-hot form ahead of the Nations Championship next month.
Dragons Impress Against Scarlets
The Dragons are a markedly improved side under Filo Tiatia, and that progress was plain to see as they overpowered the Scarlets 38-26 at Rodney Parade. Wales hooker Elliot Dee deservedly took the official player of the match award, contributing two tries.
At No 8, Harrison Keddie was equally influential, finishing as the game's leading carrier with 17 and repeatedly punching holes in the Scarlets defence. Tongan wing Anzelo Tuitavuki also impressed, capping his display with a try and showing explosive running and the ability to make significant post-contact metres.
Page Shines in Defeat
Macs Page ended up on the losing side, but the 21-year-old was one of the few shining lights on a dark afternoon for the Scarlets. He produced a moment that could stand as the try of the season, burning Shane Lewis-Hughes on the outside before regathering the ball and finishing from more than 65 metres out. He added a second try in the corner soon afterwards.
The Scarlets man is a special talent and is a serious contender to be named as a bolter in Tandy's squad at the end of the month.
Cardiff's Back Row Dominates
Cardiff made it two wins from two in the United Rugby Championship with a comfortable 40-27 bonus-point victory over Zebre at the Arms Park on Friday night. Openside flanker James Botham was rewarded with the official player of the match award after an outstanding defensive display, finishing as the top tackler with 31 and scoring a try.
His back-row partner Alex Mann was not far behind, making 23 tackles and winning two turnovers. Mann also added another dimension to his game with a series of clever tip-on passes from the point of contact.
Scarlets' Concerning Start
The Scarlets have now lost their opening two matches, both in Welsh derbies. At Rodney Parade, the most concerning aspect was the manner in which their pack was dominated. They were second best in the collisions, struggled badly at the contact area, and their scrum is not functioning well enough.
The absence of Australian tighthead Archer Holz is clearly being felt, with no return date yet in sight. Director of rugby Nigel Davies acknowledged last week that the Scarlets are in the market for reinforcements in that position. The statistics told their own story, with the Scarlets having just 40 per cent territory and managing only 122 post-contact metres, compared with 323 by the Dragons.
There are reinforcements on the horizon, with back-rowers Fletcher Anderson and Taine Plumtree needed back fit, while former All Blacks forward Cullen Grace and Hurricanes lock Tom Allen are due to arrive next month. Until then, the Scarlets will need to find considerably more aggression and accuracy in the pack.
Ospreys' Front-Row Woes
The Ospreys have also lost their opening two fixtures, both in South Africa. The manner of their 35-19 defeat at Ellis Park will concern Mark Jones, with the starting front row of Gareth Thomas, Efan Daniel and Rhys Henry driven backwards on more than one occasion at the scrum. The replacements fared little better.
Across defeats by the Sharks and Lions, the Ospreys pack has been second best for long periods. There were, however, encouraging signs at Ellis Park, with back-rowers Liam Wright and Morgan Morse standing out. The Ospreys now return home with little margin for error, desperately needing a victory over the Dragons at Rodney Parade on Friday night.
