Ickle Shane should at least feature for the Ospreys against struggling Irish outfit Connacht at the White Rock tommorow night. The O’s desperately need some sort of flair and Williams should be the man to deleiver it. Lyn Jones’s side seem to have lost the confidence that made them such a dangerous unit last term. However Sonny Parker is unlikely to be risked.
Fresh of the plane from New Zealand, Adrian Cashmore is also likely to get a starting role at full back, and is most probable to replace Matthew Jones as kicker.
Another influential Wales player, Gareth Cooper makes his first start of the season in Glasgow on Sunday. Paul Turner has named a surprisingly strong XV in comparison to the one that was torn apart by Northampton. Ceri Sweeney moves back to inside centre, where Mike Ruddock will no doubt be keeping a close eye on him, in light of Hensons’ absence.
Youngster Liam Davies makes his first pro start for the Scarlets against Glasgow at Stradey on Sunday afternoon. Nineteen year old Davies is highly rated in the academy scene, and may feature a bit more, in light of Dwayne Peels’ continued absence.
Tom Shanklin is a serious Wales doubt, with a swollen knee that keeps him out of Cardiff’s trip to Leinster, where they play at the newly adapted RDS Showground. Shanks is one of several doubts Ruddock has to contend with, yet how the Western Mail can lead with the headline “Grand Slump” is a bit mind boggling really.
Scrum V Live: Ospreys v Connacht (BBC Two Wales & 2W, 1900-2100 BST)
Y Clwb Rygbi: Leinster v Blues (S4C, 1710-1925 BST)
Y Clwb Rygbi: Scarlets v Glasgow (S4C, 1550-1800 BST)
Scrum V (BBC Two Wales & 2W, 1750-1825 BST)
Does anyone actually go to rugby matches these days?
Lee Byrne, Potential Wales Player?
Two years ago we were talking about another Scarlet full back as a likely Welsh international. Barry Davies however was ignored by Steve Hansen, and subsequently the one eared wonder has flattered to deceive ever since.
For a player of such obsecurity, Lee Byrne’s rise to regional prominace with the Scarlets is unexpected to say the least. Yet another product of the Pencoed production line, or Pencoed college to be more precise, Byrne faced an early end to his career after a horrific injury to his right knee playing for a Welsh XV at the Dubai sevens in 2003.
After failing to make the grade with Bridgend, a spell with Tondu saw him picked up by the Scarlets’ on a development contract, and hence why at the age of twenty-five he is only just getting some first class rugby behind him.
Byrne has easily been the best back three Welsh player, amongst the regions so far, taking three tries very well. However like fellow Scarlet full back Davies, doubts very much linger over his defensive play, as Newcastle’s Tom May demonstrated yesterday.
Realisticaly Byrne will have to deliever throughout the season, but with Cardiff academy player Jamie Roberts already earmarked by Welsh management as a full back option, at only eighteen, there is little to suggest they will not be kind to a late starter like Byrne. Bring back the ‘A’ team anyone?
False Dawn No.4557
Morning all,
Sorry about the complete absence of an update in any shape or form. A combination of moving to University and the wonder that is NTL have left me in a predominately web-less world.
Anyone with a television license will be still scraping themselves of the sofa, after a weekend of near rugby saturation. The poo definitely hit the fan as far as the Welsh regions were concerned, with the Ospreys already out of Powergen contention, and Cardiff and Newport needing a dramatic turnaround on the final weekend.
The Scarlets’ however offer Wales’s best chance of a semi final spot, scraping past a fairly dire Newcastle outfit.
I guess last week could now be seen as more of a wake up call for the Premiership clubs, and not some sort of glorified regional dawn in Wales. The likes of Wasps and Bath were significantly more ruthless than there Welsh opponents, which does not bode well in light of the Heineken cup.
Out in France though, it is a lot more positive though. Le Alfié scored a brace for Toulouse in a massive game with Biarritz, whilst Stephen Jones nearly played for Clermont, putting any doubts over his fitness to rest.
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