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Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, December 8.
Wales star on crutches
Wales centre Max Llewellyn has sparked concerns ahead of the Six Nations after being spotted on crutches following Gloucester’s win over Catres at Kingsholm.
Lewellyn was removed from the field after just 16 minutes with a knee injury and was seen during the break being aided by crutches. The full severity of the injury is not yet clear but the concerning sight will be a worry for Steve Tandy with the Six Nations on the horizon in the New Year.
Llewellyn had a fine game against New Zealand last month and is without doubt first choice outside centre heading into the competition, which begins at the start of February.
An update on his condition is expected early this week.
Jones praises Ospreys spirit
Ospreys coach Mark Jones hailed the spirit of his team after they fought back from 21-0 down to beat Connacht 24-21 in Europe.
A disastrous first half performance left the Welsh team with a mountain to climb but they somehow dug out a bonus point win. Wing Iestyn Hopkins went over for the game’s decisive try with six minutes remaining, soon after Connacht fly-half Sean Naughton had missed a crucial penalty for the visitors against their United Rugby Championship rivals.
Jones said: “You can’t ever question the spirit of the Ospreys. No matter who has coached or played for them, the spirit has been very strong.
“Since my time at the Ospreys, as an assistant when Toby Booth was here and then as a head coach, we know that the spirit is the most crucial cog in the organisation.
“There is a great spirit throughout the whole of the team – starting players, bench players and those not selected.
“The non-playing group prepared us exceptionally well and we needed that, without it we wouldn’t have got the win.”
Peel insists Scarlets ‘belong’ at top table
Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel says his side proved they are worthy of dining at European rugby’s top table despite falling agonisingly short in their Champions Cup return.
The west Walians were edged out 17-16 by Bristol Bears at Parc y Scarlets — a single point separating the sides in the region’s first appearance in the competition for three years. Louis Rees-Zammit’s decisive try ultimately settled a bruising encounter that could easily have gone the other way.
Peel, however, was adamant his players had shown exactly why they deserve to be back among Europe’s elite.
“I’d hope the 7,000 people who were here go away thinking they saw their team put up a massive fight, because that’s what I saw,” he said.
“I was really proud of the effort we put in. It was a one-point margin in the top tier of European rugby. That’s the level.
“Put performances like that together and we can see that we belong here.”
The fixture carried echoes of Scarlets’ last Champions Cup campaign, when they also faced Bristol in the pool stages. On that occasion, Pat Lam’s side racked up eight tries in a thumping win in Llanelli back in January 2022 — a heavy defeat that contributed to Scarlets’ exit from Europe’s premier competition.
This time, Peel’s men were unrecognisable from the side of old. They stayed in the battle throughout, had two tries chalked off and yet were left to rue soft penalties and a lack of clinical edge in key moments.
“It was a real scrap of a game,” Peel added. “Effort-wise we were really good, but we weren’t clinical enough late on. There were a couple of set-piece opportunities we didn’t nail and we conceded a pretty soft try off the scrum.
“It’s fine margins, but that’s this level.”
The performance comes at a time when Scarlets are showing signs of life after a grim start to the season. Following heavy URC defeats to Munster, Stormers, Lions and Sharks, a morale-boosting win over Glasgow was followed by this spirited European display. The return to fitness of key figures such as Josh Macleod, Ryan Elias and Max Douglas has also provided a timely lift.
Peel believes the last fortnight has showcased a team turning a corner.
“I genuinely believe we’ve taken steps forward over the last two games,” he said. “A one-point game could have gone either way — we could easily be in here celebrating.
“We’re getting better undoubtedly. We were here to compete and if we keep doing that, we’re putting ourselves in with a chance.”
Wales duo combine in Gloucester triumph
Gloucester marked their return to the Champions Cup in style as they battled past Castres 34-14 in brutal conditions at Kingsholm, with Wales duo Tomos Williams and Freddie Thomas combining for one well-worked try.
Back in Europe’s top competition for the first time in two years, the Cherry and Whites were made to work for it, with the match locked at 14-14 heading into the final quarter and momentum swinging wildly throughout a chaotic afternoon.
But George Skivington’s side showed steely resolve when it mattered most. After Deian Gwynne was shown a yellow card for making contact in the eye area of Florent Vanverberghe, Gloucester faced a critical 10-minute period with 14 men. They survived it and, once back to full strength, seized control.
Ross Byrne landed two crucial penalties to give the hosts breathing space, before replacement Charlie Atkinson crossed twice late on to secure the bonus point and spark celebrations around Kingsholm.
The game had been breathless from the off despite the howling wind. Castres struck through Vuate Karawalevu and Loris Zarantonello, both converted, as the French visitors made the most of their opportunities in the first half. Gloucester responded in kind, with Freddie Thomas and Will Trenholm powering over, Byrne adding the extras to level things up at the break.
Thomas’ try came by virtue of a Welsh connection, when Tomos Williams sniped at the base of a ruck before putting his countryman in just metres out from the tryline.
After half-time the accuracy of both sides began to waver as the weather worsened, and the contest descended into a stop-start, error-strewn affair. Gwynne’s yellow card looked a potential turning point, but instead it was Castres who lost their discipline.
Christian Ambadiang and Gauthier Doubrere were both sent to the sin bin in a costly late collapse from the Top 14 outfit, leaving the door wide open for Gloucester to take full advantage.
And they did. Atkinson twice exploited the extra space out wide to finish smartly and wrap up a statement 34-14 victory – and with it, a perfect five-point start to their European campaign.
It was a gritty, hard-earned success in brutal conditions, but one that underlined Gloucester’s ambition as they return to the top table of European rugby.
