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The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond
These are your latest rugby headlines on Saturday, December 20.
Ospreys announce short-term replacement for Jac Morgan
Ospreys have signed South African back-row Marco de Witt from the Suzuki Griquas on a short-term deal as cover for injured Wales captain Jac Morgan.
The 23-year-old played a big part in the Griquas’ historic Carling Currie Cup victory.
Morgan dislocated his shoulder while captaining Wales in their first autumn international loss to Argentina last month. The back-row – who is heading to Gloucester next season alongside Dewi Lake – is expected to be out for around four to five months.
That could see him miss the entire Six Nations and not feature for the Ospreys until March.
“With Jac out injured, it was important to secure someone as cover, and we were happy someone of Marco’s ability was available at this time of the season,” said Ospreys head coach Mark Jones.
“He’s a young player who we feel can improve a lot in our environment. He will bring a different dynamic to our current back-row options, who have been putting in some quality performances in recent weeks for the team.”
Cardiff rue missed chances after derby defeat
Cardiff coach Corniel van Zyl said his side were made to pay for missed opportunities as they missed the chance to go top of the United Rugby Championship following defeat to the Scarlets on Friday night.
Despite being on top in terms of possession and territory, Cardiff’s wait for a first win over the Scarlets at the Arms Park since 2019 went on with a 21-17 defeat.
“When you have so many entries with a close line and get held up so many times against a team like that, you either score or you don’t,” said van Zyl. “If you don’t, that obviously comes around and they take their shot. That’s a lesson for us. I think we had systems in place, especially close to the line, but we didn’t execute well enough.”
He added: “We’ve been good all season, and being honest, we’ve probably only had two individual errors, and then that’s what happens.
“Fair play to them, they took their chances and they’re a quality team. In rugby, it does come around in a run-about. You look at the Edinburgh game, where we win with the last kick of the game – it tends to balance itself out over the course of a season.
“They’re a great team, and I think we had 22 entries there,” he said. “If you don’t score on any of them and don’t capitalise, you take your hat off to them. They were the better team in the sense that they created and capitalised on their opportunities.”
Scarlets waiting on injured Wales duo
The Scarlets are waiting on the fitness of Wales duo Josh Macleod and Blair Murray after both were forced off injured against Cardiff.
Both back-row Macleod and full-back Murray picked up injuries during the 21-17 win at the Arms Park, making them doubts for the Boxing Day clash with the Ospreys next week.
“We’ll assess them but it’s looking like clear concussions for us on both of them.,” said Scarlets assistant coach Albert van den Berg.
“I don’t know the protocols now, whether they’re going to make the next game.
“But we’ll see how it turns out when our medical team looks at them.”
Former Swansea coach linked with Gloucester job
Former Swansea coach John Plumtree has been linked with a job with Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake’s new club, Gloucester.
The 60-year-old, who started his coaching career in SA2 back in 1997, left his role with the Sharks two weeks ago, following the South African side’s Champions Cup clash with Toulouse.
Plumtree – father of Wales international Taine – was due to leave the Sharks at the end of the season, but his departure was brought forward.
And he has now been linked with a job as Gloucester’s director of rugby by RugbyPass – meaning he could soon be working with Wales pair Lake and Morgan.
All Black opens try-scoring account in URC
By PA
Leinster staged a second-half fightback to claim a bonus-point 24-20 victory over Ulster at the Aviva Stadium.
The visitors had the better of the opening half and led 17-7 at the break but Leinster hit back to close to within one point of their opponents in the table.
Wing Werner Kok was the key man for Ulster early on, crossing for his first try in the 14th minute and then scoring another 20 minutes later after an interception.
Rieko Ioane had got Leinster on the board with a try in between but Tom Stewart added a third for Ulster two minutes before half-time.
The fightback began with a try for Josh Kenny in the 54th minute and, despite a yellow card for lock James Ryan, James Lowe crossed for Leinster’s third try.
Nathan Doak’s penalty meant Ulster still led by three points but David McCann was shown a yellow card in the 71st minute for a deliberate knock-on and Leinster took advantage, with Dan Sheehan grabbing the winning try.
