The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, April 2.
Brutal Taulupe Faletau update issued
Wales legend Taulupe Faletau has been ruled out for the rest of the season after suffering a “signficant” shoulder injury during Cardiff’s defeat to the Sharks last weekend.
The 35-year-old number eight, who was making his first start since New Year’s Day in Durban, was forced off after 45 minutes after landing awkwardly, as he left the pitch using his jersey as a temporary sling for his arm.
The cruel blow raised questions over whether Faletau would feature again for Cardiff this season – and head coach Corniel van Zyl has now confirmed he won’t return before the end of the campaign.
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“We are just waiting for the consultant to clarify his next steps, but obviously it seems like a significant injury,” he said. “With the scan and that type of injury, I can’t see him playing again this season.”
It is the latest in a series of cruel injury blows for Faletau, who has made just seven appearances this season due to knee and calf issues and has suffered further arm and shoulder injuries in recent times.
His future at Cardiff remains unclear, but van Zyl is hopeful of agreeing a deal to keep the Wales centurion at the Arms Park, admitting that the management of the veteran forward’s workload is vital.
“It is key and was part of the plan we had,” said the Cardiff bosss. “But now unfortunately something different happened which has put us back a step.”
Wales star out to prove point
Owen Watkin says he is determined to show Wales’ coaches what they’re missing after being left on the sidelines throughout the entire Six Nations campaign, without playing a single minute.
Wales head coach Steve Tandy went with the centre partnership of Joe Hawkins and Eddie James for the majority of the Six Nations but Watkin has performed well for the Ospreys since returning from injury.
The experienced centre wants to push himself back up the Wales pecking order during the final phase of the domestic season.
“I didn’t play as much as I wanted in the Six Nations and it has definitely lit a fire in my belly to prove a point,” said Watkin. “I want to be playing.
“Coming off the back of a long-term injury it was nice to get back in the squad and be back in the mix. I was delighted with that but it certainly lit a fire in my belly.
“I want to play and prove a point to the coaches. At the start it was good to give Eddie (James) a crack at 13. He hadn’t played there a huge amount but to be fair to him he took his chance well and throughout the campaign he did grow.
“It’s difficult then to change something that’s going well and progressing. So, to a certain extent I can understand it,” he added.
“It’s going to be frustrating and I was disappointed but that is the way it goes at times. I’ve just got to play well over the next few weeks and put my hand up.”
Watkin will have the perfect chance to prove his worth this weekend as the Ospreys travel to Belfast to take on Ulster in the round of 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup. But the 29-year-old will have his hands full going up against Irish powerhouse Stuart McCloskey.
“You’ve got McCloskey coming off the back of an awesome Six Nations. He was outstanding,” he said. “He’s a class player you can’t deny that with his offloading game.
“He’s a big man and if they pick James Hume at 13 he’s a class act as well. We know it is going to be a challenge for us but I think myself, Keiron and Evardi can relish this opportunity in front of us.
“They are a very good team especially at home. We know we’ve got a tough challenge ahead but we are full of confidence. We’ve prepped well this week and we feel we can go out there and get the result we are after.
“Certainly against this Ulster team we’ve got to be physical especially around the halfway line,” Watkin added. “They are a team who like to get momentum and keep the ball alive so we’ve got to stop their momentum defensively.
“I think that’s the main part. If we get parity up-front and backs defensively in terms of starter plays in shutting them down then I think we can go a long way to winning this game.”
Evans: We’re focused on the future
Wales and Saracens forward Georgia Evans says the squad are fully focused on the future as a new era begins, with a wave of young talent bringing fresh energy into camp ahead of the Women’s Six Nations.
There are nine new caps in Sean Lynn’s squad for the tournament, with 29-year-old Evans now one of the senior players in camp. Wales are out to avoid a third consecutive wooden spoon in the Six Nations, but the second row insists the squad are looking ahead rather than back at past disappointments.
“We’re kind of not looking backwards, we know that we haven’t lived up to expectations previously,” said Evans.
“But I think for all of us now, we start looking at this new cycle, looking at the longer-term picture, which is the next World Cup, and that’s where we’re going to strive to hopefully climb up the rankings.
“There’s a lot of new people,” she added. “But it’s exciting because it’s new faces, new ideas, and it’s a new vibe, but it’s very good.”
Evans also highlighted the impact of younger players coming through, as she said: “I think it’s crazy when girls are still university and they’re just coming out of college, and they are doing A levels it’s like oh my gosh that was like 10 years ago if not more.
“It’s incredible, they bring their fresh vibes, they are so excited, they are always the people with the biggest smiles on their faces…they just give you so much energy especially when you might be feeling a little bit on the older side.”
She also talked about the sense of unity across Welsh rugby, with the women’s and men’s sides both “rooting for each other”.
“I think when the men do well, it’s always amazing because it helps us out as well and when we’re doing well it helps them,” Evans added. “We’re all rooting for each other.
“Wales itself is a big rugby-mad nation, so it’s about supporting each other and getting the best out of each other that way.
“Seeing them go on, defy the odds and their performances, we’re getting better and better every game, and I think it gives us a lot of confidence because you can see that it can be done, especially with a lot of new faces and caps.”
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