Welsh quartet eyeing European knockouts as off-field discontent rumbles on
Scarlets' final two Champions Cup pool matches come against Pau and high-flying Northampton Saints
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After a festive period of domestic fixtures, European club rugby returns with the final two rounds of pool matches in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup.
In Wales, the Christmas and New Year’s derbies drew strong crowds, but off-field turmoil continues, with reports suggesting an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) may be held against the Welsh Rugby Union.
If that went ahead, motions of no confidence could be tabled against WRU chair Richard Collier-Keywood and Professional Rugby Board chair Malcolm Wall.
On the field though, the Welsh regions will resume their European campaigns this weekend. What lies ahead for them, and which other fixtures are set to catch the eye in Rounds Three and Four?
Scarlets search for Champions Cup qualification in weekend of big games
Despite losing their opening two Champions Cup fixtures, the Scarlets still have a chance to progress through the pool stages with a victory over Top 14 side Section Paloise.
The Llanelli-based side currently occupy the final qualifying spot in Pool 4, having earned a losing bonus point in Round 1 against Bristol Bears.
Pau, traditionally a mid-table Top 14 team, sit second in their domestic league behind Toulouse, but they have yet to secure a win in the pool stage. Historically, French sides have often deprioritised away matches, which may give the Scarlets hope.
In truth, qualification will be tough for Dwayne Peel’s team, who suffered defeats in their final two festive derbies after beating Cardiff 21-17 at the Arms Park before Christmas.
Scarlets failed to capitalise on attacking opportunities against the Ospreys on Boxing Day, losing 26-19, before a heavy 28-5 defeat to the Dragons on New Year's Day.
Peel addressed the criticism from supporters at Rodney Parade, who had chanted “sacked in the morning.”
"If you lose a couple of games, the spotlight will turn on you and I get that," said Peel. "It is part of professional sport, unfortunately. You do get periods where you’re on top and you get periods where you lose games, and we’ve lost two games.
"What we need to do is get back on the horse and make sure that we improve. My job is to fight hard. We will not let that week define us."
Elsewhere in the Scarlets' pool, Sunday sees a repeat of last season’s final as Bordeaux-Begles host Northampton Saints at Stade Chaban Delmas, while Bulls against Bristol Bears on Saturday could have major implications on the group standings.
Pool 2 is particularly tight, with five teams level on five points. Bath, who lead the group on six points, travel to second-placed Castres on Friday, while Edinburgh host Gloucester, and Toulon welcome Munster on Sunday.
In Pool 1, Glasgow will look to make it three wins from three away at Clermont, Sale host the Sharks, and Saracens face Toulouse at the StoneX, with both sides keen for victory after suffering one defeat apiece in the opening two rounds.
And in Pool 3, Leinster will look to avoid repeats of the 2022 and 2023 Champions Cup finals when they entertain old foes La Rochelle in Dublin, while one of Leicester Tigers and Bayonne will pick up their first points of the pool stages as they meet at Mattioli Woods Welford Road on Saturday.
Elsewhere, the Stormers will hope to extend their unbeaten run to 11 games in all competitions when they face a struggling Harlequins at the Twickenham Stoop.
Welsh teams target Challenge Cup knockout spots
All three Welsh sides in the Challenge Cup remain focused on reaching the knockout stages.
Ospreys, after winning their first two pool matches with maximum points, fell 26-10 to Munster in the URC, which left them at the bottom of the table.
However, two subsequent derby wins with bonus points [26-19 v Scarlets + 33-22 v Cardiff] have moved Mark Jones’ side up to ninth, and they now aim to top their Challenge Cup pool with a trip to Zebre this weekend.
A key factor in their upturn in form has been scrum-half Kieran Hardy, who has scored four tries since returning last month.
The returns of Morgan Morris and Owen Watkin have also bolstered the back row and centre positions. As for Zebre, they have beaten Montauban but lost to Montpellier, making Ospreys favourites to secure knockout qualification in Parma ahead of a potential pool-decider in Bridgend against the aforementioned Montpellier.
The Dragons ended a barren run of losses last month - beating Lyon 23-21 in the Challenge Cup, and that winning feeling also filtered into their league form.
They return to Europe following wins over Connacht [48-28] and Scarlets [28-5], though they missed out on an East Wales Derby victory at the Cardiff Arms Park on Boxing Day for the 22nd consecutive time.
This weekend, they face a tough away test against Pool 2 leaders Benetton. Head coach Filo Tiatia wants his team to replicate their recent home form on the road.
Even a bonus point on their travels would boost their chances ahead of a final pool match against Newcastle Red Bulls in Newport, where a win would likely secure qualification.
Away from their ambitions on the pitch, the news that Aaron Wainwright will leave the club for Leicester Tigers at the conclusion of this season is a blow not only for the Dragons but for Welsh rugby as a whole.
As for Cardiff, they will aim to secure a place in the last 16 with a win over Top 14 side Racing 92.
Despite Josh Adams scoring three tries in his last two games and a 22-19 victory over the Dragons, performances have left supporters frustrated.
Any feel-good factor from Callum Sheedy’s late penalty heroics, which earned Cardiff a 29-26 win in Round Two of the Challenge Cup against Ulster, has been tempered by league defeats to Scarlets and Ospreys.
However, they will now look to respond against a Racing side that were heavily beaten by Ulster in Round One and drew 20-20 with Exeter Chiefs in Round Two. Cardiff will close out the pool stages next Sunday with a trip to Sandy Park.
