Six things Welsh rugby learned from URC weekend

A touchline ban, a grounds defeat, a reddish paper and a bumper crowd for a double send-off marked nan latest information of nan United Rugby Championship (URC) for Welsh rugby.

There was a gulf successful physicality arsenic each 4 regions were beaten, though location were immoderate glimmers of hope.

It was nan little placed teams who gave nan astir encouraging displays arsenic Scarlets and Dragons picked up losing prize points aft constrictive defeats.

Frustratingly some teams on pinch Ospreys - who suffered their heaviest ever nonaccomplishment - fell 1 people short of effort bonuses.

And Cardiff's Matt Sherratt became nan first caput coach to beryllium deed pinch a suspension this season.

So what tin we return from nan weekend's games?

Ospreys stay upbeat complete their play-off chances contempt falling 3 places successful nan array aft conceding a grounds people successful nan 61-24 nonaccomplishment to Bulls successful Pretoria.

Luke Davies, Keiran Williams and Keelan Giles crossed but 2 interceptions and past a misjudged precocious punishment footwear to touch squandered a effort bonus.

Ospreys person dropped to 10th, 4 points disconnected nan play-offs pinch a daunting travel to Leinster adjacent up and person a interest complete Adam Beard's injury.

"It's not getting immoderate easier but looking astatine nan history of nan table, we person an thought what's needed to beryllium successful nan apical eight," said caput coach Toby Booth.

"That would beryllium advancement but there's a realism astir wherever we are and what we're trying to do."

He added: "I emotion this group, they're unbelievably tight but nan learning is to beryllium meticulous erstwhile it matters most."

However nan remainder of nan URC are not truthful judge what it will return to nan scope nan play-offs pinch 3 games remaining.

Six points abstracted Stormers successful 5th and Lions successful 11th, including 3 teams separated by points-difference alone.

“I’ve ne'er seen thing for illustration it," said Connacht caput coach Pete Wilkins.

"It’s truthful adjacent that it makes for a awesome title but nan points target we group ourselves keeps moving. Last play 48 points sewage you into nan play-offs but I don't deliberation that will beryllium anyplace adjacent capable this season."

Cardiff caput coach Matt Sherratt was forced to watch his team's 24-7 nonaccomplishment to Edinburgh from among nan 11,200 fans astatine nan Arms Park aft being deed pinch a one-game touchline prohibition earlier kick-off.

It followed an "interaction" pinch Scottish referee Mike Adamson instantly aft nan precocious conclusion by Ulster nan erstwhile week.

Sherratt said: "It was an affectional crippled and I said to nan referee consecutive aft nan lucifer and questioned immoderate of his decisions.

"But I guarantee that it was not successful an abusive aliases confrontational manner.

"I've since spoken to Mike and apologised and it's astir apt a learning for maine that consecutive aft a crippled is astir apt not nan champion clip to speak to officials."

A further five-game prohibition was suspended, on pinch £7,500 successful fines, while Sherratt must besides be a referee course.

Rather than a fortress, Parc y Scarlets has been a location of cards this play during which nan location broadside has mislaid 7 of 9 successful each competitions, including a grounds location convention defeat.

Dwayne Peel insisted he still had nan backing of nan board aft that nonaccomplishment to Glasgow.

Now it appears he whitethorn erstwhile again person nan support of nan fans, fixed nan singing that followed a spirited show against a Springbok-laden Sharks.

"The fans person been very diligent and location was a different ambiance tonight," Peel said aft the 34-27 Sharks loss.

"Some group looking astatine nan squad sheets whitethorn person thought we were successful for it, but we stood up against World Cup winners and showed we tin beryllium a bully team."

Johnny Williams gave a reminder of his evident strengths successful defence and attack.

Dragons fly-half Angus O'Brien is group to make a 2nd return of a injury-blighted season, against Stormers connected 10 May.

But he will person to depose Cai Evans who was switched from full-back to number 10 against Connacht by Dai Flanagan who remains tight-lipped complete which is nan Wales international's champion position.

"Angus will person to unseat Cai who went well. He kicks nan shot a agelong measurement and his passing is apical quality, he conscionable needs clip successful nan saddle," said Flanagan.

Evans kicked a cleanable 5 from 5 and doubly levelled nan scores earlier Ben Carter's reddish paper saw nan visitors separator past Dragons connected Elliot Dee's 150th quality for nan region.

Flanagan added: "Elliot drives nan power of nan group. It's not what he says, it's what he does that makes him a leader."

Ioan Nicholas has proved an perfect inferior subordinate for Scarlets ever since he became nan region's youngest ever subordinate successful 2015, aged conscionable 17.

But playing wing, full-back aliases centre has not yielded galore tries for nan erstwhile Wales Under-20s international.

He created 2 against Sharks earlier crossing himself successful nan 77th-minute - five years to nan time since his past score, against Dragons successful 2019.

"He's astir apt under-valued extracurricular nan nine but not by us, he's a existent glue subordinate for us," said Peel.

"He's a awesome communicator and a value player. He seldom has a bad game, truthful I'm truthful pleased for him."