The latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond
Taulupe Faletau of Cardiff was superb(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency)
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Sunday, April 20.
Coach hopeful Faletau gets Lions place
Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt paid tribute to his players after they put the uncertainty of the last two weeks behind them to beat the Ospreys and boost their play-off hopes. Veteran Taulpe Faletau was at the forefront of the 36-19 Judgement Day victory as he rolled back the years just weeks before Andy Farrell names his Lions squad.
The Arms Park side were taken over by the Welsh Rugby Union recently after going into administration. However, they saw off the Ospreys on Judgement Day to cap a dramatic couple of weeks.
“It’s credit to the players,” said Sherratt. “It would have been so easy for them in the last two weeks to down tools.
“I was pleased with how brave we were in attack and we were pretty good defensively. We managed five points and six tries against local rivals.
“It’s made us the most successful Welsh region in terms of the derbies and that’s big for us as a club, especially with the backdrop of last week.”
Faletau put in a strong performance, prompting questions on whether he can reach another Lions tour.
“He’s now talking about the one thing he did wrong,” said Sherratt. “He’s that type.
“He’s someone who gets better with games. Against Connacht, he wasn’t as sharp as he has been. I knew today, we’d get an extra 10 per cent out of him.
“You’ll have to ask Andy Farrell. There’s a lot of competition in the back-row. Toby’s record speaks for itself. He’s a class act and fingers crossed he gets there.”
Ospreys remain in hunt
Ospreys head coach Mark Jones believes his side showed signs of improvement during the defeat to Cardiff that can help them in their final three games.
Their hopes of reaching the URC play-offs were dented with the Judgement Day defeat, with Jones admitting they likely need to win their clash against Dragons and then both games in South Africa.
However, while Jones knows they’re up against it, he believes there was positives to take from the defeat that they can carry into the clash with the Gwent side next week.
“I was pleased with what I saw in the second half and probably as unhappy around the execution in the first half,” said the former Wales wing.
“We showed in the second half there was plenty of energy but it was about the accuracy in the first half.
“It is what it is and we have to move on quickly.
“The challenge for us in the next three games is to make sure we get out of the blocks well and don’t give us too much of a hill to climb in the second half.”
England star backed to make Lions squad
By PA Sport Staff
Alex Sanderson backed Tom Curry to get on a second Lions tour after the England flanker did his very best to capture the attention of Andy Farrell at Twickenham Stoop.
Curry produced the kind of carrying and try-scoring performance which England fans have enjoyed for many years in Sale’s 43-29 victory over Harlequins in the Premiership.
But the flanker, who was fighting back from hip surgery this time last year, needs to be “protected” to avoid doing himself further damage according to a delighted Sharks boss Sanderson, whose team jumped into the top four in their fight for a play-off place.
Curry, 26, is keen to go on a second Lions tour this summer, and Sanderson said: “How good is Tom? He’s put in a good shift there. He was brilliant but you have to look after him.
“These are boys you have to protect for themselves. He and the likes of Cowan-Dickie are pushing for Lions honours and they richly deserve it if you’re just going on that game.
“They are naming the squad soon for Australia but you’d like to think Tom will have a chance.
“We have a great pack. Asher Opoku-Fordjour was outstanding too. He’s so powerful. That will set him apart from other tightheads. But you still have to do the bread and butter in mauling and scrummaging.
“George Ford was outstanding in the windy conditions. He controlled the game.”