Cardiff Blues have confirmed that scrum half Lloyd Williams will be out of action for approximately four weeks following a knee injury suffered against the Ospreys over the weekend.
The Welsh international scrum half suffered grade two medial ligament damage that will see him side-lined for four weeks, with a possible return against Ulster in the last match of the regular season on May the 3rd.
When Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies and veteran Dragons lock Rob Sidoli clash at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday they will complete a circle of success which has brought FOUR Six Nations Championship titles to Wales in the last nine years.
The pair, who are set to feature in opposition in the opening match of the inaugural Rabo Direct Pro12 double-header at the Millennium Stadium, are at different stages of their rugby careers, but are inextricably linked by a unique piece of silverware.
The first title of the new Millennium, in 2005, saw then Blues second row Sidoli play every minute of the campaign which brought the international holy grail of a Grand Slam to Wales for the first time in 27 years.
Three Slams later, the latter of which gave Davies his first Six Nations winners medal in 2012, and the Scarlets centre is an integral part of the squad which, last weekend, ensured Wales retained their European title in back to back seasons for the first time in 34 yrs.
If it all started with Sidoli and company eight seasons ago, the class of 2013 have more than taken on the mantle and arguably eclipsed the much heralded achievements of Wales’ sides of the 70s.
But both players remain hungry for even more silverware and they agree that success at international level only enhances their Regional ambitions.
Davies is set to make his 100th appearance for the Scarlets at the home of Welsh international rugby this weekend and feels he has unfinished business with the side he supported as a child.
“I’ve grown up supporting the Scarlets and the players there are the ones you train with week in week out, so to get a taste of success with them would be particularly sweet,” said the 36-times capped Whitland product.
“I’ve spoken to the Ospreys players when we’ve been in camp with Wales, they’ve won this league more times than anyone and they say that winning silverware with your Region is pretty special.
“Success with the Scarlets is definitely something that is important for me, we have a great squad and winning with Wales just makes you all the more determined to reproduce that with your Region.
“We are all determined to put that right with a good run at the business end of the season to get us into the those play-offs and that means putting a performance together against the Dragons on Saturday.
“It will be strange to come back to the Millennium Stadium so soon after the incredible highs of winning the Championship here, but this is a special place.
“The atmosphere is always amazing and if the fans are anything like they were for the England game we should all be in for a real treat.”
Sidoli has himself made 96 appearances for the Dragons, he played 42-times for Wales and, after the career highlight in 05 which a 17-year-old Davies watched from the Millennium Stadium stands, last featured at international level in the 62-5 loss to England at Twickenham in 2007.
At 33 he has the edge in experience on the 26-year-old Davies, he knows all about how success at international level can inspire a region and he is looking forward to taking to the Millennium Stadium pitch again for the double-header this weekend.
“The Millennium Stadium is a special place for both the players and the fans and it’s a great concept to have these two derby matches here on the same day, the atmosphere will be amazing,” said Sidoli.
“We’ve seen how well this Welsh side has done and enjoyed watching them. It lifts everyone mentally to see Wales do well and the players who have returned to train with the Region have really boosted us and I think we have a role to play in energising them as well.
“It can be draining to achieve success like they have done, certainly in 2005 it was the first time anyone had experienced that kind of success for a long time so we were on the ceiling for a good while afterwards.
“This squad has managed to sustain their success now so the next step is to reflect that in the regional game.
“This will be a big weekend for all four sides, just as we have been a bit of a thorn in the side for the Ospreys in recent times the Scarlets have probably been that for us.
“We know we can be a dangerous side but we have been inconsistent. The challenge for us is to be consistently dangerous and put some performances together to be proud of during the season run in.
“The Millennium Stadium is a great stage to play on and it should inspire some great rugby this weekend, with us all hopefully picking up where the national team has left off.”
A second half hat-trick by unstoppable super-sub Osea Kolinisau denied Wales a famous victory as Fiji came back from a 19-0 halftime deficit to successfully defend their Cathay Pacific/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens crown.
In an emotionally charged Hong Kong Stadium, the Welsh squad played in honour of their team mate Ifan Evans whose career has been dramatically cut short with a serious neck injury. Paul John’s men marched to the final with a rousing 28-14 win over Canada in the quarter-final before brushing aside Kenya 19-0 in the semi-final.
In an outstanding final, Wales took the game to the South Sea Islanders from the outset where Cardiff Blues centre Cory Allen proved the chief tormentor with two first half tries where he used his speed, guile, bulk and trickery to perfection. Ystrad Rhondda wing Alex Webber scored in the corner and with Rhys Jones adding two conversions, Wales were in control at the break.
But the introduction of Kolinisau turned the match on its head. His speed and inventiveness turned the course of the game with two quick-fire tries. He added a third late on to seal a comeback that had looked highly unlikely after a first half in which Wales had made all the running and Fiji a raft of unforced errors.
Wales’ ability to reach the final is being seen as evidence of the importance of the abbreviated game in the WRU’s elite player pathway structure. WRU Head of Rugby, Joe Lydon, congratulated the team on their supreme effort and praised them for showcasing the Welsh international sevens game at its best.
‘’I must congratulate all the coaching staff and the players for a series of excellent performances at one of the most high profile competitions in the world sevens game,” he said. “The series of victories they achieved displays the value of the sevens game within our performance structures and shows how potential Welsh senior international players are nurtured and improved by taking part at this level.
“They refine valuable rugby skills and also experience playing the game in front of huge crowds with all the added atmosphere and tension that provides. The number of sevens players who have gone on to represent Wales at senior level is a credit to our structure and the level of coaching skill the players experience.
“In the RBS 6 Nations Championship decider at the Millennium Stadium we all saw Justin Tipuric display skills which would have been a credit to any centre and I am certain that as a back row forward he learnt much of that within his Wales sevens background.
“Now we have youngsters such as Cory Allen benefitting from the experience and it all bodes well for Welsh rugby in the future.I’m delighted with the performances I have seen being delivered in Hong Kong and the overall standard of play has been excellent. To reach the final and perform so well was an outstanding achievement the whole country can be proud of.”
With the Ospreys returning to RaboDirect PRO12 action in a Welsh derby against Newport Gwent Dragons at the Liberty Stadium on Friday night, Head Physio Chris Towers has issued the following update on some of the players who are unavailable for selection this weekend:
Ian Gough – Suffered a back spasm in training but is expected to be available for selection next weekend.
Joe Rees – Is being reintegrated back into the group as he continues his rehabilitation following neck surgery. He is building up his scrum work in training and is on course for potential selection in early April.
Ryan Jones – Further investigation has confirmed that a fracture to the shoulder blade is stable and it is just a case of waiting for it to heal. Providing there are no problems, he has a realistic chance of being back playing before the end of the season.
Eli Walker – Is suffering from a back injury picked up while away during the Six Nations period. A decision will be made on the best course of treatment for the problem over the next week or so following consultation with specialists.
Andrew Bishop – Is recovering well following surgery on a disc problem in his back. If he continues with his current rate of progress, the medical team are not ruling out the prospect of him returning before the end of the season.
Tom Smith – Remains sidelined with an ongoing chronic groin issue
Ross Wardle a product of Bedwas, who have had a great season this year, makes his RaboDirect Pro 12 debut in a Welsh derby against the Ospreys this Friday night. The 21 year old made a dream debut in Dragons colours against Bath at the Recreational Ground in their opening LV Cup clash of the season. Wardle who is 21, is currently studying a pharmacy degree at Cardiff University and has recently signed a one year deal with the regional side for the 2013/14 season.
Ross stated, “I am very excited to be involved this weekend. Obviously since the LV Cup game which went well. I have been in and out of games with injury, so it’s come as a bit of shock for me really.”
“Obviously against local rivals, I will be able to put up a good performance and show people what I can do and I can play regularly in the squad and the Dragons progress.”
The men of Gwent have also made changes in the back three, with international star Dan Lydiate who returns from his long term injury to make his Newport Gwent Dragons comeback as blindside flanker whilst skipper Lewis Evans moves to the number 8 shirt. We also see Andrew Coombs returning the regional team and he takes up a position in the second row.
As for the bench we also see the return of Welsh international Toby Faletau, who is joined by Will Harries.
Dragons Team to face the Ospreys
Dan Evans, Adam Hughes, Pat Leach, Jack Dixon, Ross Wardle, Steffan Jones, Wayne Evans; Owen Evans, Sam Parry, Nathan Buck, Andrew Coombs, Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate, Nic Cudd, Lewis Evans (c).
Replacements:
Hugh Gustafson, Phil Price, Dan Way, Ian Nimmo, Toby Faletau, Jonathan Evans, Will Harries, Hallam Amos.
