Your rugby morning headlines for January 1st.
Welsh stars look to make Six Nations bids on derby day
It's derby day - and a host of players are looking to put down huge markers to new Wales coach Warren Gatland just in time for the Six Nations.
A massive day is in store for a plethora of stars keen to break into the Wales set-up, many of them having been ostracised by Gatland's predecessor Wayne Pivac.
First up at the Arms Park is Cardiff versus the Ospreys, a mouthwatering battle which also has some key individual duels within which could help sway Gatland's squad selection in a huge year for Wales.
The Wales coach will monitor events from New Zealand and take a particularly keen interest in the scrum-half showdown between Tomos Williams, current occupant of the Wales nine jersey, and Rhys Webb, who is keen to get it back. Webb has not started a game for his country in three years and will be determined to make a huge statement to Gatland in such a high profile match.
Rival fly-halves Jarrod Evans and Owen Williams also have an opportunity to stake Wales claims, with Gareth Anscombe out of the Six Nations and Gatland needing a No.10 back-up to Dan Biggar.
For Cardiff, Liam Williams returns for his first game of rugby since September following a dislocated shoulder and will be keen to return 'with a bang' just in time for the Six Nations squad selection, as Arms Park boss David Young predicts he will.
Ahead of Williams, there are four Cardiff forwards who were outcasts under Pivac - Rhys Carre, Seb Davies, Thomas Young and today's back-row replacement Ellis Jenkins. It's a big opportunity in particular for front five duo Carre and Davies to press their Wales claims, albeit Young and former Gatland favourite Jenkins know there is a plethora of back-row talent available.
For the Ospreys, it's a big day also for Wales veteran Alun Wyn Jones. Gatland has already mentioned the age profile of the Wales squad, but he's also a massive admirer of the leadership qualities his Lions skipper shows and will be keen to see those to the fore as he ponders his Wales mix this month.
Ospreys centre Michael Collins, an ex-Otago captain who Gatland might like, will also look to push his Wales chances, while back-rowers Jac Morgan and Justin Tipuric will be determined to win the breakdown battle and thus impress the national coach.
A trio of Ospreys front-row replacements will also look to stake their own Wales claims - Dewi Lake, who Gatland won't have seen much of, Nicky Smith, who has been in terrific form for his region, and Tomas Francis, an old Gatland favourite who went down the Wales pecking order under Pivac.
Just as much at stake in the other Welsh derby
Cardiff v Ospreys will hog a lot of the limelight because of the stellar talent on display, but when it comes to Wales Six Nations places there are also a number of Scarlets and Dragons players keen to impress Gatland when those two Welsh rivals go head-to-head in Llanelli at tea-time.
Leigh Halfpenny, Gatland's old Mr Dependable at full-back, will be out to show his injury problems are behind him and that at 34 years of age he can still shine when it matters.
Fans' favourite Halfpenny has been plagued by problems since sustaining a severe knee injury against Canada in 2021. He was named by Pivac to start Wales' autumn Tests against New Zealand and Australia, but was forced to pull out at the 11th hour on each occasion.
Halfpenny finally returns to action and will want to lift the Scarlets after a dire season which has seen Dwayne Peel's men win just once in the United Rugby Championship. As well as Halfpenny, Johnny McNicholl and Rhys Patchell will want to impress.
Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty, two Dragons forwards who were previous Gatland favourites, but became outcasts under Pivac, can also put down Six Nations markers, while Taine Basham returns from injury and exciting young wing Rio Dyer will look to carry on the tryscoring form which saw him earn a first Welsh cap.
Rees-Zammit blow for Wales
Wales have been hit by a Six Nations hammer blow after Gloucester head coach George Skivington confirmed Louis Rees-Zammit is a major doubt for at least the start of the tournament.
The flying wing is in an ankle boot after injuring himself during Gloucester's defeat at Leicester last week. He faces a huge task to be ready to play against Ireland in Cardiff on February 4 and in a worst case scenario could even be out of action for six months, according to Skivington.
Warren Gatland will be sweating on the outcome of scans to Rees-Zammit's injured ankle in the coming days.
Skivington said after Gloucester's 8-6 defeat of London Irish in the Gallagher Premiership on New Year's Eve: "He is unlikely to need an operation but his ankle is in a boot with the prognosis not forthcoming because we haven't been able to receive the scans this week because of hospital delays.
"He will certainly be out for a spell, it could range from two weeks to six months, and on that basis he could be joining the Six Nations late."
Ieuan's bold plans for Welsh rugby 2023
WRU boss Ieuan Evans has promised 'A new year, a new Wales' in 2023 in an open letter to letter to Welsh rugby.
The newly-elected WRU chairman says huge things are expected of Warren Gatland's Wales in the Six Nations and World Cup over the coming months, with the bar deliberately set high.
Success, says Evans, will lift the spirits of a Welsh nation. His comments come after a dismal 12 months under Wayne Pivac which saw Wales lose at home to Georgia and Italy.
Evans also pledges to call an extraordinary general meeting to attempt to push through proposals to modernise the running of the Welsh game and will conduct a charm offensive amongst member clubs to to try to win them over.
He says: "These are exciting times. Warren is targeting immediate success. If anyone can make an immediate and positive impact it’s him and he has put maximum pressure on himself by willingly raising expectations.
"We are not setting minimum standards or low benchmarks, we are setting high expectations and Warren is right there with us."
Evans also wants to bring back to the table a vote for the main Board to have the option to appoint an independent chair if so desired, the WRU having seen the proposal crash at a recent meeting of member clubs.
"The feedback we have received tells us more clubs will join us if we can explain our thinking more clearly and this is the task at hand. My task," Evans continues in the letter.
Read Ieuan Evans' open letter to Welsh rugby in full here
Farrell a 'once in generation' talent
Owen Farrell was acclaimed as a once in a generation player after masterminding Saracens' 35-3 Gallagher Premiership rout of Exeter at StoneX Stadium.
Farrell excelled in wretched conditions, with the highlight of his man of the match display an audacious no-look, reverse, miss pass that sent Alex Lewington over for the bonus point.
It comes as new England head coach Steve Borthwick considers his options at fly-half ahead of the Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 4, with Marcus Smith also competing for the role of chief conductor.
"Trying to lead a team in those conditions is tough. It is where you see the ultimate game managers and leaders and Owen is still at the very forefront of that," Saracens head coach Joe Shaw said.
"When you look at the whole of this season and you see some of the performances we have put in and the tries we have scored, the person who has been at the centre of that is Owen, showing off his skillset.
"If you know anything about rugby you realise what an unbelievable and special talent we have had for this generation. He has just turned 31, he has got 100 caps for England, been on three Lions tours, won everything domestically and captained his country. He is absolutely fantastic."
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