Another mixed week for the Welsh sides in a weekend littered with shock results. One of the problems for the Welsh sides is that their games proved to be no shock whatsoever, and they were very much as expected.
Cardiff Blues 29 Glasgow Warriors 20
The ever reliable boot of Leigh Halfpenny once again proved invaluable to the Blues as he kicked them past the winning post. This is an issue for any team playing the Blues now, they cannot give away penalties with their own half because it is almost a guaranteed three points for Halfpenny. With this in mind, once Patchell scored after 20 minutes it put these game firmly in the Blues hands because they have a kicker of Halfpenny's quality. He just kept the scoreboard ticking over for the Blues throughout the game even as Glasgow tried to mount a comeback. A good result for the Blues and they will want to back it up in Glasgow next week, more importantly it leaves them second in the group. Yes it would be a shock for them to beat Toulon again but stranger things have happened so don't rule that out just yet.
Castres 15 Ospreys 9
All but out of the Heineken Cup already in the season that many people expected big things from the Ospreys. For all their quality and victories in the Pro12, they cannot convert in to European success in the way Leinster and Munster have. Even with their pack bulging with Lions experience they haven't managed a win in the first three games of this campaign. The issue for me is in the back line, gone a the days of Shane Williams, Tommy Bowe, James Hook and Gavin Henson. There is a serious lack a quality in the Ospreys back line, and it needs fixing or they will not be able to compete in Europe next year. A very real threat for the Ospreys is that they risk becoming the 'second region' with the way that the Scarlets are performing both in the Pro12 and in Europe. Alun Wyn Jones says they "won't give up", I would never doubt Wyn Jones' passion for the game, but other players may not be hitting rucks quite as hard as they might next week given the Ospreys position.
Clermont Auvergne 32 Llanelli Scarlets 11
Battled, Battled and Battled some more. The young Scarlets side tried everything against a superior Clermont outfit. At half time it looked promising and an upset was on the cards at 6-3, but that doesn't tell the story at all. Clermont had already had two tries disallowed, one of which looked fine. The Scarlets were forced to defend for long periods of this game but didn't give in, it was a gutsy display by a group of young players, something refreshing to see. However, the class of Clermont eventually showed and they ran in four tries in the second half, gaining the bonus point in the last minute. It is possible for the Scarlets to dream of the quarter finals but so much rests on the Harlequins Clermont game. If Clermont win there then the Scarlets will be effectively out, but first things first they will need to put things right at Parc Y Scarlets next week. A player who is vital to the Scarlets European ambitions is Jon Davies and the sooner he can come back in the better because in the Harlequins and Racing games he was a stand out performer along with Scott Williams.
Dragons 40 Bordeaux-Begles 24
The least glamorous of the Welsh ties with the Dragons confined to the Amlin Cup rather than the Heineken Cup, but good things are happening down with the Dragons. Jason Tovey is really settling back in since coming back from the Blues this season and is in great form. Alongside this Lyn Jones has the team playing some very good rugby which leaves them seventh in the Pro12 right now, and knocking on the door of Wales' other three regions. They are also the first of the Welsh regions to nail down their star player to a new contract with Toby Faletau committing his future. Another bonus point win in the Amlin justs adds to the wonderful start to the year that the Dragons have had. Bath are currently top of pool two and are yet to visit Rodney Parade, that should be the game that decides the pool. The Dragons should qualify from this pool and after that they could be an outside bet to go on a European adventure this year.
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