Welsh Rugby: What we learned from URC derbies

New Year's Day brought mixed fortunes for the four Welsh regions.

Scarlets welcomed 2025 by returning to winning ways against Dragons, while Cardiff and Ospreys played out a draw in the capital.

Neither derby set the world alight, but the United Rugby Championship (URC) table makes for much better reading with Cardiff (third) and Scarlets (sixth) currently occupying play-off positions.

Ospreys are languishing in 14th as they aim for a revival under new management, while Dragons sit bottom having not tasted victory since the opening round.

So what can we take from the weekend's games?

After nicking west Wales bragging rights at the death, Ospreys threatened to do the same in the capital.

They had faced an uphill battle after James Fender was red carded on the stroke of half-time for a dangerous tackle.

But their scrum dominance, dogged defending and 13 points from player of the match Dan Edwards ensured they left the Arms Park with a share of the spoils.

They even had a chance to win it with Lewis Lloyd and Morgan Morse both having tries ruled out in a dramatic finale.

"I feel like the players, I feel really frustrated that we didn't take that opportunity at the end," said an unsatisfied head coach Mark Jones.

"We feel we're a team now that can make the most of those opportunities, we showed it last week we can do it when the pressure is on.

"Last week we nailed it, this week we didn't."

Former Wales and Ospreys fly-half James Hook said: "Before the game I think the Ospreys would have been happy with a draw, but the way it panned out, I think they will be disappointed."

If a draw was an opportunity missed for Ospreys, Cardiff will almost certainly be kicking themselves.

They failed to capitalise on the red card, with Teddy Williams' yellow levelling the field and allowing Edwards to take full advantage with a try from nothing.

Rhys Litterick also spent 10 minutes in the bin as indiscipline proved costly for Matt Sherratt's side who were looking for a first victory over Ospreys at the Arms Park since 2007.

There was also a memorable debut for Louie Hennessey, who recently joined on loan from Bath. He began in the centre, found himself thrown up in the lineout, saved a try and ended up on the wing.

Sherratt said after the game it "felt like a couple of points dropped" but also "snuck a couple of points as well".

"I was really confident that if we put anything that resembled our best game on the field in the second half we would have got a bonus-point win and that's not being disrespectful to the Ospreys, they're a good side, we just couldn't get enough of it on the field," he said.

Scarlets needed to get back to winning ways after having their pockets picked just before Christmas.

Sam Costelow orchestrated some typical Scarlets heads-up running rugby in the first half, with Blair Murray showing what a miss he had been.

The second half was disjointed as Dragons fought back, but head coach Dwayne Peel says he will "take the points and move on".

"When we're disciplined, when we're clinical we look like a good team, but a lesson for us maybe we relax too much and let the opposition in to the game," Peel said.

Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland said Scarlets had shown "glimpses of some great rugby".

"They're very competitive this season, and if they can be a little bit more clinical, maybe they have a chance to finish in the top eight," he said.

Scarlets are now unbeaten in their last four matches in Llanelli, with signs Parc y Scarlets is slowly becoming a fortress again.

It was just slightly disappointing that the derby only attracted 7,605 fans compared to a sell-out at Cardiff Arms Park.

Dragons were unlucky not to beat Cardiff at Rodney Parade on 26 December, a victory which would have ended 10 years of hurt.

They were expected to test Scarlets, but were nowhere to be seen in the first half with head coach Filo Tiatia being the first to admit they were "not at the races".

They were improved after the break, but the damage had already been done.

Dragons have now lost eight games in a row, prompting former Wales prop Chris Horsman to say they need more leaders on the field.

"What they're lacking through the spine of the team is some real leaders, those quality players who have the ability to drag the team with them and in those tight moments get the win," he told BBC Radio Wales.

Tiatia said it was an unfair comment to make.

"It's definitely an area we're working really hard on," he said.

"It's easy to ask people to lead, but sometimes people don't actually know what they're leading.

"It's definitely an area of growth, there's no hiding the fact that we just need to keep growing as people and the programme just needs to keep growing."

With Wales captain Dewi Lake ruled out for the first half of the Six Nations with a bicep injury and deputy hooker Ryan Elias recovering from a neck problem, Warren Gatland could scarcely afford to lose any more of his big players.

Wales take on France in their opening game on Friday, 31 January.

Elliot Dee had been due to make his first start of the campaign for Dragons after an ankle injury, but a niggle forced a late withdrawal.

Aaron Wainwright caused a few concerns when he left the field on 25 minutes with a suspected concussion, but he returned after passing his head injury assessment. Rhodri Williams also suffered a knock late on.

There were plenty of performances that would please Gatland, Jac Morgan who will likely resume captain duties in Lake's absence, was again a stalwart for Ospreys.

Sam Parry, who left the national training squad in June in controversial circumstances, also showed his international pedigree.

Rhys Davies put in a great shift on his first appearance since March, while Dan Edwards continued to impress at 10.

Cardiff's Teddy Williams was a nuisance in the lineout before his yellow card, while the abrasive Seb Davies also caught the eye.

Sam Costelow pulled the strings for Scarlets, Blair Murray showed his finishing prowess with two tries, while Josh Macloed led from the front.

Rio Dyer was again a bright spark in the Dragons side.