NEATH 32 – CARDIFF 10
‘They are a huge team, let’s be honest. But I did notice that on their bench they had one fella who hadn’t had international honours yet – so there is a weakness there.’ – Neath coach Lyn Jones looks on the bright side in the buildup to the Celtic League final against Irish heavyweights Munster.
‘Once we scored for the first time in the second half, that was curtains for Cardiff. They kept fighting, but once your scrum and lineout goes, you’re in big trouble.’ – Jones after his side’s clinical 32-10 demolition of Welsh rivals Cardiff.
‘I have to say that Neath were the better team and they deserved their victory. I was very impressed with Neath and hopefully they can do well in the final.’ – Cardiff coach Dai Young.
PONTYPRIDD 6 – EBBW VALE 10
‘The players were inept today and this is totally unacceptable. This has surely brought them all back to earth with a bang.’ – Pontypridd coach Lynn Howells doesn’t mix his words after his side’s 6-10 loss to Ebbw Vale.
He added: ‘We made eight changes from the side that won at Neath to give some players the chance to show what they could do before we travel to Connacht for next week’s Parker Pen Cup quarter-final. But they did not take their opportunity. None of our players impressed.’
‘We unsettled them in the front at the tight and at lineouts and in loose play. All the boys put their bodies on the line to the end. To win at Sardis Road is a magnificent achievement.’ – Ebbw Vale coach Mike Ruddock is, not surprisingly, a lot happier.
MUNSTER 42 – ULSTER 10
‘It was always going to be difficult with 14 men and to some extent we panicked a bit when it happened.’ – Ulster prop Simon Best after his side’s 42-10 loss to Munster, after fellow prop Justin Fitzpatrick was sent off for punching after only 10 minutes.
LLANELLI 45 SWANSEA 23
‘It was just the type of game we needed before going into Europe. It was a game with the right intent. There was probably 60 minutes of good rugby in the 80. We played wih tempo, which we set out to do,’ said Scarlets coach Gareth Jenkins.
‘I got a lot of positives and some negatives, it was ideal and an exciting game. Swansea gave us a good test, I was pleased with our shape.’
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