Cardiff Rugby host Gallagher Premiership beaten finalist’s Bath at the Arms Park (kick-off 7.15pm) with Dragons facing Bristol Bears (7.30pm) at Clifton RFC, both on Friday night.
Ospreys, Wales’ best finisher and the only region to reach the championship play-offs in last season’s URC, are away at Sandy Park to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday with Scarlets facing Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. Both games kick-off at 3.00pm.
Cardiff and Dragons cross the border on the back of defeats to clubs from England’s second tier Championship. Dragons were defeated 42-40 during a 12-try nail-biter by Hartpury at Newport’s Rodney Parade while Cardiff went down in a 45-31 thriller at last season’s Championship kings Ealing Trailfinders.
Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt wants more from his team against Bath – he’s expected to pick a more experienced starting line-up – and demanded it cuts its penalty count after conceding 18 against Ealing.
“It stopped us imprinting as much of our game on the pitch as we’d have liked. It was good in patches, but I think it was one of those very typical first pre-season games,” said Sherratt.
Sherratt, who is starting his second season in charge at Cardiff, stressed the need to give the region’s supporters something to enthuse about against Bath following last season’s disappointing results.
“We have some players back and probably more familiar faces. It’s obviously a special place, the Arms Park. It’s important that we give the fans a good first impression of our first time game – I’m sure we will,” he added.
Dragons forwards coach Sam Hobbs was relatively happy following the Gwent region’s narrow loss to Hartpury, who finished fifth in last season’s English Championship.
“It was a great exercise for us. We had a lot of debutants, a lot of young players making their first appearance for the club. Hartpury were probably further along in their preparation for the season than us but, overall impression was it was a good contest for us,” said Hobbs.
“The good thing about pre-season is it shines lights on the areas we need to work on. Our driving maul defence was the first thing. It’s about the physical battle, about that application, especially when you are defending your line.
“So there are some technical and tactical things we can get into during the week but a lot of it is down to our mindset and application in those areas. We have to make sure we apply ourselves, physically and emotionally.
“Some boys, like Evan Minto, were playing their first senior game of men’s rugby. We have to expose those boys to the difference between an age-grade or youth game to a senior men’s professional game.
“We have to move on with two massive tests coming up, against Bristol and Bath. I think there is a lot of good potential here, there was a lot of players, some of them internationals, who didn’t play against Hartpury.
“We should have more experienced players coming in for the next two friendlies, which will be good. Our more established players need to come in and grab the group by the horns.”
Ospreys beat Aberavon 12-5 with new Wales cap James Ratti and Garyn Phillips getting tries and racked up 33 unanswered points against Bridgend before wrapping up their innovative ‘Origin Series’ with a 21-12 victory over Swansea at the Swansea.com Stadium. The series consisted of three 30-minute matches against the new Super Rygbi Cymru teams from Ospreys’ region.
Former European and English champions Exeter will provide stiffer option with proven try-scorer Ryan Conbeer, who has linked up with Ospreys in a short-term deal after being released by Scarlets, again expected to be in action.
He touched down more than 30 times for Scarlets and was Wales Under-20 record try-scorer with 23 before that mark was surpassed by his new Ospreys team-mate Morgan Morse this year.
A youthful Scarlets line-up had to work hard for a 26-14 success over Super Rygbi Cymru Carmarthen Quins, who are celebrating their 150th anniversary this season, at Carmarthen Park.
Impressive flanker Ben Williams, scrum-half Rhodri Lewis, prop Tom Phillips and replacement Jarrod Taylor touched down while Elis Price was successful with two conversions and Steff Jac Jones one as they warmed up for the trip to London to face a Saracens side that no longer has former England captain Owen Farrell in its ranks following his move to Paris to join big spending French club Racing 92.
