Scott Quinnell believes Wales rediscovered some of their doggedness against England last weekend – but reckons they still lack bite. The former Wales and Lions No.8 was encouraged by aspects of the 24-13 defeat in Llanelli, but argues there is a soft streak running through Wayne Pivac’s team that needs to be hardened up. “Sometimes I look at Wales and I think everybody is just a bit too nice,” said Quinnell.

Sheyi Ojo believes Cardiff City can use their emphatic 4-0 victory over Luton as the launch pad to get themselves back into the race for promotion. The Liverpool loan player scored the last of the Bluebirds’ goals in a re-freshened line-up who have lifted the club to 14th place in the Championship table to ease some of the pressure on manager Neil Harris. There is still a seven point gap between Cardiff and the play-off places, and 10 points between Harris’s side and the automatic promotion spots, but Ojo – whose team host Huddersfield in another home match on Tuesday – says: “We want to get promoted. That’s the reason we’re all fighting.

Gerwyn Price saw his hopes of winning the Ladbrokes Players Championships Finals dashed after a 11-8 semi-final defeat to defending champ Michael van Gerwen. The 35-year-old looked to have a good chance of avenging last year’s defeat in the final to the Dutch darter after taking an 8-6 lead at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

Connor Roberts earned a shiner, a winning goal, and the praise of his manager after his courage paved the way for victory at Nottingham Forest. The Wales full-back scored with a superb header – bravely climbing over far taller Sammy Ameobi in the 43rd minute – as the Swans went fourth in table with their first triumph at the City Ground in nine meetings since a 2006 League One triumph. Roberts celebrated from a prone position on the ground then needed lengthy treatment before recovering from a bang in the face and head coach Steve Cooper said: “I thought Connor’s goal epitomised the performance.

Wales try-scorer Johnny Williams has told fans not to go nut but stay patient as they rebuild under head coach Wayne Pivac. The Scarlets centre impressed in only his second Test match appearance in the 24-13 defeat to England at Parc y Scarlets.

Liverpool fan Michael Flynn is hoping the FA Cup draw delivers a touchline tango with Jurgen Klopp. Flynn and Newport County’s love affair with the Cup continues after they reached the third round for the four successive season thanks to a 3-0 win over Salford City at Rodney Parade. Now, Flynn – a self-confessed Liverpool nut – will be dreaming of a draw against Klopp’s men in the next round.

Neil Harris insists turning points only become apparent when you’re way down the road. For that reason, the Cardiff City manager is refusing to talk about significant changes in direction for his team – or himself – despite the emphatic nature of their 4-0 victory at home to Luton Town. The pressure had been building on Harris, but he underlined it hasn’t gone away simply because of this result and his team need to continue their momentum at home to Huddersfield on Tuesday night.

Zoe Backstedt launched her UCI cyclo-cross World Cup season off to a stunning start with victory in the Czech Republic. The 16-year-old from Pontyclun took victory for Britain by 11 seconds in Tabor in the inaugural junior women’s race.

Wayne Pivac insists Wales are making progress and his players are fully behind him, despite seven defeats in his nine matches in charge. The Wales coach suffered his latest setback with a 24-13 reverse against England at Parc y Scarlets and although it was a much-improved performance by Wales, they were unable to threaten a team currently seven places above them in the world rankings. Pivac, though insists his captain, Alun Wyn Jones, and his players are fully behind him along the bumpy road to transformation from the Warren Gatland era.

Wrexham keeper Rob Lainton was allowed to travel home tonight after being taken to hospital having been knocked unconscious against Bromley. The National League game was stopped for 30 minutes with both teams leaving the pitch as Lainton was being treated by medics.

Athletics action may have been at a premium during 2020, but that hasn’t stopped Welsh athletes producing some outstanding performances. In order the celebrate their achievements during this strangest of all years, Welsh Athletics has introduced a new award – performance of the year.

Johnny Williams has scored more tries in a white shirt than he has in a red one – but he insists there will be no regrets when he lines up for Wales against England today. The Scarlets centre once touched down in an England jersey, with a red rose on his chest, but he says the heart beating beneath always stirred to the land of his father. Williams – who has beaten testicular cancer to reach rugby’s highest level – insists he is Welsh through and through as he prepares to take on the country of his birth.

Kasey Palmer finally feels like he’s found home in Swansea Bay – and is keen to make it permanent. The Swansea City striker has been a footballing nomad since his days as a youngster with Chelsea – one of dozens of young players the London club send out across the world every season. The itinerant lifestyle can be a difficult one – especially when there is a young family in tow – but having tasted six weeks as a Swan, Palmer would be happy to make his loan move a permanent one.

Elfyn Evans says he is ready to give it his all as he bids to become Wales’ first World Rally Champion next week. The 31-year-old from Dolgellau goes into the final round at Monza (3-6 December) leading his Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Sebastien Ogier by 14 points.

Welsh marathon runner Natasha Cockram is in a race against time to raise funds to boost her Tokyo Olympic challenge. Cockram, who won the British women’s title at the London Marathon last month, planned to travel to the United States for a marathon organised to help athletes achieve the Olympic qualifying time.

Wales’ women’s hopes of qualifying for a major finals for the first time look to be over after Northern Ireland beat Belarus 3-2. The win means Northern Ireland will take second place in Group C ahead of Wales and book a play-off spot if they beat group minnows the Faroe Islands at home in their final game on Tuesday.

Gerwyn Price cruised into the second round of the Players Championship Finals with a convincing victory over John Henderson. The 35-year-old bold backed from his defeat at the Grand Slam of Darts with a 6-2 win at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena.

Andre Ayew is almost worth his weight in gold – or least his golden wages – according to his Swansea City head coach Steve Cooper. Ayew has emerged unscathed from his return from injury in midweek and is likely to start for the Swans on Sunday away at Nottingham Forest. The Ghana striker returned from international duty with a hamstring injury which forced him to miss the win over Rotherham and the first 45 minutes of the midweek draw with Sheffield Wednesday.

Open water swimming has seen a rise in participation numbers during 2020 as more people have turned to the sea, rivers and lakes for their physical activity. Some, like Laura Owen Sanderson combine their swimming fix with helping protect the waters around them as she tells Graham Thomas. Laura Owen Sanderson calls herself a “waterlogger”, a wild swimmer, an adventurist, environmentalist, artist, company director and a mum. She also happens to be the woman Bangor University have asked to help collect water samples from the UK’s national parks in order to test for the presence of micro-plastics.

Under-pressure Neil Harris wants his Cardiff City players to play as if his future depends on it after revealing he has held talks with owner Vincent Tan.The Bluebirds boss knows the next two home games – against Luton Town on Saturday and Huddersfield Town on Tuesday – could decide his fate.