There will some familiar faces in the Scarlets line-up when they travel to Cardiff Blues on Saturday night as Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny return. But there will also be one player making his first start. South African prop Pieter Scholtz has had to show patience, but plenty of resilience, too, as he told Graham Thomas. Given the year Pieter Scholtz has come through, scrummaging against Cardiff Blues should feel like a pushover for the Scarlets prop on Saturday night. The 20-stones South African is set to make his first start for the region after two cameo replacement appearances so far in the Welsh derbies – against the Ospreys and the Dragons.

Scarlets head coach Glenn Delaney insists his team are primed to cope with a Cardiff Blues upswing following the departure of John Mulvihill and the appointment of Dai Young. Delaney – whose team travel to the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday evening for the Guinness Pro 14 derby – believes the Blues will respond positively after a week which has seen Mulvihill leave the top job in his third season. “Everyone will expect a response and knowing those lads down there, they’ll give it,” said Delaney.

Dai Young insists it is the right time for him to step back into rugby after his return to Cardiff Blues was confirmed following the departure of John Mulvihill. Young has not coached for almost a year after he left Wasps in February of last year, but says he was attracted by a return to the Arms Park where he will take charge on an interim basis, initially, to the end of this season. The Blues – who have confirmed Mulvihill has gone after two days of silence – say they are “excited” about Young’s return.

By David Williams A return for Dai Young or an immediate promotion for Dwayne Peel are two of the options being considered by Cardiff Blues following the departure of John Mulvihill. Former Wales scrum-half Peel had already agreed to move from Ulster – where he is assistant coach – to the Arms Park this summer […]

Ospreys captain Justin Tipuric has revealed his pride in his team for their “dominant” display in comfortably beating rivals Cardiff Blues. Tipuric’s side won 17-3 at the Cardiff City Stadium on New Year’s Day, while the Scarlets were also clear winners – 20-3 – at home to the Dragons in their derby – results which suggest the old familiar order is now being restored in Welsh regional rugby, with the Scarlets and Ospreys leading and the Blues and Dragons trailing behind. The Ospreys lay third in Conference A of the Guinness Pro 14, with the Dragons fourth. In Conference B, the Scarlets are second with the Blues back in 4th.

Keiran Williams used to be flattered to be called ‘Gibbsy’ by his team mates. These days, though, he is just plain ‘Keith’. The former Wales U20 centre earned the exalted status of being called his first nickname because he was likened in size and stature to the great Wales and British & Irish Lions ace Scott Gibbs. His pocket-rocket style mirrored that introduced by the explosive Gibbs into the midfield at Swansea, Wales, St Helens, Wales rugby league, the Ospreys and the Lions.

The Ospreys are keen on beefing up their pack by adding some South African muscle to their back row. The Cheetahs may have ended their involvement with the Guinness Pro 14, but the Ospreys see recruitment potential in three of their forwards – Oupa Mohoje, Sintu Manjezi, and Junior Pokomela. Head coah Toby Booth wants to strengthen his squad for next season and has identified the back row as an area in need of improving.

There was relief written all over the face of Cardiff Blues defence coach Richard Hodges after his side edged their way to a nail-biting 13-12 Christmas derby win over the Dragons at Rodney Parade. If it wasn’t a Christmas cracker, there was enough tension to the end to keep everyone on the edge of their seats – especially in the Blues coaching box. Hodges was wired up to head coach John Mulvihill, who had to miss the game because he was isolating due to a Covid-19 contact.

Jingle, jingle, the Welsh festive derbies are here. They kick-off today at Rodney Parade where the Dragons host Cardiff Blues. The home side are looking for their fourth straight Guinness Pro14 victory and Aaron Wainwright is looking to earn a first, famous derby win as he told Graham Thomas. Aaron Wainwright insists the Dragons can get the Dean Ryan revolution back on track over the festive Welsh derbies. The Wales flanker is desperate to get stuck into the Cardiff Blues in the Boxing Day clash at Rodney Parade after being forced to miss his region’s last two matches.

Jamie Roberts insists he’s a lover not a fighter, but he would love nothing more than to get one over his old Cardiff Blues mates when the Dragons host a Boxing Day dust-up with their rivals. The giant centre, 34, made 87 appearances for the Blues between 2007 and 2013 winning the European Challenge Cup and the EDF Energy Cup in that time. Since leaving Wales’ capital region, Roberts has played for Racing 92, Harlequins, Bath and the Stormers in South Africa, but is now back in Welsh rugby with the Dragons – and is ready to get back into seasonal derby action at Rodney Parade.

Dean Ryan is looking forward to a full-blooded Boxing Day derby between his Dragons side and Cardiff Blues at Rodney Parade. The Dragons director of rugby has seen his team been hit hard by Covid-19 and rugby-related injuries, with the region confirming another positive test on Wednesday. But six other players who missed the Wasps game through instruction to isolate have returned and Ryan is eager for the festive battle against their biggest rivals.

Cardiff Blues have thanked Stade Francais for their “professionalism” after the French club chose not to come to Wales for their European Challenge Cup tie. The match, planned for Saturday night, was cancelled because of the French side’s Covid-19 concerns and their decision not to travel. John Mulvihill’s Blues and the Scarlets – whose Heineken Champions Cup game with Toulon was also cancelled – have both been awarded automatic 28-0 wins.