The Ospreys were the big movers in the URC over the weekend, leaping up from 11th to seventh with a 36-21 bonus point victory over the Lions in Swansea. It puts them firmly back in the play-off mix and they also have a EPCR Challenge Cup last 16 tie at home to Sale to look forward to next weekend. As head coach Toby Booth points out, they are exceeding expectations.

Ospreys v Emirates Lions, Saturday, 3.05pm. Welsh rugby stalwart Sam Parry is aiming to celebrate a major landmark in his career with a crucial bounce back victory for the Ospreys.

Dwayne Peel has challenged his Scarlets team to end the season with a flourish after their first United Rugby Championship win for over three months. There was a mixture of relief and delight for Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel following a last-gasp 16-13 victory over Benetton Rugby. Peel said: “I am pleased for the boys because they have been on the wrong end of those losses and they put a lot of hard work in. It was big for us to get that win at the end.

Gareth Anscombe has been labelled as “one of the best fly-halves in the northern hemisphere” after his move to Gloucester for next season was confirmed by the English club. Anscombe, 32, is understood to have signed a two-year deal and will link up with the Kingsholm club this summer.

Sam Underhill is savouring his England revival having feared his international career might already be over. The former Ospreys star is poised to win his 34th cap in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Ireland at Twickenham after returning to favour under Steve Borthwick – a comeback he views as a personal triumph.

Warren Gatland has stood firm on his critique of Welsh regional rugby – but insisted he has no issue with the coaches. The Wales coach has attempted to steer a fine line between repeating his call for changes, whilst at the same time trying to stay onside with those on the sharp receiving end of huge cuts in finances.

So, is Welsh regional rugby a sinking ship or still afloat despite all the storms that have been raging against it? Warren Gatland claimed the holes had not been plugged, but Ospreys coach Toby Booth reckons there’s no need to abandon the vessel just yet.

Toby Booth believes the Ospreys can do what no Welsh region has done for six years – make the United Rugby Championship play-offs. Booth’s young team are currently on target to achieve that goal of a top-eight finish.

Rob Howley admits Wales must make life awkward for Ireland this weekend, otherwise the Six Nations favourites will find their groove and run riot. The Wales assistant coach believes unless his team ruffle Irish feathers from the opening whistle then any prospect of a shock away victory in Dublin is remote.

We are now midway through the BKT URC campaign, with all 16 teams having played the first nine of their 18 regular season matches. So as the league returns this weekend with Round 10, how have the Welsh sides fared so far?

Keelan Giles has been backed to deliver more match-winning moments for the Ospreys after the wing was one of three players to sign a new deal to remain at the region. Giles, Max Nagy and Tom Botha have all agreed new contracts that will keep them at the Ospreys after this season.

Warren Gatland is the pack whisperer who can turn raw rookies into war-hungry warriors, according to the Wales prop who has seen it done before. Ospreys front rower Gareth Thomas has had the soft words of Gatland to ease him into the transition to Test rugby since the New Zealander returned to Wales 16 months ago.