Today's rugby news as Wales star publicly declares Lions aim and win 'better than sex'
Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, December 30.
Win 'better than sex' but Anscombe limps off
A Dafydd Jenkins-inspired Exeter claimed a first Gallagher Premiership victory of the season at the ninth attempt as they edged out west-country rivals Gloucester 22-15.
The Chiefs had not won a Premiership game since May, but they climbed off the basement above Newcastle after a predictably nervy encounter at Sandy Park. Prop Josh Iosefa-Scott’s try six minutes from time secured the points following a strong Gloucester second-half fightback.
READ MORE: Gatland's future and Six Nations predicted - the key Welsh rugby questions answered
England international Henry Slade offered a running threat behind an Exeter pack that displayed an impressive work-rate led by captain and Wales lock Jenkins, with Gloucester’s vaunted attacking game unable to move out of first gear.
Slade described the victory as “better than sex”. Asked for his verdict on the result, England international and Exeter fly-half Slade told TNT Sports: “Better than sex. Don’t tell my wife that!
“It was awesome. Confidence has been low. Naturally, when you lose games on the bounce, you do lose confidence.
“But the boys have been scrapping and fighting. There has been a lot of heartache, and to come out on the right side today makes it all the better because it has taken so long.”
From a Welsh point-of-view, Jenkins played 70 minutes of the win at Sandy Park, while Gloucester had their Welsh contingent of Freddie Thomas, Tomos Williams, try-scorer Anscombe, Josh Hathaway and Max Llewellyn all starting.
However, with Wales coach Warren Gatland watching on, he would have been concerned by Anscombe being forced off with a knock just before the end.
Lions on the radar for Jenkins
Dafydd Jenkins admitted that his time on the sidelines have made for tough watching as he outlined his desire to tour with the Lions next year.
The young second-row, who has captained both club and country in recent seasons, has been out since the start of the campaign after undergoing shoulder and knee surgery.
Having returned a couple of weeks ago against Toulouse, Jenkins admitted that this had been a testing start to the season - being absent as both Exeter and Wales struggled on the pitch.
"It's been hard, both physically and mentally," Jenkins told the Rugby Paper. "When the boys are losing and you can't really do much about it, you kind of feel a bit helpless. Equally, when you're in the gym on your own in those early mornings or late nights, it can definitely get frustrating for sure.
"What gets you through, however, is that all the hard work and effort you put in does pay off when you get back out on the pitch. Having someone like Sladey (Henry Slade) alongside you, he's so professional in what he does, it does drive you on.
And on the subject of touring with the Lions, the 22-year-old said it was on his radar.
"Yes, 100 per cent," he said. "Anyone who says they're not interested would be lying.
"For me, it's definitely on the radar, but I know I've got to do a lot more to be on that tour than I've done previously. It's an aim for sure, but I've got a long way to go."
Franco Smith urges Glasgow to bounce back from Edinburgh defeat
By Anthony Brown, PA
Franco Smith has challenged Glasgow to use Saturday’s 10-7 defeat by Edinburgh as fuel for another strong finish to the season.
As was the case a year previously, Warriors claimed the 1872 Cup despite losing the second leg at Murrayfield.
Last term Glasgow bounced back strongly and went on to claim the United Rugby Championship title in June, and head coach Smith – whose side won the inter-city contest 40-24 on aggregate – expects a similarly strong response this time.
“I want to win everything every day,” said Smith, reflecting on his team’s third URC defeat of the season. “But we’ve lost by one point, three points and four points in this competition, which is tight.
“This time the compliment was with Edinburgh, not necessarily with us not doing what we did. I just think they had answers for all the questions.
“So last year the same thing happened (losing the Murrayfield leg) and it motivated and slingshotted us very well into the 2024 season. So hopefully that is the attitude we’ll take from this loss.”
Glasgow have a week off before returning to action against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup on Friday January 10, when several injured players are due back in contention.
“The players need to get out of the building for a bit,” said Smith. “We’ve been on it and 23 to 24 players have been involved with Scotland over the November period, which makes it non-stop.
“We’re back in with the two European Cup games and then it’s the Six Nations on top of that, so it’s important for them to have this break and reset a little bit.
“There are a lot of players coming back who will be available.”
Pierre Schoeman popped up with the decisive try for Edinburgh after Glasgow edged themselves in front with a 69th minute penalty try, with the hosts having led 3-0 until that point.
