Tonight's rugby news as Jiffy sets Wales bar and Anscombe provides Gatland answer

Here are your rugby evening headlines for Sunday, October 27.

Jiffy sets bar for autumn

Wales legend Jonathan Davies has set the bar for this autumn's campaign, saying Warren Gatland's side should win two of their three matches.

Wales take on Fiji, Australia and world champions South Africa next month as they go in search of a first Test win of 2024.

And Davies believes winning the first two would constitute a good autumn as he hailed a strong weekend for the Welsh sides in the United Rugby Championship.

Posting on X, the dual-code icon said: "Great weekend for Ospreys, Scarlets and Cardiff. Especially Cardiff, what a comeback. Shame now on a break when they're getting some momentum and a better support. Hopefully Wales will build on it with the autumn Tests."

He then added: "2 wins from 3 games would be a good autumn return. (Fiji & Australia)."

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Anscombe hands Gatland answer to concerns

Gareth Anscombe handed Gatland some timely answers about his goal-kicking with three conversions for Gloucester in their win over Newcastle Falcons.

Just over a year since Anscombe last kicked in any competitive match, having suffered a groin injury warming up against Georgia in last year's World Cup, the fly-half finally assumed the kicking duties for new club Gloucester this weekend.

Having not kicked at all for the Cherry and Whites this season, with his injury having been sustained while practising kicks at goal, he finally had a go from the tee - landing three out of four conversions as the Kingsholm side got back to winning ways.

The sight of Anscombe kicking at goal will come as a boost to Gatland, after the Wales coach admitted they would need to see how his kicking was amid fears over a recurrence of his injury.

"He’s not goal-kicking at the moment so we need to see where he’s at in terms of his kicking and how much he's done," said Gatland on Monday. "Gloucester have a couple of good goal-kickers.

"He's a good goal-kicker but he had that problem with his groin for a long time which kept him out. We discussed goal-kicking this morning. With Sam (Costelow) and then Ben Thomas, making sure he gets a volume of kicks.

"I spoke to Matt Sherratt in the last hour about how much he'd done. It's important he gets up to speed and those players will be working hard. It's just about seeing where Gareth is at this stage."

Cheika not getting carried away by Leicester’s impressive start

By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent

Michael Cheika refused to celebrate Leicester’s impressive start to the Gallagher Premiership season that continued with a 32-29 victory over Saracens.

The Tigers recorded their first win at StoneX Stadium for six years to enter the break for autumn internationals second in the table, having lost only one of their six matches.

Former Australia head coach Cheika has orchestrated a club revival and Leicester’s resolve was evident in north London where they withstood a final-quarter fightback from Saracens to edge over the line.

“You don’t get a trophy for second. You don’t get trophies six weeks in and second in the table,” Cheika said.

“I’m happy with the team, the connection in the dressing room, the commitment of the lads and the ability to get over hurdles. If that converts into the scoreboard and the table, then great.

“It was a good battle against Saracens. I liked the physicality in the game. We won some battles, lost some others.

“I like the way that, even when the momentum swung back against us, we put our flag in the ground and said we’re not moving from here, we’re going to win the game.

“We’re enjoying our climb and the journey together. When things don’t go our way I want the guys to get big.

“We’re getting better, but you’ve always got to keep it real, take it from week to week and let the bigger picture take care of itself.”