Tonight's rugby news as new signing hurt, Faletau problem emerges and English destroyed
Your rugby evening headlines on Saturday, January 11.
Injury concern for Warren Gatland
Wales star Regan Grace sustained an injury while making his debut for Cardiff Rugby, whilst it's been confirmed Taulupe Faletau missed out due to a knock.
After arriving from Bath earlier in the week, Grace started on the wing against Perpignan, but unfortunately his first game in blue and black was cut short due to a head injury.
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Speaking on the injury situation, head coach Matt Sherratt confirmed that Wales internationals Thomas Young, Corey Domachowski and Faletau all picked up knocks during the run up to their European defeat.
"It was a tough week," said Sherratt to the press afterwards. "We had Corey Domachowski, Thomas Young and Taulupe Faletau drop out with knocks and then we picked up a fair few knocks today, so it is testing our squad depth."
Cardiff were defeated 23-20 by their Top 14 opponents away from home, with Rey Lee-Lo and Johan Mulder getting on the score sheet for the Welsh region. Despite their defeat, Sherratt is content with the bonus point. You can read the match report here.
"We're pleased to come away with another point from France but disappointed because it's a game we could have won," explained the boss. "We had enough chances in their 22 and moments where we just couldn't get over the line that we could have avoided leaving it until the final few minutes to try and win.
The Wales squad will be announced in two days' time.
English clubs thumped
Exeter Chiefs were destroyed in front of their own fans as they conceded 11 tries in a 69-17 home defeat against Bordeaux.
It was a humbling day for the English side, led by Wales man Dafydd Jenkins, as they were ripped to shreds time and again by the rampaging French outfit.
Chiefs need a landslide bonus-point win in their final pool fixture against Ulster to have any chance of reaching the last 16, but an early exit still beckons because of their poor points difference.
A month after they shipped 64 points on home soil at the hands of tournament favourites Toulouse, the Chiefs were handed another lesson.
It was Exeter’s 12th defeat from 13 Premiership and Champions Cup starts this term, and the most points they have conceded at home since gaining top-flight status in 2010.
Premiership club Sale Sharks were also nilled in a 40-0 thumping by DHL Stormers. Taking on the United Rugby Championship side in Cape Town, Sharks were actually dominating the territory in the first half, with neither side breaking the deadlock until the first quarter had passed. From there, Stormers went on to score six tries, whilst Sharks misfired in attack.
Welsh team beaten 48-0
Welsh team Brython Thunder were beaten 48-0 by Wolfhounds on Saturday.
The Irish outfit ran in eight tries against their opposition at Parc Y Scarlets, solidifying their challenge to retain the Celtic Challenge title.
Wolfhounds secured their bonus point in the first half, putting in a dominant performance. Thunder showed glimpses of improving towards the end of the first 40, but weren't able to penetrate the Wolfhounds defence effectively.
The closest Thunder came to scoring was through Eleanor Hing, following a line break from Hannah Bluck. However, the ball was turned over by Wolfhounds, cancelling out the danger.
Edinburgh all but book place in last 16
Edinburgh moved to the brink of booking their place in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup as they claimed a 29-25 bonus point win over Vannes in Brittany.
The Scottish side had to withstand a second half scare before a try from Duhan van der Merwe and Ross Thompson’s penalty sealed only their second away win in 11 months.
Early tries from Wes Goosen and Ali Price put the visitors in command but they could not put away their dogged opponents despite Price adding a second before half-time.
Vannes nudged in front early in the second half but Edinburgh regained control when Thompson sent the unmarked van der Merwe over on the wing, and Thompson himself kicked the crucial penalty to edge his side home.
Cardiff salvaged a losing bonus point as they fell to a narrow 23-20 defeat at Perpignan.
Johan Mulder’s late effort earned some consolation for the visitors who started the day third in Pool One, and still harbour hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages.
Cardiff, for whom Regan Grace managed an hour on his debut, battled well in the early stages as the two sides exchanged penalties before Tommaso Allan crossed and converted to give Perpignan the interval lead.
Rey Lee-Lo pulled the Welsh side level but a penalty from Allan and further tries from Tavite Veredamu and Lucas Velarte put the game beyond the visitors.
