Welsh rugby's winners and losers as star puts down real marker and embarrassing situation unfolds

It was the most successful weekend for Wales' four professional clubs since March 2021 with Cardiff, Ospreys and Scarlets all tasting victory.

There was also plenty for Warren Gatland to be pleased about with a plethora of players putting in impressive performances ahead of joining up with the Wales squad this week. The Ospreys' hard-fought victory over Edinburgh, Cardiff's Lazarus-like comeback against Ulster and the Scarlets' comfortable win over Zebre were all positives.

But it was a tough weekend for the Dragons who suffered a heavy defeat in Galway against Connacht. There was also plenty of Welsh interest across the Severn Bridge.

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Here are this week's winners and losers...

Winners

Eddie James

The 22-year-old was outstanding for the Scarlets on Friday night and was named the official player of the match in their 30-8 victory over Zebre in Llanelli. James put down a real marker ahead of joining up with the Wales squad today and is surely a serious contender to wear the number 12 shirt against Fiji.

The Carmarthen product gave the Scarlets some front-foot ball with his carrying and footwork but more than anything it was his distribution which caught the eye. It was James' beautiful, well-timed pass which sent his centre partner Macs Page exploding through the line for a decisive try.

According to Opta Stats James has assisted at least one line break in four of his five matches this season. At 6ft 4in and 110kg, James has the size and the power to make significant post-contact metres.

But his footballing skills are not given enough credit with James, who played outside-half at age-grade level, able to put those around him into space. Could be a key player for Wales moving forward.

Iwan Stephens

The performance of the weekend arguably goes to Cardiff's Iwan Stephens who was instrumental in the Welsh club overturning a 19-point half-time deficit to claim a stunning 21-19 victory over Ulster at the Arms Park. Stephens has shown flashes of his potential since arriving in Wales from Newcastle Falcons in the summer but this was his best performance for Cardiff to date and he was rightly named player of the match.

The 22-year-old's remarkable acrobatic finish at the corner defied gravity and if ever a try deserved to win a rugby match it was this one. But it wasn't just his attacking prowess and finishing touch which earnt the former England U20s wing the player-of-the-match award.

Stephens' work rate was very good, he put pressure on Ulster in the air while he also put in some crucial tackles. The summer signing is an example of some shrewd recruitment by Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt.

Jac Morgan

Nothing would have pleased Gatland more this weekend than the performance of Wales openside Jac Morgan, who was nothing short of totemic in the Ospreys' hard-fought 22-13 victory over Edinburgh in Bridgend. Morgan played like a man possessed, putting in 18 tackles, 13 carries while also winning three turnovers.

The 24-year-old has not played for Wales in a year due to injury and Gatland will be delighted to have Morgan back in his backrow next month. “He is an incredible player, he leads by example," said Ospreys head coach Toby Booth. "You saw from the get-go, he was driving people backwards in the collisions, ball-carrying relentlessly, getting off the floor. He is a special player.”

Wales have missed Morgan's all-round excellence but especially his physicality and his ability to make post-contact metres.

Jarrod Evans

It's easy to forget Evans is still eligible for Wales despite having fewer than 25 caps while also plying his trade the other side of the Severn Bridge, but the 28-year-old played a key role in Harlequins' comfortable 36-19 victory over Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park on Sunday. Evans controlled the game well with his passing game and peripheral vision putting his team-mates into space, while he also kicked 11 points from the kicking tee.

The former Cardiff playmaker has largely been Marcus Smith's understudy since joining Harlequins but has impressed whenever he has played. Wales aren't exactly stacked with options at outside-half and they could do a lot worse than keep a close eye on Evans' form moving forward.

Losers

Dragons RFC

It was a miserable night for the Dragons in Galway on Saturday as they shipped 31 points and five tries. The season started so well for the Men of Gwent who snatched victory from the jaws of defeat against the Ospreys on the opening weekend of the season, while they pushed both the Sharks and the Lions close.

It's just one win in five games for the Dragons this term and despite some promising performances it really is a case of same old. Head coach Dai Flanagan will be under pressure to turn things around and he hasn't been helped by a significant injury list.

It goes without saying they need to do better in the second block of fixtures.

WRU's cup competitions

It was cup weekend in the community game yet 20 fixtures did not go ahead leading to walk over victories. Clubs not being able to fulfil fixtures in the community game is nothing new but 20 cup fixtures on the same weekend not going ahead is embarrassing.

The likes of Newport HSOB, Crynant, Cardiff Saracens, Swansea Uplands, Nantgaredig and Dunvant, among others, were not able to fulfil their cup ties. It is very difficult to come up with a solution but the cup competitions have already turned into a farce with only two rounds played to date.

Something needs to be done about it.

Exeter's Welsh contingent

Exeter's Welsh contingent weren't involved on Sunday but nevertheless this has been a dire first block of the season for the former English champions. Rob Baxter's side got comfortably beaten 36-19 at home by Harlequins on Sunday in what was their sixth consecutive loss.

This is their longest-ever losing run and it is hardly ideal for Wales given the likes of Christ Tshiunza and injured Welsh second-row Dafydd Jenkins are at the club. They also have the likes of Dan John, Joe Hawkins, Kane James and Iwan Jenkins on their books along with Welsh-qualified centre Zack Wimbush.

They are only one place off the bottom of the table and need to start winning soon.