There was plenty to cheer about from a Welsh rugby perspective this weekend

It was another compelling weekend of rugby, with the Ospreys’ return to a redeveloped St Helen’s arguably the standout story.

Their Welsh derby against the Dragons was a fiercely contested affair, while Cardiff and the Scarlets both came up short against South African opposition in the United Rugby Championship.

There was plenty to admire, but also some familiar concerns for Welsh rugby. Here are the weekend’s winners and losers.

Winners

Joe Roberts

Joe Roberts would have been licking his wounds after being left out of the Wales squad this week, but the Scarlets centre delivered a timely reminder to Steve Tandy of exactly what he can offer.

The Scarlets ultimately came up short in a hugely entertaining encounter in Cape Town, losing 52-40 to the Stormers, but Roberts was outstanding, crossing for a superb hat-trick of tries.

The 26-year-old was a constant threat in midfield, hitting strong angles to get over the gain-line and unsettle the Stormers defence. Four clean line breaks underlined his attacking threat, while his distribution was equally impressive in a performance that showcased the breadth of his game.

If Roberts can maintain this sort of form, he will have a compelling case for a return to the Wales reckoning ahead of the Six Nations. His response to international disappointment could hardly have been more emphatic.

There were also encouraging performances from teenage outside-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones and wing Ioan Jones, both of whom impressed in an entertaining contest despite the Scarlets’ defeat.

Ospreys

After months of painstaking work and amid persistent uncertainty over their future, the Ospreys have finally found a home at a redeveloped St Helen’s; a moment of real significance for the club and Welsh rugby.

Making it happen has required a considerable collective effort, with senior figures at the Ospreys, Y11 and Swansea Council deserving enormous credit for turning the prospect into reality.

The reward was an occasion to savour. More than 5,000 supporters packed into the famous old ground, generating an atmosphere that was as intimidating as it was evocative, and reminding everyone of the enduring appeal of rugby in Swansea.

On the pitch, Mark Jones’s side ensured the celebrations had a fitting conclusion, completing the double over the Dragons with a convincing 31-14 victory.

The Ospreys were forced to absorb considerable pressure at times, but when it mattered, their forward power proved decisive.

The Dragons had no answer to the physicality and authority of the home side’s pack, leaving the Ospreys to mark their return to St Helen’s with a result to match the occasion.

Reuben Morgan-Williams

The Ospreys scrum-half was a thoroughly deserved recipient of the player of the match award after an outstanding all-round display at St Helen’s.

Morgan-Williams dictated the tempo well, kicking with precision and offering a constant threat around the fringes. His performance was capped by two tries, underlining the attacking instinct that made him such a pivotal figure in the Ospreys’ victory.

The 28-year-old was named in Steve Tandy’s Wales squad this week, and his timing could hardly be better. With Ospreys team-mate Kieran Hardy currently sidelined through injury, Morgan-Williams has put himself firmly in contention for a place in the matchday 23 for next month’s internationals.

Tomos Williams looks certain to start at scrum-half, but with uncapped Dragons No. 9 Che Hope the other specialist in the squad, Morgan-Williams has a genuine opportunity to feature prominently this autumn.

His display at St Helen’s was a timely reminder of his credentials and a compelling argument for greater involvement on the international stage.

Jac Morgan and Freddie Thomas

Gloucester head coach George Skivington and the English punditry fraternity have been running out of superlatives to describe Jac Morgan since the Wales flanker crossed the Severn Bridge.

The 26-year-old was once again outstanding in Gloucester’s statement 23-5 victory over Bath in Friday night’s West Country derby at Kingsholm, delivering the sort of performance that underlines his standing among the game’s elite back-row forwards.

Morgan was a colossus from start to finish, making 20 tackles without a single miss. He added 12 carries, two line breaks and a crucial turnover at the breakdown in what was a tremendous all-round display.

His Gloucester team-mate Freddie Thomas was also impressive, providing Steve Tandy with a timely reminder of his qualities in the very week he was omitted from the Wales squad.

The 24-year-old produced an all-action performance, making 18 tackles and carrying 18 times, while he also claimed a decisive try.

For Thomas, it was a compelling response to his international omission. For Morgan, it was another emphatic demonstration of why his performances in England are attracting such widespread acclaim.

Losers

Curtis Gregory

It has been a long time since rugby witnessed an act of such needless violence as the incident that marred Ebbw Vale’s victory over Llandovery at Church Bank on Thursday night.

During the first half of the Super Rygbi Cymru encounter, Ebbw Vale’s Curtis Gregory was shown a straight red card for a stamp on Llandovery’s Joe Powell, an incident that left viewers appalled by its sheer ferocity.

With a ruck formed, Powell briefly held Gregory’s leg. What followed was entirely disproportionate. Gregory stamped down with considerable force on Powell’s outstretched limb, in an act that had no place on a rugby field.

Thankfully, Powell appeared to escape without any obvious injury and was quickly back on his feet, making his anger clear by shoving Gregory backwards.

There can be no justification for such conduct. Stamping with that degree of force carries the potential to cause serious injury, and Powell was fortunate to escape seemingly unscathed.

Gregory’s dismissal was inevitable, but a red card alone cannot reflect the gravity of the offence. The disciplinary authorities must now take a firm view of an incident that could have had far more serious consequences. A lengthy ban would be entirely warranted.

Cardiff lineout

Cardiff’s lineout problems against Northampton Saints in the Investec Champions Cup last Sunday followed them into the URC, with another below-par performance in that area proving costly against the Sharks.

The Welsh club had the South African side on the ropes during the early stages of the second half, but the Sharks’ formidable bench and considerable physical power ultimately helped them secure victory.

Yet Cardiff’s struggles at the lineout remained a glaring concern, with the hosts managing a success rate of just 56 per cent on their own throw.

That is simply not good enough at this level, particularly for a side looking to build pressure and convert promising positions into points.

The lineout is an area that must be addressed urgently. Cardiff have shown they can compete with quality opposition, but unless they find greater consistency at the set-piece, their ability to turn competitive performances into victories will continue to be undermined.

Scarlets scrum

The Scarlets gave an encouraging account of themselves against formidable opposition in Cape Town, scoring 40 points against the Stormers and demonstrating that they possess the attacking firepower to trouble any side.

Yet their defeat also exposed a familiar weakness, with the scrum remaining a significant concern.

Nigel Davies’s side were handed a reprieve late in the game when the contest switched to uncontested scrums, but until that point both Kemsley Mathias and Harri O'Connor were going backwards.

The absence of Australian tighthead Archer Holz has been keenly felt, while the Achilles injury suffered by new signing Chris Apoua, which ended his Scarlets career before he had even made an appearance, has compounded their problems.

Davies revealed at last week’s press conference that the club were exploring options in the market as they look to strengthen at tighthead. It is an area that clearly requires attention if the Scarlets are to turn their attacking promise into more consistent results.

Addressing those scrum deficiencies could significantly elevate the side’s performances. The return of Wales loosehead Corey Domachowski and the availability of new second-row signing Tom Allen should also provide a timely boost to the forward pack.

The Scarlets have shown they can hurt opponents with ball in hand. The challenge now is to build a more reliable platform up front, because until the scrum improves, their attacking potential will continue to be undermined by a glaring weakness.