Welsh rugby: Talking points as regions return to Europe

Ospreys are the first Welsh team in action in the second round of the Challenge Cup and head coach Toby Booth has a dilemma.

Does he pick his key players for the Pool 2 trip to Montpellier – expected to be at full strength – with the west Wales derby against Scarlets just six days later?

Booth said: “We can’t afford to be strategic. It will be about having fit soldiers and off we go.

“In this competition, even in its original format, you look to win your home games and pick one up on the road and you were pretty much there [in the knockout stages]. We will try and take care of business next weekend, go as strong as we can.”

It would not have been lost on fans that two former Scarlets helped Ospreys beat Lions 30-14 in familiar surroundings in Llanelli on Sunday after the venue was switched due to Storm Darragh.

Kieran Hardy grabbed his first try since joining last summer while captain Jac Morgan, who started his career at Scarlets, also scored in another player of the match performance.

“Jac was unbelievable. Here is a guy who is committed and has world-class attributes and that is a great combination,” raved Booth.

Ospreys enjoyed Champions Cup success two years ago at Yves du Manoir Stadium before suffering a 38-5 Challenge Cup defeat there 12 months ago.