Flash Harri adds bite to Ospreys as forgotten midfield maestro gives Tandy a reminder

AFTER weeks of off-field politics, the season finally began with on-field action as the United Rugby Championship got under way.

- STEFFAN THOMAS

Alun Lawrence takes on the Lions defence Ebbw Vale's Ieuan Morris

Cardiff beat the Lions at the Arms Park, but that was the only Welsh victory on the opening weekend of the season.

The Dragons went down to Ulster in Belfast on Friday night, before the Ospreys and Scarlets lost to the Bulls and Munster respectively.

There was also Welsh interest elsewhere, with the Gallagher Prem kicking off.

With all that in mind, here are this weekend's winners and losers...

WINNERS

HARRI DEAVES

"An absolute dog of a player" is how former Wales wing Shane Williams described Deaves following his performance against the Bulls in Pretoria.

The Ospreys back-rower wasn't perfect in the 53-40 defeat, with his discipline faltering at times in the second half. But that's just a reflection of his all-action persona on the field.

The 24-year-old Pontyclun product was into everything, setting up Jack Walsh's score after charging along the left wing.

As the Ospreys begin life without Justin Tipuric as a player, they at least have a man in a yellow scrum-cap to replace the fella in the blue one.

ALUN LAWRENCE

Cardiff may be unlikely to see Wales No. 8 Taulupe Faletau back in action for a few more weeks as he recovers from a calf injury, but that blow is softened significantly by one of last season's standout players picking up where he left off.

It had been a chaotic week at the Arms Park following Matt Sherratt's departure, but it was business as usual for Alun Lawrence.