These are your rugby headlines on Thursday,
Phillips brands Scotland 'arrogant'
Former Welsh international Mike Phillips has branded Scotland as "arrogant" ahead of Wales' visit to Murrayfield this weekend.
Saturday's hosts have held bragging rights in this fixture for the last two years, with the two sides' last meeting in Edinburgh seeing the Scots thump Wales 35-7.
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But having been tipped as dark horses prior to this year's Six Nations, Scotland have underwhelmed in the campaign so far, with losses to Ireland and England leaving them with a sole victory against Italy.
With a revived Wales side hoping to spring a surprise against Gregor Townsend's side this weekend, Phillips has upped the ante somewhat by suggesting the opposition - who remain trophyless in the Championship - have got a little too big for their boots.
"It just annoys me, every year for 20 odd years, they're going to win it," the former scrum-half told RugbyJoe. "I just think there's a lot of arrogance there. If they just played it cool...
"Of course, they've improved and they were unlucky against England. They've improved for years now but it's all about winning," he added. "Until they win even a Triple Crown or something... they come across as a bit arrogant to me."
Faletau not ready for retirement
Wales legend Taulupe Faletau says he never thought about walking away from rugby despite a frustrating double injury setback seeing him embark on a long road back to full fitness.
After breaking his arm against Georgia during the 2023 Rugby World Cup, the powerful back rower fractured his shoulder when he returned to action for Cardiff in April last year. A long spell on the sidelines meant he had played just four games since his arm break before he was named in Wales' Six Nations squad but he is now looking to keep proving his value to Matt Sherratt's side.
"It’s been good," he said of his return to camp. "The last game was fun to be a part of. At the start of January time, I didn’t think I’d be here. So, to be here is nice. You just have to keep rolling, crack on, and just hope things come good.
Asked if he had ever thought of retirement during his injury struggles, Faletau replied: "No, no. Just doing the rehab, the body felt good so it was a case of getting the injury right itself. It’s been fine, alright.
"It’s the body. Like I said, through the rehab it felt pretty good. I just had to let the injury itself heal and that took a little bit longer than expected. Other than that, I feel alright."
The 34-year-old is set to win his 107th cap against Scotland this weekend and admits he has not given up hope of going on a fourth British & Irish Lions tour this summer.
"I'd be lying if I said ‘no’ about that," he said when asked about his Lions ambitions. "But the main aim is to get back on the pitch. And once you're on there, all you can do is play your best and everything else will come and go as it will."
Scotland out to 'right wrongs' against Wales
Scotland prop Zander Fagerson says his side are determined to "right their wrongs" and end their Six Nations campaign with back-to-back wins.
Gregor Townsend's side have struggled to live up to pre-tournament expectations, with one win from three games all but extinguishing their hopes of winning a first Championship title.
There was much frustration amongst the Scottish ranks last time out as they fell to a narrow 16-15 defeat to England in controversial circumstances - and tighthead Fagerson says he and his teammates must harness that to win their final games against Wales and France.
“We were all pretty gutted after the [England] game,” he said. “We were close. The boys put in a good shift, but it’s just that one percent, that five percent in international rugby, it’s all about the small margins.
“But we’ve had that week to regroup. This competition, it comes so thick and fast that you can’t rest on your last performance, so it’s all about making sure we just right our wrongs and go out there and win these last two games.
“That’s the goal going forward, going out there and putting in performances that Scotland, and we ourselves as players, can be proud of.”
On facing Wales, the 29-year-old said: “The Welsh have always been a really passionate team. They’re really proud to play for their country and they’ve got some dangerous players, so you can’t be underestimating them at all.
"It doesn’t matter what’s happened with the last results. On their day, they’re a very dangerous team, so we’re preparing to the best of our ability to make sure we go out there and try and nullify their threats.
"They’ve got some dangerous backs and they’ve got a good forward pack as well," he added. "So it’s going to be a tough game.”
Wales international commits future
Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams has committed his future to the region by signing a new contract.
The 31-year-old joined the club from Bristol Bears in 2018 and has become an integral player at Rodney Parade, making 123 appearances and captaining the club during the 2020/21 and 2021/22 campaigns.
Williams' fine form this season saw him recalled by Wales during the autumn and he won his fourth cap against Australia, 10 years since his last international appearance. He is currently part of Wales' Six Nations squad and has featured off the bench against France and Italy so far this campaign.
”Rhodri’s been great to work with and is a knowledgeable and talented player," said Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia. “It’s an inspirational story with how he’s performed and got back in the national side this season after a decade out.
“He’s worked so hard and been really focussed on what he wanted to achieve, and that’s a great lesson for those around him. Rhodri is a very important player in our squad, so it’s good news that he’s agreed new terms and is back in the building with us for the coming seasons.”
Meanwhile, Williams said: “I’ve enjoyed my time at Dragons, am very proud to have made over a hundred appearances for the club and I’m really invested in the future here.
“We’ve not had the season we all wanted, but everyone at the club is working hard and as a group of players we’re fully focussed on changing our on-field fortunes. I still have aspirations in the game and want to play a leading role in the coming seasons as we look to bring success for the dedicated fans at Rodney Parade.”
The scrum-half is the latest Dragons player to agree a new contract, following renewals for captain Ben Carter, Elliot Dee, Aneurin Owen and Harrison Keddie.
