Du Preez makes international return in Dublin

Warriors’ number eight Cornell du Preez made his international return after a two-year absence in Scotland’s 19-12 defeat by Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in their Guinness Six Nations opener on Saturday.

Du Preez won his seventh cap, but his first since he joined Warriors from Edinburgh in the summer of 2018, as a 72nd minute replacement.

Scotland were only four points down at that stage but Jonny Sexton immediately kicked a penalty to stretch Ireland’s lead and although du Preez carried strongly in the closing stages Scotland could not breach a solid defence.

Du Preez’s international return came just 17 months after he suffered a fractured larynx on his Warriors debut against Wasps at Sixways.

Meanwhile Warriors’ fly-half Luke Scully made his Wales Under-20s debut in the 17-7 defeat by Italy in the Under-20s Six Nations opener at the Zipworld Stadium in Colwyn Bay on Friday.

Scully missed the chance to play in last season’s Six Nations because of injury but got his first cap against Italy when he came on as a 75th minute replacement for Leicester’s Sam Costelow.

Costelow scored all of Wales’ points with an early try which he also converted but Italy hit back with a try from Matteo Drudi and four penalties from Paolo Garbisi.

Scully, who is in his second year on the Three Pears Warriors Academy, has been in sparkling form for Cavaliers in the Premiership Rugby Shield this season but Italy had already opened up a ten points lead before Wales brought him on.

In the Women’s Six Nations, Warriors had five players in action for Wales yesterday as they came up short against last season’s runners-up Italy in Cardiff. Jasmine Joyce, Gwen Crabb and Alex Callender all started, while Alisha Butchers and Ffion Lewis were among the replacements as Wales were edged out 19-15 by a resilient Italian outfit.

Triumphing by three tries to two, Italy were forced to defend for their lives in the closing stages of the contest as Wales looked to snatch victory at the death. The visitors also had three tries chalked off following TMO interventions, which could have made the afternoon more comfortable for the Azzurri.

Picking up a losing bonus point, Wales now turn their attention to Ireland who they take on in Donnybrook on Sunday (kick-off 1pm).

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