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Mark Jones and his Ospreys coaches are feeling the heat(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
It was the final weekend of domestic rugby before Wales return to Nations Championship action against Japan this Saturday, with plenty of talking points across the club game.
In the United Rugby Championship, Cardiff produced a stunning 26-0 victory over the Ospreys, the Dragons secured a comfortable win against Zebre, while the Scarlets came up short against the Bulls in South Africa.
There was also plenty of Welsh interest in the Gallagher Premiership, with several players looking to make their mark.
But who impressed, who disappointed and which players gave Wales head coach Steve Tandy something to think about?
Here are our winners and losers from the weekend.
Cracknell was at the heart of Leicester Tigers' crucial 22-16 victory over Bristol Bears on Friday night, a result that lifted the East Midlands club to the top of the Gallagher Premiership.
There was little in the way of champagne rugby from Leicester, but this was a victory built on physicality, forward dominance and hard work in the tight exchanges.
Cracknell embodied those qualities, producing an industrious display that proved central to his side's success.
The 32-year-old, who was overlooked by Steve Tandy for Wales' squad this month, made more carries than any other Leicester player, completing 13 and consistently getting over the gainline.
He also topped the Tigers' tackle count with 12, underlining his contribution at both ends of the game. It was a performance that offered a timely reminder of his qualities and gave Wales head coach Tandy plenty to think about.
Olly Cracknell carries the ball for Leicester Tigers(Image: Getty Images)
Steffan Emanuel underlined his growing credentials as a future Wales international with an outstanding display in Cardiff’s emphatic 26-0 victory over the Ospreys at St Helen’s.
The 20-year-old collected the official player of the match award after putting in a hugely influential performance, combining powerful carrying, intelligent distribution and an impressive physical presence on both sides of the ball.
Tom Bowen of Cardiff Rugby dives in to score his second try(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Emanuel is firmly in the conversation for a place in Wales’ squad for next year’s Rugby World Cup and performances of this quality will only strengthen his claims.
But he was not the only Cardiff back to catch the eye.
Tom Bowen was equally instrumental in the victory, giving the Ospreys defence a torrid afternoon and crossing for two tries in an accomplished attacking display.
The Wales Under-20s wing showcased his blistering pace with his second score and was a constant threat whenever he had the ball, leaving the Ospreys struggling to contain him.
Bowen is another player who will surely come into Wales' thinking over the coming years, with his performances at club and age-grade level suggesting a bright future ahead.
The Dragons had to be patient before eventually securing a comfortable 35-14 victory over Zebre at Rodney Parade, with Fine Inisi and David Richards among those to make a particularly strong impression.
Richards opened the scoring with an excellent individual effort, showing good footwork to turn back inside before using his pace to finish.
The right wing remained a lively attacking presence, while outside centre Inisi proved an altogether more physical problem for the Italian visitors.
The powerful 28-year-old was a constant handful with ball in hand, regularly punching holes in the Zebre defence and making valuable post-contact metres to keep the Dragons moving forward. He also got his reward with a try of his own.
The Scarlets eventually succumbed to a heavy 54-26 defeat against the Bulls in Pretoria, but the scoreline was not entirely reflective of the contest.
The sides were level with 20 minutes remaining, while the understrength west Walians also returned home with a four-try bonus point.
There were, nevertheless, plenty of positives for the Scarlets to take from their South African tour, not least the emergence of 18-year-old outside-half Carwyn Leggatt-Jones.
The young playmaker started both matches against the Stormers and Bulls and enhanced his growing reputation with two assured performances.
It was easy to forget Leggatt-Jones is still a teenager given the composure and authority he brought to the position.
He showed an impressive understanding of when to take control, when to bring others into the game and how to manage the tempo, rarely looking flustered despite the considerable demands placed on him.
The Scarlets have now seen enough to know they have a number 10 capable of being trusted in the big games. For a player still only 18, that is a hugely encouraging prospect.
The Carmarthen youngster has a very exciting future ahead of him, at both club and international level.
A 26-0 home defeat to Cardiff was always likely to provoke a furious reaction from Ospreys supporters, and there has been no shortage of criticism in the aftermath.
A result of that magnitude is rarely down to one individual, with responsibility inevitably shared between players and coaches. But much of the anger on social media has been directed towards the coaching staff.
Head coach Mark Jones has come under fire, but it is attack coach Richard Fussell who has borne the brunt of the criticism.
Mark Jones and his Ospreys coaches have been the brunt of criticism from fans(Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)
The Ospreys have traditionally prided themselves on their set-piece, with their driving lineout a particularly potent weapon. Yet against Cardiff they looked blunt and unimaginative in attack, struggling to find ways through a well-organised defence and offering precious little threat with ball in hand.
The manner of the defeat will leave plenty of questions for Jones and his coaching team to answer, although they will have a month to reflect, regroup and address the shortcomings before the next block of URC fixtures.
It was a miserable afternoon for Pontypool, who suffered a heavy 49-19 defeat against RGC in North Wales on Saturday.
The famous Gwent club were second best for much of the contest as an impressive RGC side ran in seven tries to claim a convincing victory.
The result leaves Pontypool second from bottom of the Super Rygbi Cymru table, with the pressure mounting on the Gwent outfit to start winning games.
Louis Rees-Zammit was one of Bristol's brighter performers despite their home defeat to Leicester, with the Wales wing producing an excellent individual try in the opening stages.
But the 25-year-old also found himself on the wrong side of referee Luke Pearce after questioning one of his decisions following a scuffle between the two teams.
Pearce was in no mood to entertain the winger's complaints, with his stern response picked up by TNT Sports' pitchside microphones.
"I suggest you go away now," the referee told Rees-Zammit.
Luke Pearce tells Louis Rees-Zammit to "go away"(Image: TNT Sports)
He then turned his attention to another Bristol player, making his frustration with the Wales international abundantly clear.
"I'll happily talk to you, but this guy is being absolutely rude. Away."
Rees-Zammit appeared to mutter something under his breath as he walked away, bringing an uncomfortable exchange to an end.
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