Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, February 19.
Prop will get Wales star’s backing
Ospreys prop Tom Botha has been given an enormous seal of approval by Wales star Gareth Anscombe. The South African-born tighthead is now eligible for Wales on residency grounds and was as soon as once more a formidable scrummaging drive for the Welsh area towards Ulster on Sunday.
It comes as Warren Gatland is anticipated to name up a brand new tighthead into the Welsh squad at present after watching weekend performances, following accidents to Archie Griffin and Leon Brown. The Wales coach is more likely to flip to a teen comparable to Scarlets man Harri O’Connor fairly than the 33-year-old Botha, however he might show to be a great short-term possibility if that is the best way the coaches resolve to go.
Botha signed for the Ospreys again in 2018 and would welcome a name from Wales.
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Anscombe, working as a co-commentator on Viaplay, mentioned: “I’ve been fortunate sufficient to play with a number of nice tightheads in my time. In phrases of scrummaging capacity, I do not assume I’ve ever come throughout anybody who will get extra penalties or rewards out of scrum time.
“He is outstanding at scrum time. You speak to him about and he will get excited. He actually loves it. He’s not essentially the most cell across the discipline, however not a lot of them are, however he is distinctive at scrum time. He’s somebody the Ospreys build their recreation upon.”
Coach Toby Booth added after the Ulster win: “If you need set-piece to be distinguished your recreation, Tom Botha is clearly an possibility. They [the Wales coaches] know the way they need to play and what they need in sure positions. I believe as South Africa have proven, you’ll be able to win worldwide tournaments from set-piece.”
Welsh dressing room ‘like a battle zone’
The Dragons are counting the cost of their “unacceptable” drubbing by the hands of Glasgow on Saturday night time, with coach Dai Flanagan describing the dressing room as a battle zone.
Wales squad member Cai Evans, who had been launched to play for his area this weekend, limped off early within the match. The Welsh facet conceded two tries within the opening 4 minutes to make life almost unattainable for themselves.
Flanagan mentioned: “We gave two straightforward tries for Glasgow at the beginning. We had three males involved and their man popped out of the facet.
“It’s not acceptable the primary play of the match. We must be hitting them and placing them on the deck. Our altering room is sort of a battle zone and for some intervals it was like males versus youngsters. We’ve received to enhance them fast.
“We’ve additionally received to stay with this young group going ahead as a result of it’s not going to alter anytime quickly, and we’ve received to get higher.”
“It was bitterly disappointing,” he added. “We had an skilled beginning staff and to concede 14 factors so fast was powerful.
“We’ve received a number of concussions, we’ve received useless legs, we’ve received a torn pec, shoulder concern.
“It’s a brutal changing room, but that is the game. It’s physical and we’ve got to catch-up quick.”
England endure blow
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
England’s prospects of reclaiming the Calcutta Cup from Scotland have been dealt a blow after scrum-half Alex Mitchell was dominated out of the Murrayfield showdown with a knee drawback.
The Rugby Football Union confirmed that Mitchell will miss the pivotal Guinness Six Nations spherical three recreation due to an harm that requires additional investigation earlier than a date for his return may be set.
Harry Randall has been named because the alternative in Steve Borthwick’s 36-man coaching squad with Danny Care and Ben Spencer competing to fill the void within the quantity 9 jersey in Edinburgh.
McFarland pleased with gamers
Ulster head coach Dan McFarland says he was pleased with his gamers’ efforts regardless of defeat on the Swansea.com Stadium on Sunday.
It was Ulster’s third consecutive loss in all competitions and leaves them preventing for the play-offs.
“I’m really proud of the effort the lads put in out there, I thought we were high energy, a lot of our defence was really excellent and, apart from the intercept try, we never gave them a chance of scoring a try,” mentioned McFarland. “We knew it was going to be tough coming over right here, they’ve a really specific recreation round kick chase, they attempt to pin you in your half and I assumed the best way the lads went about combating that was good.
“On the opposite facet of the coin, I assumed we have been inaccurate, significantly, in that first half once we let a lot of alternatives move us by.
“As a end result, that gave them a bit of little bit of a foothold to get some penalties however on the finish of the day we have been nicely within the recreation, nicely in management however two moments in that final quarter.
“On 64 minutes, we’re of their 22 and so they get an intercept attempt from 85 metres out after which the ultimate passage of play we’re in management with 4 minutes to go together with a maul going ahead of their third and the referee someway says we now have performed one thing mistaken, which I’ve actually no thought what he’s speaking about or how he has made that call.
“They ended up down the field as a result of that, so after all the effort we put in there and to have it taken away and lose it in those couple of instances there is disappointing.”
