Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, September 18.
‘No fear for Wales in Camp’
Wales’ Talupe Faletau says perception is rising throughout the Wales camp as they put together to tackle Australia in Sunday’s essential encounter.
The veteran No. 8 says he was impressed with the best way Portugal performed in opposition to them on the weekend, however that Wales are rising into this World Cup.
“We had been hoping to get a couple of extra tries on the board, that wasn’t the case, however we bought the 5 factors,” he stated.
“Portugal chucked the ball round and we had been chasing shadows at instances. They had been fairly good at it to be honest to them. We’re happy we bought 5 factors and may transfer on to the following couple of video games.
He added: “The extra I play, the higher I really feel and the extra I can get myself into the video games. With the work we’ve finished we’re very assured within the group of what we will do. That’s our strategy going ahead with every recreation – figuring out the work we’ve put in and backing that. The togetherness we’ve inbuilt that point collectively will put us in good stead.”
And he sees nothing to worry in Sunday’s opposition.
“I don’t suppose so. We’ve bought to focus on ourselves. With the time we’ve had collectively there may be undoubtedly perception throughout the group. In every recreation we imagine we will get a outcome in opposition to any group on the day. We’ll take confidence from the 2 wins however there may be undoubtedly lots to work on within the subsequent couple of days going into Australia.”
Springboks not ruling out 7-1 bench cut up for Ireland
Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus shouldn’t be ruling out using the controversial 7-1 bench cut up tactic when South Africa face Ireland within the Rugby World Cup on Saturday.
The defending world champions employed the tactic in a World Cup warm-up in opposition to New Zealand in August, when the ‘Boks gained 35-7, and it was not universally well-received, to say the least.
In most circumstances groups have a bench of 5 forwards and three backs. The solely stipulation relating to benches for worldwide matches is that groups a lot have a substitute front-row on the bench.
Former Australia participant Matt Williams, who has coached Leinster and Scotland, beforehand stated: “World Rugby ought to have seen this coming as a result of for years… What South Africa did the opposite day, I feel, is completely in opposition to the spirit of the sport, and positively completely in opposition to participant security.”
Now, Erasmus joked that he can’t get away with a bench stuffed with eight forwards and 0 backs.
“I do not suppose we will go eight-zero, that could be a bit excessive,” he instructed a Rugby World Cup press convention on Monday. “But seven-one is certainly an possibility.
“I feel there may be loads of groups doing loads of modern issues. We noticed Portugal who did the improbable front-of-lineout transfer, generally while you do stuff you did many years again folks see it as innovation however it’s just a few stuff you bear in mind labored method again.
“The 6-2 a few years again was new to folks and now loads of groups are doing 6-2. If you go 7-1 it’s a must to have gamers like Kwagga Smith, somebody that’s used to taking part in on the sevens degree in opposition to Fiji. Then once more, you will have guys like Johnny Sexton who can exploit it while you get an damage early within the recreation.”
Pollard not in line to face Ireland
By Ed Elliot, PA, Tours
Fly-half Handre Pollard is not going to be concerned in South Africa’s Rugby World Cup conflict with Ireland in Paris until his aspect undergo a late damage disaster. However, the reigning champions count on to have lock Eben Etzebeth available for Saturday night’s Pool B fixture at Stade de France.
Pollard was overlooked of the Springboks’ preliminary 33-man squad for the match attributable to a calf downside earlier than being referred to as up on Sunday instead of injured hooker Malcolm Marx. The 29-year-old – a key man in his nation’s victorious 2019 World Cup marketing campaign – returned from damage on Friday night as a second-half substitute in Leicester’s 18-14 Gallagher Premiership win at Sale.
Erasmus stated: “He will certainly not be chosen for this, aside from if we get two or three accidents. He’s solely simply joined us, he is simply performed his first minutes in 14, 15 weeks for Leicester on Friday.
“That was principally the preliminary cause why we could not convey him to the World Cup. It’s good to have him right here and now he should rise up to hurry with our depth of coaching periods, get via our coaching periods and slot in properly. We’ve solely performed two video games on this World Cup so I’m fairly certain someplace we’ll press on his button and use him however not this weekend.”
South Africa have begun their title defence with victories over Scotland and Romania.
Influential second row Etzebeth was compelled off by a shoulder damage in opposition to the Scots final Sunday however has made a swift restoration. “He reacted properly final week together with his return to coaching, so sure he might be in competition for this week,” forwards coach Deon Davids stated of the 31-year-old.
South Africa boss Erasmus has been linked with changing outgoing Irish Rugby Football Union efficiency director David Nucifora after the World Cup. However, the 50-year-old dismissed stories he’ll observe Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber, who is ready to interchange Stuart Lancaster in Leinster’s teaching employees, to Dublin.
“No, I will not be, there’s been no talks (with the IRFU) and there is no reality in that,” stated Erasmus. “I’m unsure the place it began, however I have never chatted to them and I’m undoubtedly not following Jacques.”
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Murray: Ireland squad in ‘unbelievable nick’ forward of Springboks conflict
By Ed Elliot, PA, Tours
Scrum-half Conor Murray feels Ireland’s squad are “buzzing” and in “unbelievable nick” forward of a pivotal Paris appointment with reigning world champions South Africa. Andy Farrell’s males have underlined their standing as Test rugby’s top-ranked nation by starting the World Cup with emphatic bonus-point successes over Romania and Tonga.
But their credentials might be really examined on Saturday night after they face the formidable Springboks at Stade de France in Pool B’s standout fixture. Ireland will assess hooker Dan Sheehan, back-rower Jack Conan (each foot) and prop Finlay Bealham (head damage evaluation) earlier than the go to to the French capital, with Murray excited for the step up in problem.
“We really feel nice,” stated the Munster participant. “Going again to the pre-season we had, it was nice. We really feel match. Most of the lads are in unbelievable nick. We have a few lads with knocks to return again and, after we get them, we might be completely buzzing.
“But we’re buzzing already. The thrilling factor is we wish to see the place we will take this group when the challenges get more durable and more durable. We are taking part in good rugby and have issues to work on as standard. The massive exams are to return however we really feel good, we’re able to go. You should embrace it. It’s going to be a large problem: world champions in a World Cup. It’s one thing actually thrilling.”
Murray began in opposition to Tonga in Nantes after backing up Jamison Gibson-Park from the bench within the Bordeaux opener in opposition to Romania. The 34-year-old might this weekend come up in opposition to provincial team-mate Jean Kleyn, who represented Ireland on the 2019 World Cup earlier than not too long ago switching allegiance to his native nation. Murray insists there aren’t any laborious emotions over that call however might be seeking to keep away from his towering former Test colleague on the sector.
“He has been an unbelievable servant to Munster, so that you’d want him all one of the best,” he stated of 30-year-old lock Kleyn. “Players make selections after they have alternatives and that is the best way the world is now. If I’m taking part in in opposition to him, I’ll simply attempt to keep away from him. He is a bodily man, he loves that type of keep on and he’s very, excellent at it, so, I’ll simply attempt to keep away from him and we’ll have a chat after.”
Scotland step up preparations for Tonga
By Anthony Brown, PA, Nice
Scotland are able to ramp up preparations for Tonga within the coming days after “a very good, productive week” of down time and recuperation combined with intense coaching periods since their opening World Cup match in opposition to South Africa. The Scots had been idle on the second weekend of the match after starting their marketing campaign with an 18-3 defeat by the defending champions in a gruelling showdown in Marseille on September 10.
The gamers got three days off with their households after that match and returned to the coaching pitch in Nice on Thursday earlier than enterprise additional periods on Friday and Sunday. The Scots’ common Test week routine successfully begins on Tuesday forward of subsequent Sunday’s assembly with Tonga, who misplaced 59-16 to Ireland of their opening match on Saturday.
“It’s been a very good, productive week,” stated Scotland’s power and conditioning coach Stuart Yule. “We had a while off after the sport to permit the gamers to recuperate, recuperate and spend a while with their households.
“We had time to get opinions finished after which we got here again into coaching on Thursday and had three good bodily periods (Thursday, Friday and Sunday) earlier than we got here again into the Test match week. It’s been a very good alternative to get some extra bodily work in as a result of it is a lengthy match and it is essential we retain our health via this era.”
With a full fortnight between their first two video games on the World Cup, Yule defined that the Scots needed to discover the appropriate steadiness between down time and protecting the gamers in prime situation.
“It’s an extended match, however I feel it was a possibility that we have had and we have taken to work laborious,” he stated. “The method the match is, each group can have totally different conditions by way of the place that week is and what it means. Recuperation and restoration is important for each participant on this match as a result of it is while you develop and adapt.
“That few days off after South Africa allowed the our bodies to recuperate so within the first session again the gamers had been in wonderful kind, able to go once more, stuffed with enthusiasm and motivation to work laborious within the few days previous to the week of the Tonga match.”
