Here are the latest rugby headlines on Wednesday, February 7.
Lloyd impresses coaches
Ioan Lloyd could possibly be in line to put on the quantity 10 jersey towards England on Saturday after impressing the Wales coaches together with his show as a alternative towards Scotland on Saturday.
Lloyd was on the coronary heart of a Welsh comeback that introduced 4 second-half tries after changing Sam Costelow late within the first interval. With Costelow now an harm doubt for the sport at Twickenham, Lloyd is the frontrunner to begin at 10.
Attack coach Alex King was actually impressed with what Lloyd needed to provide towards the Scots, and admitted he is trying ahead to seeing extra.
SIGN UP: Get the brand new unique Inside Welsh rugby e-newsletter for full perception into what’s actually occurring round all the massive points. This particular provide will get you full access for your entire 12 months for simply £10 as a substitute of £40.
“He was nice, wasn’t he?,” King stated. “Great to have him again. Great vitality, nice enthusiasm, nice skillset. I assumed he had an incredible 40 minutes.
“I feel he can play 10, I feel he can play 15. We want to seek out out about these gamers. We’ve bought Sam, Ioan, Cai (Evans) within the squad. Wales has been very fortunate over the past decade. They have had some very established gamers in each of these pivotal positions, and subsequently the extra gamers we will see in these shirts the higher, as a result of we have to develop depth.
“I assumed Ioan was good on the weekend, and I’m trying ahead to see what extra he can do within the shirt.”
Wales legends to be honoured at Twickenham
England have introduced a second’s applause shall be held forward of Saturday’s sport towards Wales at Twickenham in honour of two Welsh rugby legends.
The RFU have confirmed the tribute shall be staged as a mark of respect for Barry John, JPR Williams and former England captain Mike Weston previous to kick-off.
John died on the age of 79 on Sunday, together with his household confirming the information. It got here only a month after his Nineteen Seventies team-mate and fellow icon, JPR, handed away after a brief battle with bacterial meningitis.
An announcement launched by John’s household on Sunday learn: “Barry John died peacefully today at the University Hospital of Wales surrounded by his loving wife and four children. He was a loving dadcu [grandfather] to his 11 grandchildren and a much-loved brother.”
Lawrence increase for England
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
Ollie Lawrence might reinforce England’s Guinness Six Nations in time for his or her round-three conflict with Scotland as he steps up his restoration from a hip downside.
Lawrence sustained the harm whereas on European obligation for Bath towards Toulouse a fortnight earlier than the Championship started and it was initially feared he would possibly miss your entire match.
But the highly effective centre might return to England’s Surrey base as early as this week, boosting Steve Borthwick’s choices within the quantity 12 jersey he would have worn towards Italy final Saturday.
“Ollie is probably coming in on the finish of this week, perhaps subsequent week. He’s not available towards Wales this weekend,” attack coach Richard Wigglesworth.
England are optimistic that Ellis Genge will overcome his foot injury in time for the go to of Warren Gatland’s males to Twickenham on Saturday.
Genge withdrew from the bench on the morning of the 27-24 win in Rome with Beno Obano taking his place among the many replacements.
“Ellis took some half in coaching at this time (Tuesday) and we’re hopeful that he’s available for the weekend, however we have clearly bought to get by means of the remainder of the week,” Wigglesworth stated.
Second-row George Martin is receiving remedy for his knee harm and may be again for the journey to Murrayfield, however there may be nonetheless no date set for Marcus Smith’s return from a calf downside.
Smith sustained the injury throughout coaching at England’s camp in Girona and will miss the entire Six Nations.
“It seems like will probably be additional again within the match – if we get him again. It will not be within the subsequent couple of weeks,” Wigglesworth stated.
“Marcus has an unimaginable angle. He was gutted however we had been gutted as nicely. We know he is a world high quality participant.
“We are blessed in that position as a result of we have got George Ford and Fin Smith, however that does not distract from what a high participant he’s and the impression he probably would have had.
“His angle was ‘I’ll simply come again higher’. I’ve little doubt that if we see him later within the match or if it is after that then he’ll come again in and put his hand up like he did.”
New Springboks teaching workforce
Rassie Erasmus will return as South Africa head coach following the departure of Jacques Nienaber to Leinster.
Erasmus was head coach for South Africa’s 2019 World Cup victory and had been director of rugby when the Springboks efficiently defended their title in France final October.
“It is an enormous honour to educate the Springboks, and I’m grateful for the belief placed in me,” Erasmus, 51, advised the South Africa Rugby Union web site.
“The important distinction between the final 4 years and this season is that I shall be extra hands-on on the discipline periods.
“In my function as director of rugby within the final 4 years I continued to supervise the workforce buildings and technique together with Jacques and the opposite coaches, so it needs to be a simple transition again into the top coach function.
“We already had our first teaching session this week on the hospital, and it is nice to see the passion among the many coaches to get the season below means.”
Erasmus will lead a modified teaching workforce within the absence of Nienaber and attack coach Felix Jones, who left to affix England after the 2023 World Cup triumph.
Former Ireland hooker and Harlequins assistant coach Jerry Flannery will take cost of South Africa’s defence, whereas ex-All Black fly-half and Highlanders head coach Tony Brown will concentrate on attack.
Recently retired worldwide referee Jaco Peyper additionally joins the Springboks set-up as nationwide legal guidelines adviser.
SA Rugby president Mark Alexander stated: “We consider that with the continuity within the teaching buildings and the thrilling additions, we’re in good fingers within the ultimate goal of claiming a hat-trick of World Cup titles.”
South Africa are subsequent in motion with a two-Test home collection towards Ireland in July.
