Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, March 11.
BBC reporter has ‘no challenge’ with Gatland
BBC interviewer Sonja McLaughlan says she has “no challenge” with Warren Gatland initially walking away earlier than a stay TV interview after he was stored ready amid different media commitments.
Viewers of the BBC’s stay protection of Wales v France noticed Gabby Logan interrupt the studio pundits to go stay to Gatland’s interview, earlier than shortly having to alter tact, saying: “We’ve misplaced Warren”. You can learn the total story right here.
Footage later emerged displaying Gatland walking away 20 seconds after being advised they might be going stay in 15 seconds, because the reporter pleaded with him to remain. It’s understood Gatland had already been ready for a while and as an alternative went to do an interview with S4C, who had been additionally ready, earlier than returning to do the BBC interview minutes later. The off-camera incident, which was broadcast on the world feed utilized by some abroad broadcasters, left viewers confused after being shared broadly on social media.
McLaughlan wrote on X: “Just to clarify. No challenge with Warren Gatland put up match. We requested for a brief delay so we may do the interview stay. But Warren needed to do S4C earlier than coming again to air his ideas on the BBC. Always get pleasure from speaking to him and as we speak no totally different.”
You can watch the clip under.
Sam Warburton’s ‘actuality test’ for Wales
Former Wales captain Sam Warburton says the “actuality test for Wales” is that they aren’t “bodily sufficient” and that the gamers should be discovered from someplace.
Speaking within the BBC studio after the sport, he mentioned: “I’m going to sound like a damaged report however you possibly can’t play the sport and be that inferior bodily. If you do not have huge expert athletes on the sector, when you’ve got huge guys coming at you and you may’t cease them it will be a tricky recreation. We haven’t got the participant pool to match the facility of England, Ireland and France and we have to discover the gamers from someplace.”
He added: “The phrase energy was used quite a bit in commentary and rightly so. You can speak quite a bit concerning the fluffy issues however once you lose the bodily battle then as a rule you received’t win the sport.
“You saw the warning signs in the first half and Wales were holding on in the game when France’s big ball-carriers were come off the number nine.”
Martin Johnson agreed saying the Wales group must recover from the defeat very, in a short time: “The writing was on the wall earlier than the subs had been made. Wales had been making an attempt to stem that energy and because the first half went on the facility was beginning to inform.
“It was a really mature performance from France. Wales scored their best try at the start of the second half and then almost didn’t see the ball again.”
He added: “They (Wales) have a heck of the spirit and I believe they may come out battling subsequent week.”
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‘A star is born’
Other gamers might have had a much bigger affect on England’s impressed upset of Ireland, however few introduced Twickenham to its toes like Immanuel Feyi-Waboso with the ball in his fingers.
The Press Association has mentioned the Exeter wing is “real field workplace” and regardless of making solely his first begin after two alternative appearances, the 21-year-old confirmed he has the large recreation temperament to match his electrical operating abilities.
Cardiff-born Feyi-Waboso opted for the Red Rose over Wales in January and the company says it’s to Steve Borthwick’s credit score that he stored the medical scholar out of Warren Gatland’s fingers after which quick tracked him into the aspect.
Farrell dismisses anti-climax speak
By Ed Elliot, PA
Andy Farrell dismissed solutions retaining the Guinness Six Nations title may now really feel like an anti-climax after Ireland’s hyped quest for back-to-back Grand Slams was crushed.
The reigning champions seemed nicely placed to make historical past by delivering consecutive event clear sweeps earlier than struggling Saturday’s last-gasp loss to title rivals England at Twickenham.
Avoiding defeat to Scotland within the ultimate spherical will almost actually guarantee Ireland maintain maintain of their crown, whereas even a loss would nonetheless go away Steve Borthwick’s aspect requiring a bonus-point win in France to grab glory.
Head coach Farrell, who feels it could be “unjust” for his group to nonetheless be in Grand Slam rivalry following England’s finest show underneath Borthwick, is eager to place issues in perspective shifting in the direction of what ought to be one other memorable St Patrick’s weekend in Dublin.
He mentioned: “Anti-climax? How many instances have we received the Six Nations?
“Everyone would like to be in our position. We’ve obtained to verify we’re loving that problem as nicely.
“I’ve completely little question that they (Ireland supporters) 100 per cent might be on track. Paddy’s weekend once more, with the prospect of profitable a Six Nations.
“It may have been a bit bit higher however Grand Slams are unbelievably exhausting to come back by. Six Nations are exhausting sufficient, as everybody would vouch for.”
Scotland gamers defend Townsend
Huw Jones batted away any notion that Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend was underneath strain after Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations implosion in Italy. The Scots blew their probability to arrange a shootout for the title with Ireland in Dublin subsequent weekend as they went down 31-29 in Rome regardless of holding a 22-10 lead after an encouraging opening half an hour.
It was the Azzurri’s first Six Nations victory at home for 11 years and their first within the championship since profitable in Wales two years in the past.
The shock defeat cranks up the warmth on Townsend simply 5 months after the Scots – broadly deemed to have among the finest squads of their historical past at current – suffered a second consecutive World Cup group-stage exit on the 50-year-old’s watch.
However, Jones claimed the gamers ought to carry the can for the debacle within the Eternal City and appeared irritated by the suggestion that it could place the long-serving head coach underneath renewed scrutiny.
“I do not find out about that,” mentioned the skilled centre. “We’re all behind the coaches, we’re all behind Gregor. We love the best way we play, the best way we wish to play. We have a superb plan. When we execute it, it is good and we play some good rugby. I do not assume this defeat was on Gregor, I believe it was on the gamers. We did not execute our plan nicely sufficient and Italy performed nicely.”
