These are your latest rugby headings on Wednesday, March 22.
Rees-Zammit experiment backed
Nicky Robinson says he wishes to see Louis Rees-Zammit continue in the full-back t-shirt for Wales.
Rees-Zammit was called in Warren Gatland’s side to face France last weekend at 15, a position he’s played in the past, although not on a routine basis for club side Gloucester.
The video game in Paris was another chance for Gatland to experiment ahead of the World Cup in France later on this year, and a variety of gamers appeared well at the Stade de France, according to Robinson.
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Looking at the positives of the defeat, he said on BBC’s ScrumV podcast: “I believed Aaron Wainwright was the very best I’ve seen him in a Welsh t-shirt. He was vibrant, physical, he carried on, we saw him in the video game. I believed he was outstanding.
“I believed Louis Rees-Zammit was excellent at 15. That may be something we see a bit more of. Every time he brought, he got us back over the gainline and back into the video game.
“I believed Nick Tompkins and George North looked a bit much better as a collaboration. Defensively they still had a hard time there which is a significant location of issue. I believe that’s our greatest location of issue, our centre collaboration moving on due to the fact that in other locations we look rather settled possibly disallowing a couple of.
“But that centre bit, whether they choose Joe Hawkins and Mason Grady or Joe Hawkins and somebody else I do not understand, however those 2 did look rather excellent. Again, I believed Rio Dyer was good.”
Llewellyn exit ‘frustrating’ for Cardiff
Cardiff centre Max Llewellyn’s choice to sign for Gloucester next season and move far from Welsh rugby is “frustrating” however he can’t be blamed for wishing to test himself in other places, according to Cardiff backs coach Matt Sherratt.
Powerful centre Llewellyn, who had actually been tipped by some experts as an outsider to make Wales’ Six Nations team, will relocate to the Gallagher Premiership in time for next season. Aged 24, the child of 92-cap Gareth Llewellyn gets approved for both Wales and England and is a previous Wales under-20 worldwide.
His exit from Welsh rugby was very first routed by WalesOnline back in December, when agreements for next season were off the table, a circumstance which has actually given that been remedied.
“It’s frustrating when any good young Welsh gamer and good individual, which Max is, chooses their future is in other places,” Sherratt said.
“I do not believe we can blame him, due to the fact that to start with Gloucester is a huge club. It’s a fantastic location to go and establish his video game much more. But likewise it’s tough when a young gamer leaves due to the fact that you can see such a huge future. Max is likewise a good expert, he’s good around the location, and proceeds with individuals. He will leave a hole with us.
“There’s another part of me, if I’m sincere, simply as a rugby fan that believes ‘good on him’ for attempting to experience something a bit various in attempting to test himself elsewhere. As you have actually seen prior to, you can constantly return. So it is frustrating to lose him however it’s quite interesting for Max and to experience something brand-new.”
With Cardiff heading towards settling their team retention for next season, Sherratt hopes they can prevent more exits.
“I hope not,” he responded when asked whether there might be any additional departures. “Especially young Welsh gamers, due to the fact that we have actually got to attempt and keep them where they are. It’s been well discussed that the circumstance around the agreements being left so late. There’s constantly going to be gamers who go elsewhere and appropriately so. There’s clubs over the bridge and in France and Japan that have actually most likely seen a chance and being well-run businesses they’re going to come in for your finest skill.
“I do believe there’s a great deal of pride in the video game in Wales also. And I do believe the lure of playing for Wales and playing for your home region, it would be pretty sad if that disappeared. I don’t think it has. It does mean something. There will always be players who are going to go, but I sincerely hope we can keep our best young players.”
The fans’ Wales Six Nations verdict: Have your say
Wales internationals available
Liam Williams is set to undergo a scan following Wales’ Six Nations campaign but Wales internationals Mason Grady and Rhys Carre are available for Cardiff’s Friday night fixture away to Zebre in the United Rugby Championship (7.10pm kick-off).
Wales squad call-up Teddy Williams is also on hand to feature for Dai Young’s side, while Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, Dillon Lewis and Josh Adams are set to return to training next week having featured heavily during Wales’ Six Nations campaign.
Cardiff backs coach Sherratt said of full-back Williams, who missed Wales’ finale against France: “He came in [on Monday]. I think he’s having a scan. The initial thoughts were that it’s nothing too serious. Hopefully towards the end of the week we’ll have more clarity. We’ve got no firm info yet.
“Mason’s had a good campaign. I know he didn’t play in the last video game, but it was good to see him get his first couple of caps, which will serve him well for us and for Wales in the future.
“Rhys wasn’t involved in the last couple so he’s itching for a game. But I believe the overall mood was quite positive. Performances as a team got better towards the end of the campaign. I believe they’ve enjoyed the camp.”
Elsewhere, Thomas Young, James Botham, Rhys Priestland and Liam Belcher are all available, but Rey Lee-Lo and Josh Navidi are continuing with rehab.
Farrell ‘a hangover’
Former England star Jeremy Guscott says Owen Farrell should be removed as Steve Borthwick’s captain, believing he is “a hangover” from the Eddie Jones era.
Farrell was named skipper for Borthwick’s first Six Nations at the England helm but, like Wales, the Red Roses struggled to get going in the tournament, and were humbled at home by France in the penultimate match.
Ahead of the World Cup Guscott says Borthwick has some serious thinking to do over his leader on the pitch.
“Borthwick’s decision right at the beginning to name Owen Farrell as captain was either going to have worked incredibly well or it was going to go horribly wrong,” he said. “He is a hangover from Eddie. There is a lot of Eddie in Farrell and that is what he probably saw when he became coach. The warrior that Farrell is, the great leader that he is, it is a hangover and without Farrell, they would move on.
“I figured they would move on quicker without that. It’s a legacy from Eddie. I’m saying we ought to rethink that. Is it going forward and are England progressing with him? How much longer is Farrell going to play? Post-World Cup the future is probably Marcus Smith and maybe George Ford. So many times, Owen gets the ball 30 metres away from the try line and his first instinct, it seems, is constantly to kick.
“It’s much better to see that one pass and then make the decision. Marcus’ instinct is to run. George Ford’s instinct is to scan and then make a decision to kick or run. Owen’s first decision seems to be to kick. His influence over the team is enormous and if he is on a high, it works. But at the moment, he just looks a little bit slower than he used to be, more reserved than he used to be, and he certainly kicks more than he used to.
“Borthwick has got enough time between this last game and the first warm-up game (in August) and the England camp to decide if Farrell is the right choice. Personally, I can’t say no he is not because I’m not in the camp so I don’t understand the upside of Owen Farrell. But the playing side at the moment isn’t influential enough for him to be in the group and to be captain.”
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