Here are the latest rugby headings on Wednesday, August 2.
Wales v England ‘not last-chance saloon’
England coach Richard Wigglesworth says the video game versus Wales this weekend will not be utilized a “choice shoot-out”.
Wales host their old enemies in Cardiff on Saturday prior to Warren Gatland’s males make the journey down the M4 next weekend.
Head coach Steve Borthwick will be calling his 33-man England team on Monday, 2 days after the warm-up Test in the Welsh capital, however assistant coach Wigglesworth has actually worried it will not be utilized as a last audition.
“We desire an appropriate Test match which’s how we have actually developed this up,” Wigglesworth informed Sky Sports. “We are playing Wales far from home, we understand it will be an appropriate Test match. We are not utilizing this as a last possibility saloon in any method, it would be disingenuous for me to state there isn’t going to be any choices or anything made after this video game, however it would not be just around this video game.
“We’ve done our finest as a training group of making certain that our training school hasn’t had to do with choice, that it’s had to do with preparing as finest we can for France. But I’ve remained in that circumstance myself, it will remain in the back or front of their minds, we have actually got to do an excellent job today.”
Williams to set sign up with Falcons
Former Wales sevens global Tom Williams is set to sign up with the training set-up at English Premiership side Newcastle Falcons, according to The Rugby Paper.
He will sign up with mainly as an academy coach as soon as he has actually served his notification duration with Jersey Reds.
The 32-year-old assisted lead the islanders to be crowned winners of the England’s second-tier Championship last season.
Williams, child of Wales legend Brynmor and sibling of Lloyd, who was topped 33 times for Wales, will link with compatriot Scott Baldwin in the north east along with head coach Alex Codling, Micky Ward (forwards), Mark Laycock (backs) and Jimmy Ponton (academy supervisor). You can read our interview with Williams from earlier on this summer season here.
Sexton will be worried – O’Connell
By Ed Elliot, PA, Dublin
Paul O’Connell thinks suspended Ireland captain Johnny Sexton will be worried about his absence of game-time ahead of his World Cup swansong.
Fly-half Sexton, who is set to retire following the competition in France, will miss out on each of his nation’s warm-up matches after being struck with a three-match restriction for misbehavior. The 38-year-old has actually not played competitively because March, having actually been required off by a groin injury in the last match of the Guinness Six Nations versus England.
Wales handle England in their opening video game of the Rugby Summer Series. Fans can enjoy the video game complimentary by registering to an Amazon Prime membership here.
Forwards coach O’Connell firmly insists Sexton’s extended lack is not a significant concern for Ireland’s management group however yields his previous team-mate is most likely to worry about the circumstance.
“Whenever he’s returned from injuries (formerly), he seldom requires a great deal of video games to return up and running,” said O’Connell. “It’s a genuine strength of his. He’s trained because the start of pre-season basically, he hasn’t missed out on a training session.
“He appears to enjoy a horrible great deal of rugby, he believes a lot about rugby, so I believe that type of assists him strike the ground running when he returns. (But) I’d state it’s a concern for him, you understand. He wishes to end up playing truly, truly well, and I’d state he’d like to have a couple of more video games under his belt. It is what it is. It’s not something I’m anxious about.”
Ireland face Italy, England and Samoa this month prior to starting their World Cup campaign on September 9 versus Romania in Bordeaux.
Sexton’s extended spell on the sidelines – in the wake of his behaviour following Leinster’s Heineken Champions Cup last defeat by La Rochelle on May 20 – has actually unlocked for competing number 10s Ross Byrne, Jack Crowley and Ciaran Frawley. O’Connell says the chance for the 3 understudies is a considerable “silver lining” of the unfavorable scenarios.
“They’re all betting locations – Johnny’s choice enables those people to own it a bit,” said the 43-year previous lock, who represented Ireland at 4 World Cups. “It puts us in a good position heading into the World Cup since those people get to build up more experience; not simply of using the special day, however of owning it and running the week, driving a few of the information too. Johnny’s suspension is unfortunate for us. But there’s a real good silver lining for us as well.”
Chessum in mix however won’t be risked vs Wales
By Duncan Bech, PA
Ollie Chessum is in contention to win a place in England’s World Cup squad after making a successful early comeback from the ankle surgery that had jeopardised his tournament hopes.
England feared they had lost their breakout star of the Six Nations after he was ruled out for between five and six months with the injury sustained during preparations to face Ireland in March. But on Tuesday he took part in a live scrummaging session during training as he closes in on making a complete recovery that should see him named in Steve Borthwick’s 33-strong squad on Monday.
England had made it clear Chessum would not be risked in Saturday’s opening warm-up match against Wales in Cardiff if not fully fit, however would be willing select him for the World Cup on the strength of his performances this year.
“Ollie’s close to a return. He’s done incredibly well and has been so diligent with his rehab. He looks really good,” attack coach Richard Wigglesworth said. “He’s definitely a great character and I’ve enjoyed working with him over the last few years, but he’s also a top-quality player who we are keen to get fit.
“The medics said that if he’s free of complications then there’s a very good chance of him being ready for the World Cup. He’s had actually no complications and flew into his rehab. I don’t think we’re going to rush someone back from that injury and say ‘you have to play (against Wales)’ – it’s up to us to make a decision on the best 33 on the back of all the evidence we’ve had actually. Ollie has obviously given pretty strong evidence that he’s a top international player when he was in shape.”
