Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, August 4.
Barnes: ‘England defeat to Wales would be embarrassing’
An England defeat to a youthful Wales side this Saturday would be “embarrassing”, according to respected pundit and former fly-half Stuart Barnes.
Wales host England in a World Cup warm-up on Saturday, before a return fixture is staged at Twickenham the following weekend, and Barnes argues that the only thing the teams will be trying to bank is proof of progress.
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Warren Gatland has opted to hand three Wales debuts to props Corey Domachowski and Kieron Assiratti, and centre Max Llewellyn, with former England international Henry Thomas and Junior All Black Taine Plumtree set to make their debut appearances in red if they come off the bench.
Writing in The Times, Barnes says: “Given the state Welsh rugby is in and that they are playing a pair of props without a solitary cap to their name, a defeat for England would be embarrassing, even though their side lacks balance behind the scrum. Still, it’s not the potential World Cup quarter-final between these rivals that we may see in October in France.
“There’s a rematch a week later at Twickenham — by which time the England World Cup squad will have been announced — in which any sense of humiliation can be erased should they lose on Saturday. As for Wales and Gatland, there’s also the intrigue of an uncapped inside centre, Max Llewellyn, and a twice-capped rookie at fly-half, Sam Costelow.
“This is a Welsh team who are expected to perform, which is very different to expected to win. There’s a difference between wanting to win and really needing it. Nothing is at stake on Saturday bar the proof of progress being made by the respective countries.”
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Anscombe reveals Biggar relationship
Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe has revealed his relationship with Test rival Dan Biggar was a “little awkward” in the beginning but the pair now “bounce off each other quite nicely”.
The 32-year-old Japan-bound Anscombe is vying to head to his first World Cup, having been cruelly robbed of a spot in Gatland’s 2019 squad due to a serious knee injury in a warm-up against England.
In the lead-up to that World Cup, Anscombe and Biggar had dovetailed to great effect throughout a record winning streak and a Grand Slam in 2019, with Anscombe starting and Biggar finishing games.
But the World Cup wasn’t to be for Anscombe that time around, with head coach Warren Gatland later namechecking the half-back as the player Wales missed most during the tournament.
When asked about his relationship with Biggar, Anscombe told ITV: “Really good, actually. Oh, look, I suppose we’ve actually spent a fair bit of time around each other now. I think when I first came into the group around 2015 it can be awkward sometimes with guys in your position because you are fighting for the same spot. But over the years me and Biggs have really grown as a friendship and bounce off each other quite nicely.”
Anscombe, who will head to Japan to play his club rugby after the World Cup, was speaking to ITV programme ‘Wales at the World Cup: A Mountain to Climb’.
“Look, we get stuck into each other quite a lot, which is good fun,” Anscombe said. “I’ve only got good things to say about Biggs and what a servant he’s been to the game in Wales – 100 Test caps, captain. He certainly is going to go down as one of the greats of Welsh rugby, isn’t he?
“He’s a great man and is certainly a competitor who isn’t afraid to speak his mind, which is probably something that I relate to a little bit.”
Marcus Smith set for World Cup spot with Borthwick keen on No. 10 depth
By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent
Marcus Smith is expected to be named in England’s World Cup squad after Steve Borthwick indicated he will take three fly-halves to the tournament.
While Smith starts Saturday’s opening Summer Nations Series match against Wales in Cardiff after being picked instead of Owen Farrell and George Ford, he was seen as the most likely of the three playmakers to miss out on selection for France 2023. England took only two fly-halves to Japan four years ago but Borthwick, who names his 33-man World Cup on Monday, insists the technical nature of certain roles means the team cannot risk being exposed by circumstance.
“Right now I have got a pretty clear framework. In those key positions you need to have depth, three players who can play in that position,” Borthwick said. “With the number of cards that are issued and HIAs, you need to have depth for those specialist positions.
“If someone does take a head knock you are looking at 12 days out potentially and could miss two Test matches. You need to be protected and have the right amount of depth in those specialist positions, which means positional flexibility is really important in your 33.”
Now destined to play in his first World Cup as part of England’s creative brains trust, Smith can approach Saturday’s first of four warm-up Tests unburdened by the need to convince Borthwick that he must be involved this autumn. Farrell and Ford are more experienced and provide expert game management, but the 24-year-old Harlequins ringmaster offers the type of running threat that can turn a match on its head.
“I rate Marcus exceptionally highly. He has an incredible skill set and an ability to find space. He recognises when there are defenders that he can pick off,” Borthwick said. “He can either pull them out of the line and put other people through space or find space himself.
“I’ve been hugely impressed with Marcus throughout this camp but also in all my interactions with him. He’s a young man who has already achieved a lot in the game, but he’s got even more exciting things to achieve in the future.”
Smith’s last start at fly-half came during a heavy defeat by France in the Six Nations, a tournament that saw him swap in and out of the role with Farrell. He was among a number of players to struggle that day – and he has not forgotten.
“France was a long time ago now and I’ve played a lot of rugby since then,” Smith said. “It was a tough afternoon and I have learnt a lot of lessons. It has definitely put me in a much better position as a person and on the field as well as a player. I would not say I want to rectify it, but I am a very competitive person…”
Andy Farrell believes strength in depth key to Ireland’s World Cup hopes
By Ed Elliot, PA, Dublin
Andy Farrell insists squad depth will be key to Ireland achieving their dream of World Cup glory after handing opportunities to a number of fringe players for Saturday’s warm-up clash with Italy. Munster’s Jack Crowley has been selected at fly-half in the absence of the suspended Johnny Sexton, with uncapped trio Ciaran Frawley, Tom Stewart and Calvin Nash among the replacements.
Just three players – centre Robbie Henshaw and back-rowers Caelan Doris and Ryan Baird – have been retained from the XV which began Ireland’s Grand Slam-clinching win over England back in March. Ulster lock Iain Henderson will captain the side, lining up in the second row alongside Joe McCarthy, who will make his first international start, while wing Jacob Stockdale will play at Test level for the first time in two years.
Head coach Farrell, who is due to cut his 42-man squad down to a final 33 following further fixtures against England and Samoa, wants a full complement of players fit and firing moving towards the tournament in France but dismissed the notion he is experimenting.
“We’re at a stage where we’re all gagging for a game,” he said. “And you are judging constantly how preparation’s going and trying to balance that out with a side that’s got the experience and youth.
“I’m 100 per cent sure there are some individuals that will take the field saying to themselves that ‘this a big chance and big opportunity for me’. You’ve got to surround those people with good enough experienced players as well to be able to judge them properly, so we’re looking forward to that.
“I wouldn’t say we’re experimenting. You win World Cups because of the strength of your squad so we’re trying to find out about people that have done so well to get picked in the initial 42 and now they’ve got the opportunity to represent the group. They know the expectation of how we want to play and what’s acceptable and what’s not.”
Sexton’s three-match ban has opened the door for rookie number 10s Crowley, Frawley and Ross Byrne to gain some much-needed Test experience during the next month. In-form Crowley is the first to be handed an opportunity to impress, having starred during his province’s United Rugby Championship success at the end of last season.
Wales take on England in their opening game of the Rugby Summer Series. Fans can watch the game free by signing up to an Amazon Prime subscription here.
Scotland’s Ben White ready to make his mark
By Anthony Brown, PA
Burgeoning Scotland scrum-half Ben White is determined to make a big impact in France for both club and country in the months ahead.
The 25-year-old is set to go to the upcoming World Cup as his nation’s first-choice number nine after starting each of the Six Nations matches earlier this year. And following the global showpiece in France, he will join up with his new colleagues at Toulon after he signed for the Top 14 outfit last month following the recent financial demise of his previous club London Irish.
“It was a tough time and it’s very sad for a lot of the players and fans and people who have been at the club a long time,” said White, reflecting on his pre-World Cup change in circumstances at club level. “I guess a lot of the players have been lucky but for the fans their club is gone so from that side of it, it’s very disappointing. But when one door closes, another one opens and to get the opportunity to go to Toulon is one I’ll be very grateful for.
“I want to hopefully have a good World Cup and a good run of games to go to Toulon and put my best foot forward and to play well for them. It’s kind of weird how it’s happened, to sign for a club and then not go there (immediately), but (Toulon director of rugby) Pierre Mignoni has messaged me a couple of times to check up on how things are going with me and it’s great to have that communication straight off the bat.
“I’ve been trying to do my French lessons in my downtime and it’s going ok. It’s an awesome opportunity and I’m really excited for it. The French absolutely love their rugby, the grounds will be absolutely rammed at the World Cup and the atmosphere they have at the stadiums is one of the things that drew me to Toulon. Getting the opportunity to play for Scotland out there, hopefully, will be amazing.”