Your rugby news Sunday March 6
Rassie breaks silence on Lions furore
South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus has spoken for the first time about the furore during the Lions tour and revealed he and Warren Gatland haven't spoken since.
"That makes me very sad," said Erasmus, who fiercely denied leaking that controversial video on social media where he slammed the first Test officiating of Australian Nic Berry.
Erasmus was speaking in a wide-ranging interview with the Mail on Sunday.
The Lions won the opening match, with Erasmus highlighting a host of errors he felt Berry made and accusing him of showing Alun Wyn Jones greater respect than Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi.
READ MORE: World Rugby's stance on that Erasmus video rant
There was further controversy about Erasmus going on the pitch as a water carrier during the Tests to give instructions to Kolisi and his team-mates as the Springboks came from behind to win 2-1.
Erasmus has been banned for 12 months over the video, but insisted: "I want people to know that I'm not this monster that I've been portrayed as.
"People think I leaked that video. I didn't. Who leaks something like that? Why would I wreck my whole career to do that?
"Many people have already made up their mind. How do you change people's perception when World Rugby have found me guilty and banned me for 12 months? I don't want people to feel sorry for me. I just want them to know what really happened."
In an interview with the Mail, Erasmus explains the flashpoint for the tour came ahead of the first Test when he feels Gatland tried to pile pressure on Berry and South African TMO Marius Jonker.
Because of the on-off build-up to the tour and doubts whether it could even go ahead, Erasmus and Gatland had become friendly and were saying the right things in public and to one another behind the scenes.
But Erasmus says: "Warren came out and said they must look at Faf de Klerk's tackle. That was the headline. I thought, "Warren, we want this tour to be positive, why are you doing this?" I was annoyed. so I put out a tweet and the message I wanted him to hear was, "Stop talking rubbish in the media'."
Erasmus spoke to leading World Rugby officials about his concerns.
"They said they would speak to Gats. The very next day there were articles in every British newspaper saying Warren was unhappy about having a South African TMO. Don't tell me that isn't a way of putting Marius under pressure.
"Before the first Test I had a meeting with the match officials. I explained to the referee that the Springboks had not played for two years since the World Cup and our captain Siya Kolisi would be up against a team with four international captains.
"I knew from experience how they intimidate referees, so I asked that he must give Siya the same respect as Alun Wyn Jones, to which he agreed.
"When I was water carrier during that first Test, I was close to the action and I could see that Siya was not getting heard.
"There were also many decisions that I disagreed with and wanted clarity on. I phoned Nic on the Sunday after the game to discuss , but was unsuccessful in setting up a meeting. Instead, I provided him with video clips of the decisions I required clarity on.
'The feedback I received was inadequate. Only the obvious and not so critical mistakes were admitted, but the mistakes which affected the outcome of the match were not."
Erasmus insists he only sent the video to Berry, two leading officials at World Rugby, plus the South Africa team.
It was a restricted group and he maintains he was shocked when it was made public.
"Listen, the mistake I made was not putting a password on the link. I didn't think it was necessary. I compounded that by not warning that it was confidential. So I accept and agree with World Rugby's finding that a public leak was almost inevitable. But I repeat, I am not the person who leaked that video."
Erasmus knows his reputation was on the line in the second and third Tests but South Africa came back to win.
But he says: "Me and Warren didn't even shake hands. I've not spoken to Warren since and that's sad. Very sad.
"We didn't even say goodbye. I think he thinks I leaked the video and that makes me sad."
Dallaglio slams Eddie's England
England legend Lawrence Dallaglio has lashed out at England's Six Nations performance against Wales and says the forwards should have stopped giving the ball to the backs because the brand of rugby was so poor.
Wales outscored England three tries to one in defeat and Dallaglio feels Eddie Jones' side need to show far more creativity if they are to overcome Ireland and France in their remaining games.
The former England captain's frustrations came out in his Lawrence Dallaglio Rugby Podcast where he questioned the methods Jones has been adopting during the tournament to date.
“I hear Eddie Jones talking that this is a young inexperienced side, this a new England side. I mean, c’mon, who are you trying to fool?" said Dallaglio.
"You have been the head coach for six years, you can't suddenly try to pull the wool over England fans' eyes and say this is a new era, a new dawn. We’re 18 months out from the World Cup.
"We were told that Harry Randall, who didn’t have a bad game, was picked to try and get them playing a bit quicker. The image that stuck in my mind is every time we had the opportunity to up the pace of the game we seemed to deliberately slow it down.
"I lost count how many lineouts England had where they went into this huddle about 20 yards away from the lineout and then it took them ages to get the call etc. I just think there needs to be a bit more urgency about this England team and for them to understand that if they are going to challenge the likes of Ireland and France the next couple of rounds they are going to have to play significantly better."
In a damning indictment he said: "As a forward last Saturday, I probably would have stopped giving the ball to the backs after a little while because they weren’t doing enough with it."
Williams ready for France showdown
Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams is ready for a Herculean battle with France on Friday night as Wales seek to stop Les Bleus marching towards the Grand Slam.
France are three from three and wins over Wales at the Principality Stadium and then England in Paris eight days on will seal them a first clean sweep in 12 years.
Wales have won four of their last five Six Nations home games against the unbeaten tournament leaders and want to put right what happened in Paris 12 months ago when they had their own Grand Slam bid cruelly snatched away by a French try in the closing seconds.
"It is a big task, but I think we owe them one from last year," said the Wales nine.
"I think they have got threats across the park - their back-three, their centres, and their half-backs, they are great players.
"They can play a good power game as well, and they are dangerous at the moment.
"They look confident either side of the ball, and with Shaun Edwards it is built on defence, which is going well.
"Their breakdown work is good, so we are going to have to be on the money there as well."
Of his battle opposite current world player of the year Antoine Dupont, Williams said: "I think everyone knows how good a player he is.
"We've just got to give him as few opportunities as possible, really. I think the last couple of seasons he has been outstanding. He seems confident enough in himself that he can do a job."
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Randall ready to punch his weight
Harry Randall may be the smallest player on the field when England collide with Ireland next weekend but the Bristol scrum-half is determined to continue punching above his weight.
An important moment in Randall's four-cap international career arrived against Wales in round three when he was chosen to start ahead of Test centurion Ben Youngs, ramping up their duel for the number nine jersey.
The 24-year-old has risen to the top despite standing 5ft 8in tall and weighing 11st 6lb - a modest frame for a modern rugby professional, even a half-back.
The former Wales age-grade ace said: "I have heard it a lot before about my size, but it doesn't really matter to me what people think as long as the people around me trust me and I back myself.
"Everyone is going to have an opinion, I have just got to knuckle down and use to my advantage and be as strong as I can in all areas.
"I have people say that size could be an issue, but I back myself as long as I work hard.
"I am still working hard to get stronger, fitter and faster and all the things that will help me out in that area."
Peel delighted after sizzling Scarlets show
Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel said he was delighted after his Scarlets side triumphed 35-10 over Glasgow in Llanelli to bring the visitors' five-match winning run in the United Rugby Championship to an end.
Tries from Steff Evans, Scott Williams, Gareth Davies, Sione Kalamafoni and Ryan Conbeer earned the Scarlets their first win in five games.
Rhys Patchell, Evans and Sam Costelow also kicked 10 points between them.
Glasgow could only muster a try from Johnny Matthews and five points from the boot of Duncan Weir.
Peel said: "It was a good win. In the first half we had to soak up a lot of pressure. Glasgow were very physical in those exchanges around the ruck and made it difficult for us.
“But in the second half we started to move the ball and scored some good tries. I felt like we managed the game well towards the end.
“We are delighted to get the win and the bonus point on the back of that.”
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