Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, April 8.
Wales accused of illegal play by England
England scrum-half Natasha "Mo" Hunt has accused Wales of frequent illegal play ahead of their Women's Six Nations clash this Saturday. Both sides head into the encounter with two wins from two, but England are reigning champions, ranked number one in the world and are on a 20-game unbeaten run, so are the overwhelming favourites.
The 56-cap half-back, who plies her club trade at Gloucester-Hartpury alongside 10 of Wales' matchday 23, has been named on the bench for the Red Roses' home fixture at Kingsholm but has highlighted an area for her team to be wary of.
"They're all so brutal at the breakdown, that's one thing, whenever you play a Welsh team... possibly illegally quite a bit of the time! Am I allowed to say that?" the 33-year-old told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
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"They play right on the edge of that law in terms of the breakdown. As a nine personally, it's one game you always know we need to be right on it in terms of that to be able to come away and get the speed of ball and if you're Wales sitting watching that game against Italy [where England won 74-0], that's the one thing that you're trying to stop."
'Wales haven't seen benefits of professionalism yet'
England captain and No. 8 Sarah Hunter, meanwhile, doesn't believe Wales will start to see the benefits of professional contracts for six months despite their upturn in Six Nations form.
England have been fully professional for three years and only semi-professional side France have been a true title challenger in the Six Nations. Wales announced 12 historic full-time pro deals in January, followed by 12 part-time retainer contracts, and their squad is completed by amateur players. Ireland, Scotland and Italy are all amateur.
"I think they've done so well so far," Hunter said. "Everyone talks about these professional contracts but in reality you're not going to see the benefits come through for, I reckon, six months, easy."
But she conceded Wales will be stronger than in recent years. "Wales will be a different proposition to what we've faced over the last couple of years. They've got a really good setpiece, scrum, maul, that's their heart of the team, they've got that firing. And then you just look at some of the threats: Jasmine Joyce, Kayleigh Powell, if they get the ball in space, they can be dangerous, we've got to be really on our game and make sure they don't get that frontfoot, that momentum that we saw, especially when they're finishing games."
Cardiff bid to avenge Scarlets derby defeat
Cardiff fly-half Jarrod Evans believes his side can "hurt" the Scarlets if they can retain possession this Saturday when Dwayne Peel's 35-20 victors head to the Welsh capital for the return derby fixture (3.10pm kick-off).
Evans, 25, admitted the side had a "brutal start to the week" reviewing their defeat but they are looking to seize their "chance to immediately right the wrongs".
"We did some good stuff out there, especially in the first 20 minutes," he said. "But we needed to build a bit more pressure on the Scarlets defence. We probably forced one or two passes and let the game get too loose. If we looked after the ball for a little bit longer we could have stressed the Scarlets a bit more. We had some joy aerially against them too. It’s about reiterating those messages about keeping the ball and maintaining our shape. If we look after the ball we know we can hurt them."
Ronan O'Gara banned for two weeks
La Rochelle boss Ronan O'Gara has been suspended for two weeks for his behaviour during his team's 19-0 win over Racing 92 in the Top 14 a fortnight ago. The hearing for O'Gara's role in the touchline fracas with Christophe Urios is yet to take place.
He was deemed to have been “responsible for indiscipline, including challenging the decisions of match officials” during and after the match and suspended for two weeks, meaning he will not be involved in the Champions Cup matches against Bordeaux, Planet Rugby reports.
O’Gara admitted the charge and was also fined €1,000, while La Rochelle were fined €10,000, half of which was suspended. The hearing for his touchline altercation with Urios last weekend will take place on April 13.
Wales bid to come out firing from the start
Wales flyer Jasmine Joyce insists her side will "fire right from the start" against England in round three of the Women's Six Nations after not going ahead until the 74th and 76th minute of their opening two wins respectively.
"England are the best team in the world right now and we know they are going to come out fighting," the Bristol Bear said in her BBC column. "We are expected to lose, we are the underdogs, but that is sometimes the best place to be.
"We just want to perform at our best, to individually know and boss our roles. We play against the England girls week-in week-out in the Premier 15s. It is going to be really tough to go against them, but I am looking forward to seeing what we can bring."
Ball retention and finding more space is a priority for the backline, although Wales are pleased with being able to find a win so far. "Our performances have been far from perfect, but the pleasing thing for us is that we are going out there, not performing at our best - individually or collectively - but still coming away with wins," Joyce added. "It is credit to the players and coaches that we are now able to finish off games."
