Here are your rugby headlines for Wednesday, January 19.
Pivac issues injury update on Tipuric
Wayne Pivac has ruled Justin Tipuric out of this year's Six Nations after admitting his injury recovery has been "slower than anticipated".
Tipuric has not featured since getting injured on Lions duty during their tour warm-up match against Japan at Murrayfield.
The flanker suffered a shoulder injury, ruling him out of the trip to South Africa, and he has been rehabbing alongside fellow long-term absentees George North and Dan Lydiate at the Ospreys' training base in Llandarcy.
North suffered a serious knee injury on the eve of the Lions squad announcement while on Ospreys duty, while Lydiate went under the knife after injuring his knee against Ireland during the 2021 Six Nations.
Faletau, meanwhile, has been suffering from an ankle problem.
And while North, Lydiate and Faletau have not been completely ruled out of taking part in Wales' Six Nations title defence, we won't be seeing openside Tipuric.
"No, we won't see Justin," Pivac said. "George, Taulupe and Dan Lydiate are probably the ones who would be the closest. But we won't expect to see Justin in this tournament.
"He has been slower than anyone would have anticipated or liked, but the Justin I know will be working very hard to get back on the field as soon as he can. But it certainly won't be in this Six Nations."
As for the fitness of Ross Moriarty, who was included in the squad named on Tuesday, Pivac said: "He’s clearly got to get through a club game first, and then we look at how he’s going physically and his fitness levels.
"We know the volumes that he’s had at club level going into his training sessions so really it’s about seeing him on the pitch, and he’s due to do that a week before Ireland.
"There’ll be a handful of players released to play that weekend, and through necessity he’s one of them."
Eddie Jones hails 'breeding ground' Cardiff Met
Eddie Jones has branded Cardiff Metropolitan University a "breeding ground for Test match rugby players" after he named Luke Northmore in his Six Nations squad.
Among the new faces in Jones' 36-man squad is Quins centre Northmore, 24, who joins his club colleague and fellow former Cardiff Met student Alex Dombrandt in the training group.
Northmore, who can play at either 12 or 13, played his early rugby at Tavistock RFC in Devon, before turning out for Cardiff Met for three years while studying there.
Jones name-checked the Welsh university in his post-squad-announcement debrief on Tuesday afternoon.
"Luke Northmore, he's another one out of the Cardiff Metropolitan University, which seems to be a popular breeding ground for Test match rugby players!" Jones said.
"Dombrandt was there for a while and now Northmore is similarly out of there.
"He runs strong lines, carries well through contact and has good footwork."
Alun Wyn Jones will have an input
Absent Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will be relied on by head coach Wayne Pivac during the Six Nations.
Dan Biggar has been named captain in Jones' absence, with the second row sidelined by a shoulder injury which is expected to keep him out until after the Six Nations.
However, the 149-cap Welshman is in and around the Vale of Glamorgan training resort and will lend an ear to Pivac and his coaching staff throughout the tournament.
“Alun Wyn is in, George, Leigh Halfpenny have been in training this week at the facilities here," Pivac said.
"They come up occasionally.
“He’ll be in and around. No doubt we’ll be having lots of conversations.
“He’s such a vastly experienced player. He’ll probably pop in and out from time to time I’d imagine.”
Dawson: Farrell's England return is 'strange'
Owen Farrell's inclusion in Eddie Jones' England squad for the Six Nations is "strange", according to former scrum-half Matt Dawson.
The 30-year-old has been out of action since his country's win over Australia on November 13 owing to an ankle injury.
It is thought the fly-half will feature for Saracens against London Irish this weekend as he looks to rebuild his fitness ahead of the tournament, however Dawson was left a little perplexed by the decision to pick the player given his lack of rugby.
"I still struggle to see where Farrell fits," Dawson told the BBC.
"He hasn't played since November, not been in any form whatsoever and England are flying on the back of beating world champions South Africa without him in the autumn.
"Farrell's return was inevitable, but a little bit strange for me."
On Farrell's selection, head coach Eddie Jones said: "Every decision requires a bit of thought, but we feel he's the best man to lead the squad for the Six Nations.
"He came into the autumn and did a really good job, then Courtney [Lawes] finished it off for us, so we're hopeful Owen gets through his game on the weekend and comes in with some fitness. Then he'll be eligible to be captain against Scotland and, if not, we'll find another solution.
"He's got the respect of the players, he's got that strong, winning desire, he brings the best out in the playing group and that's why he's the best person to lead the team."
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