Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, June 23.
Wales players baffled by Alun Wyn doubts
Alun Wyn Jones' Wales team-mates can't understand why some people are doubting the veteran lock ahead of this summer's tour of South Africa.
Jones is under pressure for his place in the starting team amid the emergence of Adam Beard and Welsh rugby player of the year Will Rowlands. Questions have been asked about 36-year-old Jones' form since he returned from injury in the humiliating Six Nations defeat to Italy back in March.
Jones has played only a handful of times since then and struggled to make any significant impact with the Ospreys. Team-mate Beard, though, finds it incredible Jones is being questioned after all he has done.
READ MORE: Wales' murky past dragged up in major Rugby World Cup row as decision due today
"Al is the ultimate professional, and he is looking very good," he said. "It's crazy to think that people out there are actually doubting the man, when he has got 150 caps for his country. He is always the one setting standards, pushing the boys along, and it's just crazy that people are still doubting him. It's mad.
"You can see the enthusiasm and everything he has around the squad, he's the one driving it, always chatting, and he is enjoying his rugby.
"He might prefer to be captain, he might not, I am not too sure. It might take a little bit of pressure off him not being the captain, but you just know the leadership roles he has anyway He might not have the captain's armband, but he is still the one leading the enthusiasm, squad ethics and stuff like that."
Jones will not be Wales captain on the tour, with Dan Biggar preferred in the role.
South Africa stars still missing
South Africa will only have some of their big-name stars in camp just days before the first Test against Wales.
Leicester Tigers star Jasper Wiese, Saracens prop Vincent Koch and Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen are only allowed to join up with the squad from Monday, with English clubs having strictly enforced Regulation 9 of World Rugby's rules.
Outside-half Handre Pollard is also absent as he is competing in this weekend's Top14 final in France, leading to speculation Elton Jantjies will start in the opening Test.
“Handre is still playing. Their final is only over the weekend. We don’t have any of our Premiership players,” head coach Jacques Nienaber said at a press conference on Tuesday.
“They are only being released according to Regulation 9 of World Rugby, so they will only join us on Monday. We are fortunate to get the Japanese-based players. The Japanese rugby union said the players could start working with us a little bit earlier.
“The national unions sometimes agree with that, and sometimes they stay strictly with Regulation 9, so we have to abide by that. We will only get our Premiership players on Monday.”
Ireland face hostile billboard campaign in New Zealand
Ireland are set to be bombarded by a cocky New Zealand ad campaign when they arrive in the country later this week.
Sports betting agency TAB NZ plans to post a series of billboards in each New Zealand host city near the hotels and training facilities of Andy Farrell's side, the New Zealand Herald reports.
The ads will focus on the All Blacks' intimidating track record at home ahead of the three-Test-match series, which begins at Eden Park on July 2.
One billboard simply states: "0 wins in NZ" in reference to Ireland's track record. Another states: "Think the flight was long? Try a 28-year unbeaten streak at Eden Park," in reference to New Zealand's incredible run at the ground.
Last time the two sides met, however, in Dublin last November, Ireland won 29-20.
Scotland star looks to recover
Ross Thompson is aiming to banish a demoralising end to the club campaign by shining with Scotland on their summer tour of South America.
The 23-year-old stand-off was part of a Glasgow side who concluded their season with five consecutive defeats, including the crushing 76-14 loss to Leinster earlier this month that resulted in head coach Danny Wilson being sacked.
Thompson, who started the campaign in swashbuckling fashion, is relieved he has the chance to try to bounce back from that chastening period with the Warriors by enjoying a positive experience on international duty.
"For me personally it's about looking to bounce back from a difficult end to the season and play as much rugby as possible out here," he said, speaking ahead of Saturday's 'A' team match against Chile in Santiago.
"It's been an up-and-down season for me. We started the season well at Glasgow but didn't finish it as well as we would have liked. Personally, I think it was the same for me.
"I didn't feel I performed as well towards the end of the season. so I feel lucky to have got this opportunity to try and make amends for that and get some good rugby in towards the end of this season and look ahead to next season."
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