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Katie Sands

Today's rugby news as Gatland 'doesn't know what team he wants' and Eddie Jones in awkward TV exchange

These are the latest rugby headlines on Tuesday, May 23.

Gatland 'doesn't know what Wales team he wants'

Warren Gatland is in an unfamiliar situation and does not know what Wales team he wants to play, according to former Wales lock Ian Gough.

The 64-cap former second-row believes the shock retirements of Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric have added to Gatland's list of considerations, and he now "has his hands full".

Gough, capped 64 times for Wales, told BBC Radio Wales: "Warren has got his hands full and is in a situation he hasn't really been in before. He's always had that core group but we've seen since he came back that he doesn't quite know the team he wants to play.

"You always thought under Warren that he knew that and at times, early in his tenure, he actually wasn't changing enough and developing players. But now he's being forced to do that and especially in difficult circumstances, given what's been happening in Welsh rugby over the last year."

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Eddie Jones in awkward TV exchange

Australia head coach and former England boss Eddie Jones says he doesn't care if he gets a warm reception at Twickenham this weekend when he returns to his old stomping ground in charge of the Barbarians.

The famously taciturn Wallabies coach will coach the Baabaas for their fixture on Sunday, against a World XV coached by Steve Hansen.

Giving an interview to Australian TV channel ABC, Jones' dismissive answers to questioning around his return to Twickers made for a few awkward few moments.

Asked about his return, Jones said: "I don't have any real feelings. Once you move on from a job, you tend to put that last job behind you. I left, albeit not when I wanted to, but certainly I had a good feeling about the players I was coaching and that's the only thing that counts. I'm just looking forward to this week, coaching the Barbarians."

Asked if he thought he would get a warm reception from England fans, he said: "I don't really care."

Jones was more obliging as the interview moved on to Australia matters, before Jones added: "The Barbarians are an important institution in rugby. They're very much about the spirit of the game. We want to play with good spirit, good endeavour, play some good rugby and then the second bonus is working with Quade [Cooper] and Samu [Kerevi] who are potentially [Australia] World Cup members, so to see where they're up to. And hopefully coaching a Barbarians team that plays with a lot of spirit will be important." You can watch the full interview here.

Barbarians v World XV changes

Sam Johnson and Taichi Takahashi have been added to the Barbarian F.C. squad for this weekend’s Killik Cup clash at Twickenham Stadium, and Jordi Murphy also joins the World XV.

Glasgow Warriors centre Johnson has 27 caps for Scotland to his name, and Toyota Verblitz wing Takahashi made his Japan debut against France last year. Meanwhile Ulster back row Murphy has earned 31 caps for Ireland and is set to retire from professional rugby this summer.

Kaminieli Rasaku (Bayonne and Fiji 7s) also replaces Marika Koroibete in the World XV line-up, with the Australian wing forced to withdraw from the fixture.

The Killik Cup will be on the line this Sunday (28 May, kick-off 2pm), as two of the most decorated coaches in world rugby, Eddie Jones (Barbarians) and Steve Hansen (World XV), go head-to-head.

The match with see the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Taulupe Faletau appear for the Barbarians, while Wyn Jones and Rhys Patchell are involved with the World XV. You can read more here.

Maitland grateful to have Saracens future sorted ahead of final

By Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent

Sean Maitland is ready to help Saracens claim the Gallagher Premiership title on Saturday after his prolonged contract saga ended an unsettling period.

Maitland was about to prepare his departure speech for the club's leavers' event on April 28 because of the uncertainty over whether he would still be at StoneX Stadium next season. It was a fraught time for the Scotland wing and his family due to the Premiership's reduced salary cap making contracts harder to come by, but Saracens have chosen to retain his clinical finishing skills.

"It was lastminute.com. Again! The last two have been quite similar. The market is probably not the best at the moment, especially for a 34-year-old winger," Maitland said. "It's a bit complicated with the salary cap and everything that's going on in rugby.

"It doesn't just involve me. I'm just so happy because I have a young family and my kids get to stay in the same school and in the same house for another year. Some things helped me - little micro-chats with my wife, small chats about the future and what could happen, keeping her updated about things here and at other clubs. I'm very grateful it's sorted and I can just worry about playing rugby. To move from this club which I love would have been pretty difficult."

The climax to the season against Sale at Twickenham on Saturday will be the last Saracens appearances for Jackson Wray, Duncan Taylor, Max Malins and Ruben de Haas.

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