Here's your morning round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Monday, November 7.
North: We have to make it right
George North says Wales have three games to “make it right” after opening their autumn campaign with a comprehensive defeat at the hands of New Zealand.
Wales will look for a significant improvement when they step out at the Principality again next weekend, where they will welcome an Argentina side buoyed by an historic win over England.
And North admits Wales are already under pressure to muster up a response after such a disappointing surrender at the hands of a ruthless All Blacks outfit.
READ MORE: The Wales team Wayne Pivac needs to pick against Argentina with four big changes
“The autumn series is four big Tests back to back, and we are quickly into it now,” North said.
“The games will come thick and fast, and we’ve got three to make it right.
“There were glimpses of some good rugby in there from us, but it is an 80-minute performance we need.
“It was a mixed bag. The scoreline has its own story, but when you were in it, we felt like we were going toe to toe.
“We fronted up on a number of occasions, but obviously let some easy tries in, which you can’t do at this level. We have got to be on the money from minute one.
“We created the opportunities, we need to be a bit more clinical, we have got to look at exits in terms of getting out of our 22 and take the pressure off us, rather than compound those issues.”
Woodward tells under-pressure Jones to own up to mistakes
Sir Clive Woodward says the approach of Eddie Jones was England's biggest issue during their defeat to Argentina at Twickenham.
Despite his side slumping to their first defeat to the Pumas since 2009, Jones insisted after the game that he didn't think his side were suffering "really strong problems", insisting they largely "dominated the game".
But the World Cup winner Woodward clearly disagrees, and says it's time for Jones to hold his hands up and own his mistakes.
Writing in his column for MailOnline, he wrote: "England were too slow. Eddie Jones is picking and coaching a team that just can’t play fast enough and there is no-one at the RFU who is remotely qualified to hold him to account. Argentina brought the intensity and credit to them on a historic victory.
"The players aren’t the problem. England’s playing pool is as good as anyone in the world. I could nit-pick about individuals but the fault here lies with the way they are coached and selected.
"Too many players are being picked out of position. Maro Itoje is not a flanker and Owen Farrell is not a centre. Those guys are two of the best players in the world but England aren’t maximising their potential.
Get your brilliant 48-page Wales at the World Cup preview special - it's a must-have historical souvenir
"I was Eddie’s biggest fan when he first came in but now it feels like he’s just trying to prove people wrong. He’s taking on the media, he’s taking on ex-players and it’s caught up with him. Someone needs to sit down with him and say, ‘What was that all about? This is just not acceptable’. Eddie needs to start listening. It’s a huge year for English rugby. He needs to look in the mirror and eat a big slice of humble pie. It’s time to admit that he’s got a lot things badly wrong."
Thomas expecting more of the same against Pumas
Loose head prop Gareth Thomas says Wales will once again face “a big, physical and fast pack” against Argentina next weekend, much like they did in the defeat to the All Blacks.
“New Zealand had a big pack and were physical and fast. We need to be ready, and we need to be better for Argentina as we know they have a big pack as well,” said Thomas.
“We haven’t been together long and everyone’s looking forward to next week now. We will get better.
“We need to learn from the game against the All Blacks and move on with the learnings. We have a squad that wants to get better.
“We felt good and ready to go physically, but there were little mistakes here and there, especially when we were exiting. We need to clean those up for the next game.”
Foketi out of tour
Australia have been hit by the news star centre Lalakai Foketi has been ruled out of the rest of their northern hemisphere tour.
He suffered the injury during the 30-29 defeat to France in Paris having just rounded off a 95-metre team score; he limped off minutes later and it has now emerged the shin injury is serious enough to end his trip early. He flew home on Sunday.
“We’re a bit thin from a midfield point of view,” Australia head coach Dave Rennie said before Saturday’s third Test of the tour against Italy. “We’ll look to bring someone in.”
Wales face the Wallabies in their final match of the autumn series at the end of the month.
READ MORE:
