Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news from Wales and beyond for Friday, July 15.
Pivac - Series win would be career highlight
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac says wrapping up a historic series victory in South Africa would be the highlight of his career so far.
In terms of the size of the occasion, he puts it alongside the grand slam match against France in 2021 that ultimately ended in defeat but insists nothing would rival clinching the series on Springbok soil.
He said: “It’s got to be alongside the game to win a grand slam in France. It’s the next biggest match, or the biggest match, if you like. France at the end of that Six Nations was one thing but this is South Africa in their own backyard. We all know the history and how powerful they are.
READ MORE: The verdict on Pivac's Wales selection and areas for improvement
“It’s a hell of a beast that is in front of us. But if we could win this game it would definitely be the highlight, I would imagine, of the players’ careers to date, certainly mine because we’ll have created history and won a series in South Africa.
“You may not see that again for a long time because it’s taken us this long to win one Test match. Doing it two weeks in a row, that would have to be the highlight.”
Gibbs fears 'unfair advantage' but says Wales can do it
Wales legend Scott Gibbs believes Wales can cause an upset tomorrow and win the series, but he fears South Africa's "unfair advantage" could prove the difference.
Gibbs was referring to the Springboks' self-styled "bomb squad" and hooker Malcolm Marx in particular. The strength of South Africa's bench is far superior to any other side in world rugby, with world class hooker Marx regularly introduced early in the second half to have a decisive and destructive influence on Test matches.
As well as the power of Marx, Steven Kitshoff and Vincent Koch coming on later in the game, the home team also have Willie Le Roux and Faf de Klerk on the bench this week.
The Boks overturned an 18-3 half-time deficit to win the first Test.
Speaking on SA Rugby Magazine's rugby show, Gibbs said: "This Wales team is so bloody gnarly, they are like a Cape Town mosquito and won't go away. I can see them sticking in there. My head says the Springboks but my heart really does say Wales.
"But the issue is the bomb squad. I just think Malcolm Marx is unplayable. With Kitshoff, it is kind of unfair. It is like finishing 14 rounds a World Championship fight, like the Thriller in Manilla, and then suddenly there's another guy who comes in swinging and you just cannot duck the punches.
"It has been a remarkable effort from Wales and I still just have this feeling there is an upset."
Jones hits out at state of rugby
England coach Eddie Jones has called for changes to the way matches are officiated ahead of next year's World Cup, adding that delays in refereeing decisions and the high number of cards are blighting the game.
The use of the Television Match Official (TMO) to spot infringements has been a regular part of the game for a number of years now, but the lower threshold for yellow and red cards has, in the Australian's opinion, further exacerbated delays during games.
"We've gone too [far] playing it like it's a tennis game and every decision's got to be right," he told reporters on Thursday.
"Rugby when it's played at its best, and when we have the laws at the right level, we get that natural flow and rhythm in the game and we don't have it at the moment.
"Every time we get a flow in the game there's a stoppage and we go back to see if someone's taken out someone - well the referee couldn't see it, so it can't be too bad. If it's a blatant red card offence then we need to go back to it."
Jones has often been outspoken when it comes to opinions on officials, but he admits he can't blame the referees themselves.
"We've got to keep the game safe, don't get me wrong, but accidental head contact and this incessant use of TMO, we've got to cut out," he said.
"Lineouts can be tidied up, scrums can be tidied up, and as long as the referees get the mandate to do it, they'll do it.
“I’ve been speaking to a few ex-coaches. The referees, coaches and players need to get together and say ‘This is the game we want. This is the game people want to see.’ I’m certainly going to be pushing for it because I’ve had enough.”
Welsh duo named in team of the tournament
Two Welsh players have been named in Opta’s U20 Summer Series team of the tournament.
Lock Christ Tshiunza and prop Rhys Barratt make the line-up, which is based on performance figures over the campaign.
France provide the most players with three, while Ireland, Georgia, Italy and South Africa, as well as Wales, supply two apiece.
England and Scotland contribute one player each.
Tshiunza made the most carries of any second row player and also beat four defenders.
Barratt hit 62 rucks during the campaign, the joint-most by any front rower, while he also made the most passes of any prop with 11.
Tournament winners South Africa have superb scrum-half Nico Steyn in the side — top for carries, metres gained, line breaks, defenders beaten and try assists — with outstanding centre Suleiman Hartzenberg also winning a place.
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