Here's your rugby evening headlines for Wednesday, September 21.
Dragons' task gets even tougher
The Dragons' task of recovering from their 44-6 opening-day defeat to Edinburgh just got tougher with the announcement that Munster will welcome back their Ireland internationals for Sunday's United Rugby Championship encounter at Rodney Parade (3pm kick-off).
Dragons director of rugby Dean Ryan hit out at his own team after their Scottish opponents ran in seven tries in 35 minutes, a disappointing development to say the least after the Welsh team started the better side to go six points up inside 12 minutes.
After it all fell apart, Ryan said: "It wasn't good enough. We've got supposed talent in this squad, but I don't see it at the moment. I don't see the work rate that was needed or the desire to be in the right position. We need to hold some hard conversations about how that can happen in the first game of the season."
READ MORE: Wales Women World Cup squad announcement: Live updates
Now, their task has intensified with 10 Ireland stars who secured a historic series win in New Zealand this summer set to return to action among the opposition. The likes of Tadhg Beirne, Peter O'Mahony, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery and Keith Earls are available for selection for Munster, who will be looking to bounce back from their opening weekend defeat to Cardiff at the Arms Park.
Jeffreys steps down at Pontypool
The chief executive of Pontypool Ben Jeffreys has announced he will be stepping down from the role at the end of the month.
Jeffreys has held the position since 2014, having originally been employed as the club's commercial director. Pontypool RFC club president Graham Price said Jeffreys' contribution had been "immense".
An upon his outgoing, Jeffreys himself said his decision was incredibly difficult but added he was safe in the knowledge that things are in place at the club for a vibrant future.
“It has truly been the honour of a lifetime to have had the opportunity to represent Pontypool RFC over the last decade and I’m incredibly proud of everybody who has helped transform the club into a true powerhouse of Welsh club rugby," he said in a statement on the club's website.
“Pontypool RFC has given me so much and I will forever cherish the many memories and magical moments we have experienced together on this journey. From our progression in the National Cup to the National Championship triumphs and unbeaten campaigns, I couldn’t be prouder of the club I’m leaving behind.
“I have given absolutely everything to Pontypool RFC and I’ve always been driven by the desire to take the club back to the Premiership. Whilst that journey will continue without me, the progress the club has made in recent months is palpable and I’m confident that all the components are in place to make this dream finally become a reality this season.
“My decision to leave Pontypool RFC was incredibly difficult, but the time is right to say goodbye to this truly remarkable rugby club. I will always be grateful to all those who supported me over the years and I wish everyone at the club every success in the future.”
'We've got to win it' - England coach lays down marker ahead of World Cup
England Woman coach Simon Middleton has stated that his side has to win the World Cup after naming his squad for the upcoming tournament.
The Red Roses head into the World Cup in New Zealand having won their last 25 games consecutive games. Such is their strength in depth, a player of Natasha Hunt's quality has missed out on selection - with Middleton citing a difference in playing styles as the reason
"We’ve got to win it," said Middleton after naming his 32-player squad. "This is the best prepared squad with the best strength in depth we've ever had.
"We are as ready to go as we can be. You can’t guarantee you’ll win it because it doesn’t work like that, but we’ve got everything we could want at our disposal.
"You can see the quality of players we’ve got by those we’ve left out."
'Introduce timekeepers and shorten halves to 30 minutes'
Former All Black Andrew Mehrtens wants rugby to introduce timekeepers and shorten halves to 30 minutes of effective play in a bid to banish the issue of time-wasting.
The common practice has hit the headlines in the wake of referee Mathieu Raynal's decision to penalise Australia fly-half Bernard Foley in the closing stages of the Rugby Championship clash against the All Blacks, allowing New Zealand to go on and win the game.
Mehrtens, who won 70 caps for the All Blacks, believes an overhaul of how time is monitored in rugby is long overdue, telling The Breakdown on Sky Sport New Zealand: "If you start stopping the clock here and there the game is going to blow out to a much longer spectacle than we’ve currently got. So make the halves 30 minutes each, and stop the clock every time there’s a scrum set. The professional timekeeper re-starts it when the ball is played at the back of the scrum. If there’s a try, you stop the clock there and you don’t restart it until the kick-off’s taken.
"If you bring it down to 30 minutes a half, you’ll still get effectively the same amount of time for people at the stadium and you’ll get a much higher proportion of the ball in play."
The All Blacks and the Wallabies meet for the second Bledisloe Test in Auckland on Saturday, with New Zealand needing a win to clinch the Rugby Championship.
Barrett calls for 'free-flowing game'
All Black star Beauden Barrett has also weighed in on time-wasting in the modern game after last week’s controversial call by Raynal in the Bledisloe Cup match.
When quizzed about the Raynal/Foley incident, All Blacks star Barrett said : "You’re always aware of the referee. They’re the ones in charge, so yes, you play the game a little bit, you wait for that warning if you’re trying to run down the clock and then you kick the ball out, or play on, whatever it is. Yes, of course, we’re the one with the ball and if the ref asks us to get on with it, we do."
But how quickly a player has to get on with it is currently open to interpretation. Barrett added: "I think as a fan, you don’t want stoppages, you want to see a free-flowing game. Certainly to play it, I think fitter players should be rewarded by less stoppages and keeping the ball in play and basically a better product of rugby. That suits me and suits New Zealand Rugby for sure so hopefully we’re trending in the right direction."
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