Here's your round-up of the latest rugby news for Tuesday, December 13.
McBryde 'exchanges texts' with Gatland
Former Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde says he has been in touch with Warren Gatland but doesn't know what his old boss' plans are going to be with his backroom team.
The Leinster assistant coach addressed speculation linking him with a return home across the Irish Sea to serve under Gatland for a second time when he spoke to the Irish media on Monday.
READ MORE: Warren Gatland's backroom team: Who stays, who is axed and the names waiting in the wings
McBryde worked side by side with Gatland for 11 years as the Welsh pack provided the foundation for three Grand Slams and two World Cup semi-finals, as well as being his forwards coach with the Lions.
Leinster boss Stuart Lancaster will leave the Irish province to join Racing 92 at the end of this season and McBryde’s contract also expires in the summer.
Jonathan Humphreys, Wales forwards coach under Wayne Pivac, is thought to be one of the backroom staff members under pressure as Gatland weighs up his options and chooses whether to bring in his own men.
Asked if he had spoken to Gatland since his Wales return, McBryde said: "I've exchanged texts with him, wished him the best but that's where it ends.
“I go back a long way with Gats. He'll give them a shot in the arm, definitely. He's more than comfortable with players and staff alike. Knowing Gats, he'll have an effect, definitely, and you never know what he's going to do next, really.
“Listen, I don't know the ins and outs of it, but I suppose - and he said it himself - there's a lot on the line with regards to the legacy he left behind.”
Watson talks up 'ridiculously good' Borthwick
England star Anthony Watson has described Steve Borthwick as "a ridiculously good coach" ahead of his likely ascension to English rugby's top job.
Leicester boss Borthwick, a former England forwards coach and England captain, is the clear favourite to succeed Eddie Jones after Wales beat the RFU to the punch for Warren Gatland.
Borthwick masterminded Tigers' Gallagher Premiership title triumph last season, transforming Leicester from relegation candidates when he arrived in the East Midlands to champions.
"I don't really want to get caught in the if or when of him going, but what I will say is that Steve is a ridiculously good coach," said Watson, whose blistering 50-metre solo try helped Tigers claim an opening Heineken Champions Cup win against Ospreys.
"Steve is genuinely an honest bloke. He will tell you exactly how it is. There's no sugar-coating it. Whether you like it or not, he is going to tell you.
"And secondly, everything he says is backed up by evidence. I remember in pre-season he came up to me and we were talking about the breakdown.
"He said he had watched every one of my carries for the last two or three years and what I needed to do on the ground to make sure we can retain possession. I don't know how many carries that would have been, but two, three years' worth of carries is a decent amount. For him to trawl through that just shows you how dedicated he is."
Watson, who has won more than 50 England caps and played in five Tests for the British and Irish Lions, made his Red Rose debut a year before Jones took charge.
He featured in 39 England games under Jones, starting 36 of them, and has no doubt about the Australian's quality.
"Eddie is another world-class coach - and a world-class human," Watson said.
"There are very few people who can see the bigger picture like him. I am disappointed I won't be able to continue to work with him. It is distressing to see someone give up so much - and then get so much heat from outside - when he has dedicated himself to the game."
Ludlam leaps to Jones' defence
England and Northampton flanker Lewis Ludlam says the players must take responsibility for Eddie Jones's sacking.
Jones was dismissed last week following a poor run of form that saw England win just five of their 12 Test matches in 2022.
“I don’t necessarily agree that it was the right decision,” Ludlam told The Times Ruck podcast. “But I think it was the nature of the way public pressure is set up now. It was really disappointing so close to a World Cup as well.
“I think we’ve got a look at ourselves and how we can get improvement out of the team. Eddie’s always given space for the players to drive the team in the direction that they want it to. So for us as players, I think we’ve got to look at ourselves as well.
“We’ve got to look at where we can get improvements in our game. The reality is this group of players probably haven’t been performing the way we’d like to, and unfortunately, it was Eddie who’s had to take the flak for everyone.”
Crabb facing significant injury lay-off
Wales and Gloucester-Hartpury second row Gwen Crabb is set for a significant injury lay-off ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.
Crabb was forced from the field during her club's 53-7 Premier 15s win at Saracens on Saturday, and has since gone under the knife to resolve the issue.
Taking to Instagram, she posted: "Injuries are part and parcel of the job, but it’s always tough nonetheless."
Wales' Six Nations campaign begins when with the visit of Ireland on 25 March, 2023.
READ NEXT:
