Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, October 15.
Ospreys boss lauds Alun Wyn Jones
Toby Booth has praised the influence of Alun Wyn Jones after the Ospreys grafted out a 16-16 draw against defending URC champions Stormers on Friday night.
Jones, along with Adam Beard, performed excellently to prevent the Stormers getting any change at the driving maul.
Booth said of Jones: "Alun Wyn Jones was very influential from a set piece point of view. Look at his maul defence, he's been very influential. He's come back with a spring in his step, he's got the bit between his teeth, he's very deliberate about what he's been doing, he's led the team off the pitch in what he says.
"He obviously speaks very well and he leads by example from an effort point of view, in the nitty gritty. In Test match rugby, on nights like tonight against big sides, it's the nitty gritty that matters."
Sir Graham Henry plots Wales defeat
Sir Graham Henry has "immersed himself" into brushing up on the Black Ferns' World Cup opponents as the New Zealand Women coaching set-up plot a win over Wales this Sunday.
Black Ferns head coach and former All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith is being assisted by former All Blacks, Wales and 2011 World Cup-winning head coach Sir Graham Henry, who Smith says has been studying every single team the Black Ferns will face, regardless of perceived strength, as they bid to defend their world title and claim a sixth World Cup trophy.
“We have watched every game of every team that is here over the last two years, so we are well versed on the likes of Wales and Scotland,” Smith told media at the team announcement. “We have done the homework on those previous games and the ones last weekend.
“Ted [Graham Henry] has immersed himself in the hours of video work. As to northern teams and the way that they play… rugby is rugby and you can play it many ways and I don’t think there is a northern way and a southern way, England are the best in the world at present, but they play to their strengths upfront and to a very good backline."
Read more: Four Wales changes made for Rugby World Cup clash against reigning champions Black Ferns
Scotland boss 'heartbroken' after dramatic Australia defeat
Scotland head coach Bryan Easson said he felt "heartbroken" after defeat to Australia left them on the brink of a Rugby World Cup exit.
Easson's side led 12-0 at the break in Whangarei thanks to a score from hooker Lana Skeldon and a penalty try. But Australia - who finished with 13 players after Ashley Marsters and Adiana Talakai were sent off in the closing stages - scored 14 second-half unanswered points to seal a dramatic victory.
"It was always going to be tough," Easson told ITV. "We knew the wind was really strong first half and we probably could have done with another few points. We knew Australia were going to pressure us. We had to keep the ball and build phases, but it just wasn't to be that second half."
Scotland suffered an 18-15 defeat to Wales in their tournament opener when Keira Bevan kicked an 84th-minute penalty to clinch victory. They now have to beat New Zealand next Saturday to keep alive hopes of staying in the competition.
Easson said: "These guys are so close, it was the same against Wales. They're playing some good rugby. You see the passion that's in them, the fight that they give. I feel heartbroken for everybody because of the work that they've put in."
Glasgow head coach to miss Sharks game due to visa delays
Glasgow have announced that head coach Franco Smith has been unable to return to his native South Africa because of visa delays. The former South Africa international will miss their game against Cell C Sharks on Saturday.
Smith worked in the country as recently as 2019 before leaving to take charge of Italy following a four-year spell coaching Cheetahs.
Warriors said in a statement: "Franco Smith has been unable to fly to South Africa for this weekend's game due to visa delays. He will join up with the squad at the earliest possible opportunity. Attack coach Nigel Carolan will take responsibility on the ground in South Africa for (Saturday's) game."
The rest of the Warriors party flew out on Tuesday with a 36-man squad for the BKT United Rugby Championship double header against the Sharks and Emirates Lions.
'No quick fixes' for rugby club crisis, Premiership chief insists
Premiership Rugby chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor admits there are "no quick fixes" as the English professional club game battles its biggest crisis.
But Massie-Taylor insists that "bold decisions" will be made to "lay better foundations for the game". And the clear message is that clubs need to agree on a likely vigorous shake-up and align with each other, which has often proved beyond them during 27 years of professionalism.
The Gallagher Premiership, England's flagship domestic competition, is in meltdown after Wasps and Worcester were suspended amid financial difficulties which threaten their existence. Wasps say they are likely to enter administration, while Worcester have been suspended from Premiership action for the rest of this season, with relegation to follow, after the club's partial liquidation.
The freefall of both clubs has reignited the debate over sustainability at the top level, and Premiership Rugby is examining a range of options to strengthen clubs' financial resilience, which will include giving consideration to the league's structure and the visibility of clubs' financial information.
Asked if he had concerns about other Premiership clubs, Massie-Taylor said: "We haven't been given any direct red flags from clubs, but I will be really honest and say that until I get complete financial oversight of clubs I can't give you a direct answer on that."
And former Wasps player and rugby director Nigel Melville, who is chairman of Premiership Rugby's investor board, added: "I think the time is right for a reset, and I think everybody agrees. When it comes down to a vote, 'what's in it for me?' always comes forward. I think there is a general feel that change is necessary to move forward.
"We always have problem clubs. It's not always the same one. It depends what the issue is. We are working really well together at the moment. We have our issues now and again, but everybody is very straight with each other and very honest."
The Premiership is now operating with 11 clubs after the season began with 13 just over a month ago. Massie-Taylor admits grand plans for an eventual expansion to 14 were "short-sighted".
"There is an element of not knocking down everything. We have some great elements to Premiership Rugby, and the competitiveness and quality of rugby is one of them. But we need to create a higher standard and a more integrated second tier (Championship). There are no quick fixes here, but we have a big responsibility to take some.
"I am not going to dwell on the issues that we have, but they all begin with C. One is the calendar, one is the cost base, which is not linked up to our commercial system, and from a governance point of view, we have issues over what we can control and we also have a huge amount of conflict.
Potential Worcester buyers focused on ensuring club will 'rise again'
Administrators seeking a buyer for Worcester say discussions are continuing "with a number of interested parties" about acquiring the club.
Worcester were suspended from the Gallagher Premiership and will be relegated at the end of this season following Warriors' partial liquidation, with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) pursuing unpaid tax in the region of £6million.
A number of players have already left Sixways, including the likes of Duhan van der Merwe, Ollie Lawrence, Fin Smith, Joe Batley and Andrew Kitchener.
In a statement, administrators Begbies Traynor said: "We are pleased to confirm that discussions are continuing with a number of interested parties who remain focused on acquiring Worcester with a view to re-establishing rugby at the Sixways Stadium and developing the first-rate facilities and land around it to support rugby operations.
"We are not yet at a stage to be able to enter into any preferred bidder agreement, but expect to continue discussions around this with a view to achieving a sale in the timescale needed for a squad to be built by a purchaser in good time for next season."
Administrators presented an update to Premiership Rugby's investor board on Thursday.
Northampton replace Worcester fixture with Barbarians game
Northampton will fill the void in their fixture list caused by Worcester's Gallagher Premiership suspension with a game against the Barbarians.
Saints had been due to host Worcester on November 26, but that match was cancelled following Warriors entering administration and being partially liquidated.
"Worcester Warriors' suspension from the Gallagher Premiership leaves a significant hole in our financial forecast," Northampton chief executive Mark Darbon said.
"So the club has acted swiftly to arrange another top-class game of rugby for this date, and we are delighted with the outcome."
The Barbarians have previously faced the East Midlands at Saints' Franklin's Gardens home, but never Northampton.
Saints have provided a number of players for the Baa-baas in past seasons, including Ben Cohen, Carlos Spencer and Pat Lam, while more recently the likes of Tom Wood, Cobus Reinach and Samu Manoa.
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