Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Saturday, March 18.
Ireland and France impress Warburton
Former Wales captain Sam Warburton says the current Ireland and France teams going for the Six Nations title are levels above any of Warren Gatland's Grand Slam-winning Wales teams.
Warburton has been blown away by the relentless brilliance of Andy Farrell's Ireland, while the magical French demolition of England last weekend took him aback.
Writing in his Times column, he said: "These present France and Ireland sides are way better than any Wales side of which I was a part."
"Ireland are the best northern hemisphere side we have seen for 20 years, since England’s World-Cup winning side.
"I was at home on Sunday watching them against Scotland and I was actually laughing at how good they were, even when they were doing the less glamorous things, such as kick chases," he added.
"It was remarkable how quickly they were getting back into their attacking shapes. Andy Farrell has said previously that work-rate off the ball is one of the key requisites for a world-class team and that was so evident.
"I was so impressed I had to show someone. I said to my wife, Rachel: 'Look at this, Rach, look at how good Ireland are.' Unsurprisingly she wasn’t that interested."
Scrummaging against England like 'scrummaging against a pillow' says ex-international
Former Harlequins No 8 Nick Easter has taken aim at England's pack following their dismal defeat to France.
England were humiliated 53-10 at the hands of the French at Twickenham, and Easter believes England's forwards are simply not offering anywhere near enough.
“This is the smallest, least physical forward pack I have ever seen in England,” he told Telegraph Sport. “Not only that but it has been stated by the opposition. I spoke to a couple of French players after the game and I won’t name names but they were astounded by the lack of physicality.
“Someone else I know spoke to some of the Scotland lads after the first game and they told him that they had never played against an English pack as unphysical. Then you have South Africans saying that scrummaging against England is like scrummaging against a pillow.
“No matter how bad we have been in the past, we have always had a forward pack. Producing forwards and physicality has never been a problem for England. Now it is embarrassing to watch.”
Tompkins on 'absolute hell' that kept Ken Owens up all night
Nick Tompkins has opened up on the 'hell' of the dispute over player contracts around the Wales squad over the last couple of weeks, adding it even caused skipper Ken Owens 'sleepless nights'.
The dispute saw players threaten strike action ahead of the match with England last month and, while it was eventually averted, Tompkins says the episode still took a toll on the squad.
"I've never had a week in my career like the week we had, the disruption of the training, how bad the boys felt, the mixed emotions," he said.
"Contracts, careers and livelihoods were on the line - not just for the boys in the room, but everyone in the nation.
"That's a serious thing and it's a sobering thought. It's a fine thread with rugby.
"You think you're safe. I've had experiences of teams in my league drop out and you're talking 70 boys out of contract and they can't pay their mortgage.
"It's life for us. That week brought it home. The meetings we were involved in carried a massive weight for what we thought was the nation in terms of the boys playing that weren't in that group.
"We owed it to them to have a voice and stand strong. That game wasn't going to go ahead until we sorted it.
"That was probably one of the darkest and intense weeks, just speaking from my point of view, and I'm a player who doesn't even play at one of the regions.
"For the other guys, it must have been hard. I know Ken Owens went to absolute hell, sleepless nights kind of thing. It was tough."
Biden throws backing behind Ireland for Grand Slam
US President Joe Biden has publicly given his backing to Andy Farrell's Ireland side ahead of Saturday's Grand Slam decider with England.
Biden, who has cited his Irish ancestry on several occasions in his political career, wished the team luck during a St Patrick's Day address at the White House on Friday, where he welcomed the taoiseach, Leo Varadkar for a traditional visit and talks.
During the event, Biden also introduced former Leinster, Ireland and Lions full-back Rob Kearney, who is believed to one of the president's distant Biden cousins.
“I want to see you after this, pal,” Biden said, shortly asking Kearney to stand up.
He then added: “No offense to anyone but we know who we’re rooting for in the Grand Slam match between Ireland and England.”
Jones accuses RFU of selection interference
Eddie Jones has suggested that the Rugby Football Union's board has been interfering with Steve Borthwick's team selection, and may well have caused him to opt for Marcus Smith over Owen Farrell for the 53-10 demolition by France at Twickenham last Saturday.
“The selection of Marcus — to me that’s always the political selection,” Jones said on his podcast EDDIE. “A player has been out of form, hasn’t quite done well at Test level and then he plays one or two club games and he’s a hero. The media starts banging on the door — you’ve got to pick him, you’ve got to pick him — and then the board reacts to that, and ask, ‘Why aren’t you picking him?’
“When you’re a young coach at the start of your career you can get influenced by that. I really felt for Marcus in that game. The thing you’ve got in England is the intenseness [sic] of the media, which then affects the board, and they start to step in, and that’s when you get problems. Allow the coach to coach.
“The board have a strategic role, but because they feel the pressure they try to get involved in the operational side, and that’s when things get worse. Unless you have strong people around the team that can be a difficulty.”
The RFU have refuted the allegations, with a spokesperson telling Telegraph Sport: “Team selection is entirely Steve’s decision as England Head Coach.”
READ MORE:
What became of Taulupe Faletau's team-mates in his first game of professional rugby
WRU plan new 'elite' eight-team league above Welsh Premiership as regions to nominate sides
Rugby World Cup accused as three of the best five teams blocked from semi-finals
Gabby Logan's 'powerful' teenage son signs with English giants
