Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, July 7.
Dan Biggar disagrees with Edwards
Wales have rejected the notion that South Africa’s team selection for the second Test on Saturday is disrespectful.
It is the view of rugby legend Sir Gareth Edwards that the hosts have shown a lack of respect to Wales in naming an experimental side for the Bloemfontein Test, which includes 14 changes to the run-on side.
Edwards also felt the series was devalued as the Springboks try out new players ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup but Wales skipper Dan Biggar was not in agreement.
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“I don’t believe that, not at all,” said Biggar. “If you look at the players they have picked this weekend, you would almost say they are the real in-form players.”
Despite naming six uncapped players in the 23, the Springboks have also called on seven players who featured in the URC final, including Stormers No.8 Evan Roos, who cleaned up at the league’s end of season awards. They also recall vastly-experienced fly-half Handre Pollard, who just won the French Top 14 with Montpellier, to captain the side in Siya Kolisi’s absence.
That said, it is still a side that has been stripped of over 200 caps and 10 Rugby World Cup final starters from the first Test.
“I believe the team we are playing on Saturday is probably a team that is a little bit more match sharp because they have been playing more,” said Biggar.
“If you look at 12 for example (Harlequins centre Andre Esterhuizen) he has been the in-form player in the Premiership.
“They have swapped a World Cup winner and brilliant player in Damian de Allende for Esterhuizen and it certainly does not weaken them.
“There are lots of changes to the team but I don’t believe many of the changes weaken their side.
“We are almost more wary because we are not quite sure what to expect. We know more about players like de Allende, Lukhanyo Am, Cheslin Kolbe and Makazole Mapimpi so we are a little bit more cautious this week.
“When you see the team sheet I don’t expect this to be anything other than a tough game on Saturday.
“We make changes every autumn when we play Georgia or Fiji or whoever it is. So there is nothing in it for me.”
Wales make one change
Wales boss Wayne Pivac has called up wing Alex Cuthbert as a solitary change to the starting line-up for Saturday's second Test against South Africa in Bloemfontein.
Cuthbert, who starred in the Guinness Six Nations earlier this year, replaces Josh Adams.
Adams is on the bench, where an enforced switch sees uncapped Saracens prop Sam Wainwright taking over from Tomas Francis, who was stood down by Wales' medical team and has returned home after suffering concussion during the 32-29 first Test defeat.
North Wales-born Wainwright, 24, was drafted into the tour squad last month as a replacement for the injured Leon Brown.
And his Test debut now awaits as Wales target a first victory over the Springboks in South Africa following an agonising loss last weekend. You can read all the news on the team here, and see our verdict here.
World Rugby defends HIA protocols
By Nick Purewal, PA
World Rugby has warned against "irresponsible" remote head-injury diagnosis in defending its Head Injury Assessment (HIA) protocols.
Safety campaign group Progressive Rugby has claimed HIA checks are "being exposed" in the wake of Johnny Sexton's selection for Ireland's second Test against New Zealand.
Talismanic fly-half Sexton failed HIA1 - an on-field assessment - in Ireland's 42-19 defeat by the All Blacks in Auckland last weekend.
Progressive Rugby has called into question Sexton's subsequent selection for Saturday's second Test in Dunedin, raising fears over the HIA process.
But World Rugby has stressed that failing the HIA1 on-field assessment does not automatically mean a player has sustained concussion.
"It is the duty of any individual or organisation commenting on the Head Injury Assessment process to do so using the facts," a World Rugby spokesperson told the PA news agency.
"Attempting to diagnose a serious medical condition like concussion from afar, without all the relevant information including a player's medical history, is irresponsible and no substitute for the world-leading medical care received by elite rugby players.
"Doctors are supported by the Head Injury Assessment and recently updated return-to-play protocols put in place by World Rugby.
"These protocols are developed using scientific evidence and independent expert opinion which are kept under constant review, as we never stand still on player welfare."
Scotland name team
Hamish Watson will return from injury to win his 50th Scotland cap in Saturday's second Test in Argentina.
The flanker replaces Edinburgh team-mate Luke Crosbie in the line-up for the encounter in Salta.
Gregor Townsend has made five changes in all following a 26-18 defeat in the opening Test.
Ben White replaces Ali Price at scrum-half to make his first start for Scotland. The London Irish player made a try-scoring debut against England earlier this year and won his fifth cap off the bench in Jujuy last Saturday.
Dave Cherry, Sam Skinner and Rory Darge come into the pack, along with Watson.
Edinburgh hooker Cherry is back in the team for the first time since playing in all five of Scotland's Six Nations games in 2021, as a straight swap for George Turner, who drops to the bench.
New Edinburgh signing Skinner replaces Jonny Gray and will wear the number four jersey alongside captain Grant Gilchrist in the second row.
Darge returned from injury off the bench in the first Test and will make his fourth start for Scotland, with the 22-year-old replacing Magnus Bradbury in the back row.
Bradbury, Crosbie and Gray drop out of Townsend's match-day squad, while London Irish winger Kyle Rowe could make his debut from the bench.
Farrell resists change
Andy Farrell insisted his players deserved a shot at redemption in resisting an overhaul for Ireland's second Test in New Zealand.
Ireland were thumped 42-19 by the All Blacks in Auckland last weekend but head coach Farrell has kept faith with the bulk of that starting line-up.
Mack Hansen has replaced Keith Earls on the wing, but Farrell has otherwise named the same remaining 14 for Saturday's clash in Dunedin.
Johnny Sexton will start at fly-half after passing head injury assessments having been removed from the first Test following a blow to the head.
"There's all sorts of different ramifications that go into selection, sometimes players probably have not performed to the standards they judge themselves on," said Farrell.
"To not give people a chance to correct that is sometimes missing an opportunity, so there's a little bit of that.
"Some people are unlucky probably not to start because they had good impact off the bench etcetera, they understand that as well.
"This has been more of a straightforward week obviously, and a lot of the lads have an opportunity to go again."
Read next:
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Barry John's talented brother dies as tributes paid to 'club legend'
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