Here's your rugby evening news for Saturday, 16 July.
Wales let Springboks off the hook - Biggar
Dan Biggar says Wales feel they let South Africa off the hook with a slow start in their third Test defeat to the Springboks in Cape Town.
Wayne Pivac's side took on the world champions with the chance of a historic maiden series victory in South Africa. But a slow start and the predictable and relentless wave of Springbok physicality ensured Jacques Nienaber's side won 30-14 to clinch the series.
Afterwards, Biggar admitted that Wales felt they hadn't applied as much pressure on their hosts as they'd have liked. And while admitting the narrow tour defeat would leave them in good stead moving forward, he added the overriding emotion was one of frustration.
"I thought we started the second half well and got right back in the game," said the Wales captain. "There were a couple of key moments we didn’t quite get right.
"But it’s all ifs buts and maybes. We’re disappointed that we didn’t nail those moments.
"We probably didn’t get enough chances to apply pressure. If we had our time again, we’d have liked to have applied more pressure in South Africa’s territory.
"We weren’t at the races for the first 15 minutes. South Africa started really strongly. 12 months ago, we could have conceded three or four times but the boys dug deep and we managed to get it back to 10-8.
"It shows a huge amount of character and Wayne spoke about the culture of the group. The back room team are incredible.
"The sense in the dressing room is very much of frustration, that we let South Africa off the hook a little bit. We’re a resolute bunch in that changing room and it’ll stand us in brilliant stead. It’s been a really positive campaign overall.
"Naturally we’re going to be disappointed sat here but when we look back on the tour I think we’ll have some fond memories, being competitive.
"It’s been an absolute pleasure to come here. Everyone has treated us with warmth. It’s been great for us and we’ve loved the country."
Farrell never been more proud of a team
Ireland coach Andy Farrell says he has never been more proud to be part of a team after Ireland claimed a historic series victory over New Zealand. After losing the opening Test in Auckland, Ireland won in Dunedin and Wellington - having never previously beaten the All Blacks on Kiwi soil.
"Pleased? I don't think that's the word," Farrell said.
"What's the biggest thing that you can say about a group of people? I don't think there is a word."
"They've grabbed hold of it hugely. I talked yesterday about the leadership group, how they've grown and developed and we've coached this team together. That's the truth.
"Some of the stuff that they've done out there today, we've done it together so when you look at it like that I suppose it's the most proud that I've been as part of a group, without a shadow of a doubt."
Jones hails England's fight in Australia
England coach Eddie Jones believes their series victory over Australia demonstrated the fight in his England team.
England bounced back from a first Test defeat to win the series in Sydney with a 21-17 victory. As a result, Jones has now won each of the away series in his homeland of Australia during his time as England coach.
“The big difference between the first and third tests were that we were not at our best but we kept fighting, kept in the game and our tackling particularly at the end got us a result,” said Jones afterwards.
“We stuck at it, it was a different game for us, the conditions were not fantastic for rugby and we had to adapt to that.
“We adapted as well as we could. We were a little bit off, but we kept fighting.”
The victory marks England’s second successive Test series win in Australia, and is a real marker for Jones’ side after a disappointing 2022 Guinness Six Nations with next year’s World Cup looming.
“It is a really positive step, we always felt the team was going in the right direction, sometimes results don’t reflect that,” added Jones.
“At the end we had six players with under 10 caps – this is a young inexperienced squad and to have an experience like this is fantastic. They understand what it is like to win a series away.
“Some of our guys have now won two series in Australia. I am so proud of their efforts.
“It is like training a race horse, we don’t want to be at our best until the World Cup finals, we need to keep building the base, the depth, the competition and our style of play. We are in a good position.”
All Blacks coach refuses to discuss future
All Blacks coach Ian Foster refused to discuss his New Zealand future after their 2-1 loss in a three-Test series at home against Ireland that ended with a 32-22 defeat in Wellington on Saturday.
Foster, who replaced Steve Hansen as head coach in 2019, is under increasing pressure after New Zealand recorded their first back-to-back home defeats in 24 years. His contract runs to the end of next year's World Cup, but a first series home series defeat since 1994 has piled the pressure on him.
“I just want to talk about the Test match,” Foster told reporters. “New Zealanders have probably got to realise that this was a very good Irish team.”
Foster said the All Blacks had not been as calm as Ireland, who deserved their “time in the sun” for their inspiring win.
“In the defence area we’re getting a bit fidgety, there’s a few holes and Ireland aren’t a team you can let get behind because that is when they play an up-tempo game,” he added.
Foster also defended his decision to replace captain Sam Cane 15 minutes away from the end by saying New Zealand needed “fresh legs”.
“We were just trying to keep the momentum going so it wasn’t a reflection on Sam or his leadership, we had just got momentum and lost it again and felt we needed to make a couple of tweaks.”
Read next:
Why Taulupe Faletau didn't come out of the tunnel when South Africa v Wales kicked off
'Absolutely lethal' South Africa v Wales pitch leaves viewers appalled as players struggle to stand
England beat Australia as landmark day for northern hemisphere continues
Ireland stun All Blacks to clinch historic series win amid tears after epic decider
