Your rugby evening headlines for Friday, July 15.
Warburton predicts shift in world rugby power
Former Wales captain Sam Warburton is predicting an epic day for northern hemisphere rugby on Saturday, believing all four home nations sides can seal series victories.
He insists Wales should not be written off, despite the return of South Africa's World Cup stars and infamous 'Bomb squad'.
Writing his column in The Times, he said: "I think England will win on Saturday and take the series 2-1. You can see the improvements they are making, and I think they are building nicely towards next year’s World Cup, where they can be genuine contenders.
"This could be another momentous weekend for the northern hemisphere teams, representing a real shift in the balance of world power, because I think Ireland will beat New Zealand again to take the series too. Scotland will beat Argentina as well and I wouldn’t write off Wales’s chances against South Africa in Cape Town either. The altitude in the first two Tests has been hard for them, but they could easily be 2-0 up now, and can take so much confidence from what they have done so far. South Africa are favourites with their big guns back, but just imagine if it is 4-0 again to the northern hemisphere, as it was last weekend. It can happen."
Beard lumps praise on AWJ
Former Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones ‘has not changed one bit’ despite performing a particularly unfamiliar role on the tour of South Africa.
Jones has been named on the bench for three consecutive Tests for the first time in his career by Wayne Pivac as starting locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands develop a formidable partnership.
Ospreys team-mate Beard, though, insists Jones is still driving standards.
“He’s been great," said the lock. "He hasn’t changed one bit. Al is still that ultra-competitor. Even though he’s on the bench, he’s still the one pushing the pace and first to everything in training.
“It just shows the character of Al that even though he’s not the one starting, he’s the one that’s congratulating you first and helping you, giving his feedback and support. It shows the true character of the guy and why he’s done so well over his career.
“Even if we’re at 100 percent, he’s still going to be pushing. We’re so lucky to have a guy of Al’s calibre coming onto the pitch to end the game.”
Monty predicts Boks by 15
Springbok legend Percy Montgomery is predicting a happy afternoon for South Africa on Saturday.
Wales' tour of South Africa rumbles into Cape Town this week with the series locked at one apiece following tense affairs in Pretoria and Bloemfontein. It is all on the line this Saturday, with the Boks reverting to their strongest possible side after experimenting at the Free State Stadium.
Montgomery, who spent two-and-a-half happy years in Newport, believes the hosts will have too much.
He told WalesOnline: "I think Wales should have won the first Test. South Africa were very lucky and the calls went their way. In the second Test, I know they were blooding some youngsters but you don't want to give away a Test.
"I know teams are doing this to prepare for the World Cup but I know what it means for Wales to beat South Africa here in South Africa.
"It's going to be a different game on Saturday and South Africa have put out a full strength side with a strong bench. I think you'll see a different game. It's going to be a cracking Test match, though, a typical Wales v South Africa match. It'll be confrontational, there are going to be a few sore shoulders after that game.
"I love the Welsh and there is always good banter but I've got to say South Africa by 15 points. Wales have got a good side but I think with the Boks at full strength it'll be tough."
Wallabies look for better start
Australia captain Michael Hooper insists the Wallabies are determined to do themselves justice for the first time in their series against England when the rivals clash on Saturday.
The winners of the Sydney Cricket Ground showdown will lift the newly-created Ella-Mobbs Cup and Hooper wants the hosts to stop conceding the early leads that have played into English hands.
"We're a resilient bunch. We've been able to get ourselves back into both games, winning the first one and getting close last weekend," Hooper said.
"We want a more complete game. Start better. We don't think we've played as well as we can. We think we're a better team than what we've shown so far and that's hugely exciting for us.
"Our motivation is to put that out there and show that to the crowd. What we've learned about England is that they're tough, hard, physical opponents, good at the set piece, and can really grind you.
"They apply scoreboard pressure consistently throughout the game."
Australia claim that England have baited them during the first two Tests with scrum-half Nic White admitting he is surprised at the level of niggle coming from the visitors.
"It's been competitive. It's been enjoyable. I think both teams just want to win and you'll get the chance to see that on Saturday," Hooper said.
Sexton's plan
Captain Johnny Sexton says Ireland intend to sign off for the summer with their "best performance of the season" as they seek to claim a landmark series win in New Zealand.
The Irish rewrote the record books with last weekend's maiden away victory over the All Blacks and are now aiming to make more history on Saturday in Wellington.
Sexton celebrated his 37th birthday on Monday and is poised to move level with Paul O'Connell as his country's fifth most-capped player by making his 108th Test appearance.
Ireland will leapfrog France to the top of the world rankings with a win at Sky Stadium, albeit the Kiwis have not lost a home series since 1994.
"The group are in good spirits, gearing up for a massive game," said the fly-half. "We're really looking forward to it.
"It's a great place to be; creating a little bit of history last week but now we've got a chance to do something a little bit bigger and a little bit more special.
"All the boys are just concentrating on getting our best performance of the season out there and see where that leaves us."
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