Here are your rugby headlines for Monday, April 10.
Springbok credits Welshman with career lift-off
South Africa back-rower Jasper Wiese has credited highly-rated Welsh coach Aled Walters among those who helped his career lift-off.
Fitness guru Walters, who was part of the South Africa backroom staff for the World Cup win in 2019, was head of physical performance at Leicester Tigers under current England boss Steve Borthwick, who Wiese says spotted him when "nobody" knew who he was. Walters followed Borthwick to join England in February as head of strength and conditioning.
Wiese was speaking during an interview in which he also revealed his shock when then-Leicester coaches Steve Borthwick and Kevin Sinfield announced their departures to take over as head coach and defence coach respectively for England at the end of last year. Players were told the news after the Tigers beat Clermont on December 17 in the Champions Cup pool stages.
"Both of them played a big part in where I am today - Kev maybe a bit later on, but Steve has been the coach that spotted me to come to Leicester and then obviously pushed me to become better when I arrived here," he told The Big Jim Show. "Literally, no one knew who I was. And he, him and Aled [Walters] working together, put a lot of work in with me.
“So I think I’m a bit selfish and I’m mad at them, but I’d grant them the opportunity. Steve deserves it. The amount of work he put in the two years, I’ve seen it and I’m sure he’ll do a great job with England as well."
The big No. 8 admitted that emotions got the better of him and many of his Leicester Tigers teammates when the duo's departure was announced.
“It was a bit of a gut punch, definitely," he said. "I was emotional. Believe it or not, Steve was emotional. When he was finished, where I was sitting I could see seven guys, eight guys crying.
“So yeah, that was a shock for me. I thought he’d at least give us a lead-up and say, well, see 'I’ve got two games left. Let’s make it the best that we can'. And I haven’t spoken to any of them since. I must do it."
'Wales Women selling out Principality Stadium a matter of when, not if'
A packed Principality Stadium roaring on Wales Women is a matter of when not if, according to scrum-half Ffion Lewis. A sold-out Cardiff Arms Park with more than 8,000 supporters awaits Lewis and her teammates for the visit of England this Saturday in round three of the Women’s Six Nations as two unbeaten sides go head to head.
That will top the record crowd of 4,962 that turned out for the opening-round win over Ireland and Lewis, who scored the try that wrapped up victory in Scotland last time out, reckons a move next door is inevitable.
“Cardiff Arms Park is our home, it’s electric and you don’t want to lose that atmosphere,” she said. “But I guarantee in four or five years, we could be selling out the Principality.
“The demand and the desire to support us has skyrocketed and it’s such an exciting thing to be a part of at the moment. Wales fans are passionate and it will be an insane atmosphere against England. To hear the fans singing the songs and hymns really gets that fire burning.
“We’re so grateful people are willing to come out and support us and it’s an exciting place to be. If we keep putting in the work we are now, the next generation will have an incredible future and I’m beyond excited to see that, whether I’m playing or supporting from the stands.”
For context, England's Red Roses are set to break the world record for a women's rugby international attendance when the first standalone women's game is staged at Twickenham on Super Saturday, against France in a likely Grand Slam decider. The current record is from when 42,579 fans watched England's Women's World Cup final defeat to New Zealand inside Auckland's Eden Park in November 2022.
Welsh wins over Ireland and Scotland mean Ioan Cunningham’s side are going into this encounter with confidence and the 26-year-old believes her side can cause problems for the reigning Grand Slam winners.
“I believe we can punish them up front because of how much of a good place we are in at the moment,” Lewis said. “We carry a threat all over the park. We know they have a rapid back three but our physicality matches that and our centre partnership are on fire.
“England are always a challenge, they may have some injuries but that doesn’t change the fact they are a world-class team. Our challenge is continuing the good work we’ve put in, focusing on our strengths and utilising them. We know they are strong up front but so are we. I don’t doubt we can put in a performance. Last year, we were losing by 50 or 60 but I don’t think that is even in the question now based on the performances we are putting in.”
Biggar through to Challenge Cup semi-finals
Dan Biggar is through to the Challenge Cup semi-finals after his Toulon side swept aside defending champions Lyon 48-23 on Saturday afternoon. Toulon crossed for seven tries in total as they avenged last year’s defeat to their Top 14 rivals in the Challenge Cup final.
Biggar started on the bench, replacing Ihaia West in the 61st minute, and is searching for silverware in his first season with the French giants.
It was Biggar’s 10th appearance for the club since joining from Northampton Saints in November. Toulon will face Benetton in the semi-finals after they edged past Cardiff on Saturday in their quarter-final.
Wales duo through to Champions Cup last-four
Wales forwards Dafydd Jenkins and Christ Tshiunza both started for Exeter Chiefs as they eased past the DHL Stormers in the Champions Cup quarter-final.
The Chiefs recorded a 42-17 victory over the current United Rugby Championship champions, earning themselves a semi-final against current European champions La Rochelle.
Second-row Jenkins played the full 80 minutes while Tshiunza got 53 minutes under his belt wearing the No. 7 shirt which he has made his own for Exeter this season.
The Chiefs will travel to Bordeaux to face La Rochelle at the end of this month as they look to add another Champions Cup trophy to their cabinet following their win in 2020.
Dragons coach Flanagan determined to change habits
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan is determined to change habits at the club as he comes to the end of his first season in charge. Flanagan’s reign started brightly with wins over Munster, Ospreys and Zebre but has since fizzled out with the team winning just once since October.
“We’ve been disappointed with outcomes, but process wise we feel we are on the right track,” said Flanagan. “We’re trying to change a lot of habits that have been inbuilt over many, many years here in Gwent, trying to set different standards. That takes time.
“I want people to stand up and take ownership - really own what they do. That takes trust, and I’m working my tail off to make sure I’m building trust with these players.
“I want to do what is right for them. I want to back them, I want to support them, put them in positions where they can achieve excellence. To do that, and for them to trust me to do that, will take time. But I do feel we are on the way."
Referring to off-field contract distractions, he said: "I mean this in all the right ways, but I’m looking forward to when the season finishes personally because the effort this group has shown to get through what they have got through has been unbelievable.
"I can’t compliment my playing group enough for how they have behaved throughout the whole process. The first time as head coach has been tough, I’m learning along the way, but it’s making sure that we reflect on it. Having that time [in the summer] will be valuable.”
READ MORE:
