Here are the latest rugby news headlines on Tuesday, July 12.
Wales injury update
Wales have today issued the latest on injured duo Dan Biggar and Dillon Lewis, with defence coach Gethin Jenkins reluctant to give too much away.
Jenkins confirmed Biggar is being given more time to prove his fitness as he struggles with a shoulder injury sustained last weekend. Wing Alex Cuthbert is already out of the tour.
Jenkins appeared more upbeat about prop Dillon Lewis, who was pictured after the match wearing a sling. Asked about Lewis' fitness, he said: "He’s recovered well and hopefully he’ll train Thursday and be back on the field on the weekend."
Read next: South Africa name formidable team for Wales decider amid 10 changes as superstars return
Asked if Lewis and Biggar had trained today, he said: "I can't confirm or deny. I’m not commenting on who trained and who didn’t train today. In the grand scheme of things, it’s not overly important.
“We knew that on a Monday and Tuesday we’d be pretty banged up, that’s just the nature of the games we’re facing. When you play other teams, maybe not as much but that’s the nature of the physical battle we’re facing.
“We know we might not be able to cover as much as we might do on a Monday or Tuesday. We might be a couple of names short, not that I will give you those names.
“Thursday will be a big day for us in terms of physically preparing.”
He added: "We’re waiting on Dan Biggar until later in the week. Cuthbert has gone home. There are a few bumps and bruises but other than that nothing to write home about. Fingers crossed we’ll be fine and have a full squad to select from."
Both men will be vital to Wales' chances, with a new captain needed if Biggar is out and rookie prop Sam Wainwright set to start if Lewis fails to make it. Wales are due to name their team on Thursday morning.
South Africa recall big guns
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber has recalled eight of the Springboks' 2019 World Cup-winning team for Saturday's Test series decider against Wales.
After making 14 changes for the second Test, when Wales claimed a first victory on South African soil, Nienaber has reverted to a tried and tested formula.
World Cup captain Siya Kolisi is back for the Cape Town showdown, alongside players like wing Cheslin Kolbe, centre Damian De Allende and lock Lood De Jager.
Only fly-half Handre Pollard, scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse, prop Trevor Nyakane, lock Eben Etzebeth - who wins his 100th cap - and flanker Pieter-Steph Du Toit remain from Bloemfontein last weekend.
Etzebeth becomes the seventh Springboks player to clock up a century of Test appearances, following Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana, Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit, Jean De Villiers and Percy Montgomery.
Team: D Willemse; C Kolbe, L Am, D De Allende, M Mapimpi; H Pollard, J Hendrikse; T Nyakane, B Mbonambi, F Malherbe, E Etzebeth, L De Jager, S Kolisi (capt), P-S Du Toit, J Wiese.
Replacements: M Marx, S Kitshoff, V Koch, F Mostert, K Smith, E Louw, F De Klerk, W Le Roux.
Faf shock explained
Springboks coach Nienaber has explained the shock omission of Faf de Klerk for the decider, suggesting his top stars have to perform every week to keep their places in the team.
Jaden Hendrikse has been preferred at scrum-half following De Klerk's poor performance in the first Test.
“We all know what Faf brings and what a world-class player he is,” Nienaber commented. “However, we also saw Jaden’s performance (in the second Test) and thought he played really well. There is lots of competition and players knocking hard on the door.
“For established players who have been here before, won a World Cup and a Lions series, there will be a key focus on performing (well) week in and week out. But we also want to reward players who are knocking on the door (like Hendrikse).
“Jaden will now know that Faf will come hard at him to get his spot back, and the challenge for him will be to keep putting in consistent performances.”
Reffell's fan club grows
Rugby pundit Ugo Monye has been blown away by new Wales cap Tommy Reffel. The Leicester Tigers man was man of the match last weekend as he inspired his team to a first ever win over the Springboks in South Africa.
It was just his second cap, following on from selection in the first Test, and Monye has joined a growing list of fans, which includes Bryan Habana.
"I thought Tommy Reffell was outstanding," Monye said on the latest Rugby Union Weekly podcast. "Last week, I thought it was a big call to put him in, not because he's not a good player, but just on reputation. Someone like Josh Navidi, when you are going away trying to create history, seeing him on the bench [seemed strange]
"But Reffell had at least three massive turnovers, I'm talking momentum shifters.
"Wales' defence and quality at the breakdown and Tommy Reffell's decision-making and accuracy was just outstanding. Fair play to him and fair play to Wayne Pivac for giving him that shot."
Springboks legend Habana had said: “You have got to hand it to Wales. To their credit, they never dropped the commitment or the fight and created history. I thought the loose forward trio were phenomenal. Tommy Reffell was just in another league."
Ireland get revenge on Maori All Blacks
Andy Farrell felt Ireland's fringe players staked strong claims for involvement in Saturday's series decider against New Zealand following a "tremendous" win over the Maori All Blacks.
The Irish maintained momentum ahead of a mouth-watering conclusion to their Test trilogy with Ian Foster's All Blacks as a second-string side secured a 30-24 warm-up success in Wellington.
Wing Jordan Larmour claimed two of the inexperienced tourists' four tries, while back-rowers Nick Timoney and Gavin Coombes capped standout displays with a score apiece.
Ireland will return to Sky Stadium at the weekend seeking to clinch a landmark series triumph on the back of Saturday's maiden away win over the Kiwis.
While head coach Farrell has been fairly consistent with his Test selections and looks unlikely to spring any major surprises, he concedes there is now plenty to consider.
"There are a lot of lads that have put their hands up," said the Englishman, who saw an experimental team lose 32-17 to the Maoris in their tour opener just under a fortnight ago.
"We've seen people grow massively, not just as rugby players but as people, coming out of themselves within the group which is massive for us for next year.
"I was more pleased with the team performance (than individuals) because the obvious thing to learn from the first game was that some lads were pretty desperate to show everything they've got and they (now) understand that it's always got to be team first and not just disciplined with the referee but disciplined in how we play the game.
"Our discipline was pretty poor in that first game and got a bit desperate at times.
"They've learnt a lot because it was pretty brutal out there, the conditions, it was swirling everywhere and for a young side to be able to manage their way through a game when things aren't going right the whole time, I thought was tremendous.
"I thought they managed the game as a whole superbly well."
Read next:
South Africa name formidable team for Wales decider amid 10 changes as superstars return
Wales' most likely team to try and win the final Test series in South Africa
The reasons for Wales' remarkable turnaround after crunch meetings and a change in attitude
