The latest rugby headlines on Friday, March 11.
Sonny Bill flags up more woe for Wales
Sonny Bill Williams might have been expected to offer a dot of support for his fellow New Zealander Warren Gatland during a particularly tough time for the Wales head coach.
Not a bit of it. Instead the former All Blacks centre is predicting more misery for Gatland’s team when they face Italy in the Six Nations in Rome on Saturday.
Read more: Italy v Wales head-to-head player ratings show where Gatland's team are right now
The match has been billed a wooden-spoon showdown and Italy will be quietly fancying their chances after spirited performances against France, England and Ireland.
Wales, by contrast, have been completely out of sorts when slumping to a heavy defeat by Ireland in Cardiff, a record hammering by Scotland and a deflating home setback against England.
Defeat at Stadio Olimpico would send Wales further tumbling in the World Rugby rankings. They currently stand in 10th position, their joint-worst rating. A loss to Italy could drop them to their worst position outright of 11th. They could even slip into 13th place, below Samoa and Georgia, depending on the margin of defeat.
On the other side of the coin, a win would move them back up to ninth.
Anyway, Williams, who had a hundred percent record against Wales as a player - four wins out of four - is not expecting the weekend to go well for Gatland and Co.
Posting on Twitter, he said: “Italy to beat Wales. England gets the dub with the young gun Smith having a blinder. Ireland getting that grand slam.”
Wales have lost two out of 13 away matches against Italy, the defeats coming in 2003 and 2007.
URC side make huge signing
While Wales’ professional sides are contemplating reduced budgets, pay cuts and potential job losses, there’s a reminder from Italy that not every rugby outfit in the United Rugby Championship is on the same beat.
Benetton have pulled the spectacular signing of former All Black Malakai Fekitoa out of the bag, securing the services of the 30-year-old centre on a three-year deal.
Fekitoa will leave Munster at the end of the season, heading for Treviso once he completes his World Cup commitments with Tonga, whom he now represents.
He said: “I am very excited to join the club next season. 'It’s a new challenge for me in my career and I’m looking forward to giving my all and playing really well for Benetton Rugby, plus reuniting with friends I’ve played with in the past.
“The team is playing exciting rugby and I want to be a part of it. I hope to be able to contribute to the club on and off the pitch.'
Tandy leads Hogg tributes
Steve Tandy has paid tribute to Stuart Hogg as the 30-year-old full-back prepares to make his 100th Scotland appearance.
Hogg will join an elite club when he takes the field in the Six Nations clash against Ireland at Murrayfield on Sunday, with only three Scotland players having previously reached the century landmark.
Chris Paterson got there first, in 2011, followed by Sean Lamont and Ross Ford. With his dash, creativity and spirit of adventure, Hogg ranks up there with some of the finest Scotland No. 15s, Andy Irvine and Gavin Hastings among them.
And ex-Ospreys player and coach Tandy, who oversees defence coach duties for Scotland, is a fan.
“In this day and age, with the amount of rugby these boys play, to have the motivation and energy he has to represent Scotland, he's a special player and a special human being,” said Tandy.
“The pride he has for representing Scotland is brilliant to see. It'll be a huge achievement for him and well deserved.”
The former flanker continued: “He's bringing bags of energy with the way he plays, there’s an excitement around him.
“I know people talk about Hoggy in attack and things, but the energy he brings in defence, the communication, the focus — it’s brilliant to have him part of this group.”
Sexton: Team matters more than personal records
Johnny Sexton will approach a huge Six Nations record insisting team success is more important than individual achievement.
The fly-half returns to Grand Slam-chasing Ireland’s starting lineup for the clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.
He will do so just seven points short of Ronan O’Gara’s record points tally in the championship of 557.
But it will be the incentive of driving his side towards success that will be the spur for the Ireland captain.
"It's something that people say to you or you see it on social media," he said. "Irish Rugby tagged me in something today, which I wasn't too happy about!
"It's there but I don't think it's going to add any pressure to me or anything like that. It's not something I set out to do.
"I'd rather not score another point and win a championship, win a Grand Slam than get the points record. It doesn't bother me too much. If it comes, fantastic, but it's not something I lose sleep over.
"If the right decision is to go to the corner and pass on points, I will do that.
"But if you do it, it's an amazing mark to do. Ronan obviously had an amazing career and even just to be in that same conversation is enough for me."
Sexton comes back into the team at fly-half alongside Conor Murray, while Garry Ringrose features at outside centre.
Russell can be stopped, say Irish
Richie Mo’unga is on record as describing Finn Russell as his “favourite 10 in the world” over the past couple of years.
“He’s someone that can play all types of games. His kicking, his running, his passing…”
It’s quite some endorsement. Former Munster captain Billy Holland also acclaims Russell.
"If Finn Russell plays in a dinner suit and on the front foot, he's one of the best in the world,” said Holland.
But the plaudits were qualified, with former Ireland lock Holland believing the Scot can be forced into errors.
"If he's on the back foot and he is getting guys running down his channel, and his forwards aren't getting it all their own way, that's when he makes mistakes. That is when he tries things that don't always work out," said Holland.
Sunday will reveal whether Ireland can stop Scotland's creative genius from derailing their Six Nations Grand Slam challenge, with the two sides meeting at Murrayfield.
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