Here are the latest rugby evening headlines on Thursday, March 10.
Warburton on Friday night Six Nations matches
Former Wales and Lions skipper Sam Warburton has revealed he hated Friday night matches in the Six Nations.
The Cardiff flanker played in a number of them during his 74-cap career, either in Cardiff or Paris.
He says he enjoyed having the Saturday and Sunday off, but pointed to a couple of key down sides to the fixtures.
One of those was it significantly lengthened the time before kick-off on match day.
“I hated it,” he said on The Times’ Ruck podcast.
“I was very unsociable as a player on a match day.
“Some guys loved going for coffees and making the day pass like that.
“I would kind of get up, eat food, hibernate back in my room for three hours, go back to the team room, have food, hibernate in my room for another three hours.
“I hated match day with a passion until kick-off. When I played, I never had an ounce of nerves ever, but the build-up before was horrible.”
Warburton said it was also a nightmare after the match when it came to Friday night Six Nations fixtures, particularly out in Paris.
“When you have a late kick-off, you take very high energy caffeine drinks beforehand,” he explained.
“It’s the equivalent of maybe five coffees just before you go out.
“After the game then, you have post-match function and the French love a post-match function!
“It’s likes speeches and very formal and takes a long time. You go back to the hotel at like 1am.
“Then you get back, having had all that caffeine pre-match.
“They don’t like giving sleeping pills to boys, but after a night game they would give you one.
“The best form of recovery is sleep, you can have all the nutrition and cryotherapy in the world, but getting eight or nine hours sleep after a game is the single best thing you can do for your body.
“I would end up taking paracetamols, sleeping pills or night remedies just to try and get off at a reasonable hour.
“It’s a nightmare and you are all out of sync the next day.”
Wales forward's surprise at his role
Seb Davies admits he was surprised to be told he would be starting on the blindside flank for Wales against France.
The 25-year-old has played all his rugby at lock for Cardiff this season and that’s where he packed down on his last start for his country, during November’s victory over Australia.
But now Wayne Pivac has handed him a berth in the back row.
“I was a little bit surprised because I haven’t played six for quite a while,” Davies said.
“But I’m obviously very happy to be starting. I’m pretty excited.”
On what he will look to bring to the role, he said: “Probably the main thing would be physicality around the park, putting a big defensive shift in.
“I’m a good lineout option and I think my attacking game is my best asset. Getting around the park, making good decisions around whether to carry or pass.
“I’m quite good at getting on the ball and offloading.”
Stadium roof will be open for Wales v France
The Principality Stadium roof will be open for the Wales-France game on Friday night due to Covid considerations.
It will be the same policy as for the Scotland fixture last month, where the game was played in the open air as a mitigating measure against the spread of Covid.
However, fans will not require NHS Covid Passes in order to gain entry to the ground.
That’s a change from the Scottish match in Cardiff on February 12. It’s in line with the Welsh Government announcement on February 18 that the domestic Covid pass would no longer be required for entry into indoor or outdoor events.
As a consequence, the phased entry system will not be in operation.
However, the WRU are urging supporters to arrive early to beat the queues and also to follow Welsh Government guidelines by wearing a face mask on the internal concourses and while travelling through the stadium.
Georgia head into Wales' World Cup group
Georgia have qualified for the 2023 World Cup as a result of World Rugby’s decision to suspend Russia and Belarus from all cross-border competition.
A tournament board meeting confirmed Georgia, Holland and Portugal must be given four points as winners of their outstanding games against Russia.
The Lelos are now assured of a top-two finish in the European qualification standings and are set to join Wales, Australia and Fiji in Pool C of the tournament hosted by France.
The second automatic qualifying spot from Europe will be contested by Spain, Portugal and Romania, with the successful side going into Pool B with South Africa, Ireland and Scotland.
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Rowlands upbeat about Wales' chances
Wales lock Will Rowlands believes Wayne Pivac’s men are capable of beating anyone on their day, as they prepare to take on Grand Slam-chasing France in Cardiff.
“The French look like a very talented team, probably the form team in the world. It’ll be a big test,” the Dragons forward said.
“If we focus on being at our best for 80 minutes, I think we’ve got what it takes to beat any team.
“We’ve looked at specific areas around France and what we’re going to have to focus on for them because they do have some different threats to other teams in the competition.
"But there’s no reason why, if we’re on it and at the races, we can’t come out on the right side of the scoreline this time.”
Rowlands added: “Looking at what we’ve seen from France, they don’t play much in their own half.
“They kick the ball away a lot. When they do get some go-forward, all bets are off.
“Anything happens, there’s a lot of offloading from contact and you have strong forward runners coming at you around the breakdown.
“You’ve got to be on your toes ready for anything.”
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