Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, March 18.
Scotland players disciplined
Three Scottish British Lions, including captain Stuart Hogg, have been disciplined for breaching team protocols after last weekend's Six Nations win over Italy.
Hogg, Finn Russell and Ali Price were among six Scotland players who left the team hotel to visit a bar in Edinburgh after returning from Rome. Darcy Graham, Sam Johnson and Sione Tuipulotu were the others involved.
The BBC report when Scotland's management was made aware of the group leaving, the players were ordered to return immediately.
Hogg, Graham, Johnson and Price have all been named in the team to start Scotland's final Six Nations match against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday. Russell has been axed from the starting XV and replaced at fly-half by Edinburgh's Blair Kinghorn. Tuipulotu has been released from the squad and could play a part from the bench for Glasgow Warriors against Edinburgh later on Friday.
The SRU said in a statement: "The Scotland management team have this week dealt with a post-match matter involving six players following the game against Italy last weekend.
"The players involved have been spoken to individually and those conversations and outcomes will remain private. Preparations for the match against Ireland this week have been good and the whole squad is fully focused on achieving a positive result on Saturday."
You can get more breaking rugby news sent straight to your inbox for free by signing up to our rugby newsletter.
Rees-Zammit makes good impression
Louis Rees-Zammit has impressed his Wales team-mates with his reaction to being axed from the matchday squad for the England game.
The youngster's omission took everyone by surprise for the trip to Twickenham, coming on the back of his meteoric rise over the last year or so. Rees-Zammit was sent back to Gloucester, coming on to score a wonder try on the same weekend Wales lost to England.
He was back on the bench for Wales' clash with France last Friday and showed some impressive touches. That performance has seen him earn a recall to the starting XV against Italy in place of Alex Cuthbert.
Fellow winger Josh Adams revealed the 21-year-old has handled the disappointment in the right way, saying: “We all deal with things in different ways and react to disappointments in different ways. I think his reaction to not being selected for the England game has been terrific. He went back to his club at Gloucester and came off the bench to score a wonderful try. I think he did everything asked of him.
“He came on against France and made a great impact and that’s what you want. He had a couple of really nice touches and looked dangerous. I said at the beginning of the campaign he’s a massive weapon for us. He’s a young kid who is certainly learning and all the other boys are certainly behind him. I think he’s going to be a huge, huge player for Wales for many years to come. He’s only 21 which is crazy.”
Watson challenges team-mates
Hamish Watson has challenged Scotland to turn a "mixed" Six Nations into a relatively successful one by signing off with a rare victory in Dublin on Saturday.
Gregor Townsend's side have won two and lost two of their matches so far and go into the final weekend of the tournament knowing they can finish no higher than third in the table despite going in with high hopes of challenging for the title.
They face a formidable concluding match away to Ireland, where they have won only once - in 2010 - in the last 24 years.
However, Watson believes victory against the on-song Irish would help paint Scotland's currently underwhelming campaign in a far more positive light.
"I think it's been a mixed bag, with inconsistency," said Watson, reflecting on his side's performance in the tournament so far.
"It started really well, on such a positive note (against England), but we didn't manage to back it up against Wales and that hit our confidence.
"We've worked hard this tournament but I don't think we've played at our best so it's about trying to put everything together and put in a performance against Ireland.
"I think if we got a win away in Ireland, which is going to be a tough task, it would be a nice way to top off the tournament."
Ireland have a chance of winning the Six Nations, if France slip-up against England, and have beaten Scotland in each of their last six meetings.
"It's a very tough place to go and play," said Watson.
"It's quite a hostile environment but we believe in ourselves and the last time we went there (in the Six Nations), it was decided within a try so it should be a tight game.
"Ireland are one of the in-form teams in world rugby so we're excited to test ourselves against them."
Itoje's call
Maro Itoje insists England must seize the opportunity to show their true colours when a disappointing Guinness Six Nations draws to a close against France on Saturday.
Eddie Jones' team were removed from the title race when they fell to a spirited defeat by Ireland in round four and they arrive in Paris with the aim of avoiding finishing in the bottom half of the table.
France are expected to complete the Grand Slam having already proved themselves to be the competition's outstanding team, but Itoje warns that England are playing for pride.
"It's about the type of team and individuals we want to be," the Lions second row said.
"Ultimately, we are playing for the win and for each other. Playing against France is always competitive, but we're playing for England here.
"This is an unbelievable opportunity for everyone in the team. Playing for England is an absolute honour and you can't take these types of moments for granted. You never know when they're going to come again.
"The future is not guaranteed, but what we can guarantee is living in the present. For us, we want to go out there and play our game.
"We're not just here to take part and make up numbers. We want to be confrontational and to win this game."
Ireland wary of new Scotland fly-half
Assistant coach Mike Catt says it is crucial Ireland shut down Scotland's rookie international fly-half Blair Kinghorn and do not allow him to "play the game in a dinner suit".
Edinburgh man Kinghorn is a surprise selection for Saturday's pivotal Guinness Six Nations game in Dublin, pushing the influential Finn Russell to the bench.
Having won the majority of his 30 Test caps at full-back or wing, the 25-year-old will make only his second start in his country's number 10 jersey following some impressive club displays in the United Rugby Championship.
England World Cup winner Catt, who operated at full-back, fly-half and centre during his illustrious international career, believes Kinghorn is capable of doing some major damage to Irish hopes of clinching the Triple Crown.
"Listen, I've watched some footage on Blair and I think he's a fantastic player," said Catt.
"He's got a running game, he's very explosive, he's got a hell of a passing game and, if he gets the time and space, his kicking game is exceptional too, he's got a really big boot.
"We'd like to think we're not going to give him that opportunity to sit back and play the game in a dinner suit, so it's crucial that we do get after him.
"But, as a rugby player, I think what he'll do for that Scotland team is massive. He's a big threat for us."
