Here are your rugby morning headlines for Thursday, February 10.
Pivac to name team
Wales boss Wayne Pivac will reveal his hand this morning as he looks to set the record straight following the Dublin horror show.
Pivac names his starting XV for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Scotland and there are set to be significant changes. You can follow live updates on the team announcements here.
Ospreys youngster Jac Morgan could come into a new-look back-row for a shock debut, with Ross Moriarty also called in.
The two men expected to make way are Ellis Jenkins and Ross Wainwright, with Taine Basham, Wales' man of the match against Ireland, obviously retaining his place.
The other interesting selection may come on the wing with mounting speculation Alex Cuthbert will earn a recall.
Morgan's surprise selection would come on the back of outstanding performances in the United Rugby Championship this season.
He didn't make the cut for the matchday 23 when Wales were routed 29-7 by Ireland, but Pivac knows he needs to shake up the team in a bid to return to winning ways.
If Cuthbert comes in it is likely to be at the expense of Johnny McNicholl, as Pivac ponders whether to keep Josh Adams in the centre.
Scotland will also name their side today.
Scots star fires warning to Wales
Scotland's Grant Gilchrist has warned Wales that Gregor Townsend's men are far better equipped to handle the dangers of a Cardiff trip than they have been in recent history.
On their last trip to the Principality Stadium in 2018, Scotland lost 34-7 despite Townsend's side being tipped for a positive Six Nations campaign.
And Gilchrist says that the Scots, who picked up an opening-weekend triumph over England, have more than one way to skin a cat when it comes to earning vital wins in Test rugby.
“The biggest thing we have learned is we can win in different ways,” the second-row explained.
“In 2018, we had to be at our very best to win Test matches and it was all-out attack. Over the last season or two we have beaten some top teams without playing our best because of how we have defended, how we have managed the game and how much heart we have shown in the jersey.
“As much as we strive for the perfect performance, this team has learned how to win without it being as pretty as it once was.
"That is the biggest thing between 2018 and now. We want to have that perfect 10-out-of-10 performance but we can be below that and still win Test matches because of the way we manage the game and how well we do the other sides of the game.”
Of Wales, Gilchrist says: "They'll be bitterly disappointed about how they played at the weekend but they'll be a different team.
"We know the strengths of their players, we know them well and we've struggled against them in the past so we have respect for them and know the size of the challenge."
Asked why the Scots traditionally struggle in the Welsh capital (they haven't won in Cardiff for 20 years), Gilchrist said: "Our record there speaks for itself, doesn't it? It's a hard place to go.
"I think we've maybe lost the physical side of the game. We've gone down there and tried to play expansive rugby without earning the right.
"I think the Welsh teams in the past, when they've got the better of us they've been more physical than us. And that's the challenge we've got this weekend. We've got to be more physical than a pumped-up Wales team that are playing in front of their home crowd and who are desperate to make amends for a poor result in the first round."
Lawes blow for England
Courtney Lawes is unavailable for England's clash with Italy as he continues to recover from concussion.
Lawes missed the 20-17 Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland that opened the tournament and has yet to resume full training with Eddie Jones' squad, ruling him out of Sunday's trip to Rome.
Tom Curry will remain as captain in Lawes' absence and the hope will be that the veteran Northampton lock is passed fit for the visit of Wales to Twickenham on February 26.
"Courtney Lawes is unavailable for selection as he continues working through his return to play protocols," a Rugby Football Union statement read.
Lawes' last outing was for Northampton against Ulster on January 16 and his ongoing absence will be of concern to England as they look to rebuild their title challenge in round two.
Uncapped Leicester forward Ollie Chessum has been retained in the reduced 27-man squad that will step up preparations for the Stadio Olimpico showdown and could make his debut on Sunday.
There is no place for Joe Launchbury, however, as he returns to Wasps to continue his comeback from the knee injury he sustained in April.
The absence of Mark Atkinson means England will either retain their centre duo of Henry Slade and Elliot Daly or opt for Slade alongside Joe Marchant.
Argentine great resigns as coach
Mario Ledesma has stepped down as Argentina head coach after admitting it was time for change.
The former hooker had been in charge of the South American outfit since 2018, but said that, after a run of poor results, it was decision which had to be taken.
The Pumas had lost eight of their last nine games, including a 53-7 drubbing by Ireland in November, which prompted calls for his departure.
“Taking this decision is difficult, who wants step way from all this? Nobody,” Ledesma said. “But if you put the team first and you are sufficiently humble then that’s what you have to do.
“We’ve always seen a progression and an improvement and we didn’t see that last year.
“Now is the time to be thankful, to see what we managed to do. Obviously, mistakes were made along the way and there were things that could have been done better but it is time for a new cycle.”
Ledesma, 48, had overseen some significant milestones, such as Argentina's first-ever victory over the All Blacks and beating Australia for the first time since 1983.
The Pumas won eight, drew three and lost 22 of the games in which he was in charge.
Marler: 'I felt like Eminem'
Joe Marler has been practising his lineout throwing on a daily basis after confessing to doing his best Eminem impression in England's Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland.
Marler temporarily stepped into the breach at Murrayfield when Luke Cowan-Dickie was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on, taking the hooker's role on the touchline in the 69th minute when the score was tied at 17-17.
However, the veteran prop's botched throw to Alex Dombrandt failed to travel five metres and, as a result, England gave up a scrum close to their line which was then penalised, allowing Finn Russell to land the match-winning penalty.
It was an influential chain of events in a final quarter that was poorly managed by England and Marler accepts his role in the unravelling.
"I've been practising every day. Cockers (forwards coach Richard Cockerill) has been giving me the eyes - 'right, any danger this week mate?'. I was like 'yes, OK, fine," Marler said.
"I just didn't throw it at the right time. I should have thrown it earlier at Dombrandt. Unfortunately I threw it later and he kept running past the five metres with the eyes of 'mate, why are you not throwing the ball at me?'.
"And I went 'I don't know, I feel like Eminem in 8 Mile when he chokes on stage with his rap'. That's how I've felt.
"Unfortunately, my international record at throwing in is now down to 50 per cent because it was at 100 per cent.
"In my third Test, against South Africa away in 2012, Dylan Hartley got sin-binned, I threw it to Geoff Parling in the pod, he won the ball and I had a 100 per cent throw in record. Unfortunately it's now down to 50 per cent."
Baldwin issues emotional message
Scott Baldwin has issued an emotional message of thanks to Worcester, the Ospreys and his loved ones after his return to Wales was announced.
Baldwin is to resume his rugby career in Wales with the Ospreys after his release from Worcester Warriors on compassionate grounds.
Warriors agreed to the Wales international’s departure from Sixways earlier this month.
The 34-cap hooker wanted to spend more time with his close family in Wales, and Worcester supported his request to return home. He has signed a contract that ties him to the Swansea.com Stadium region until the end of the 2022-23 season.
And, following the announcement, he penned a message to show his gratitude.
"I would just like to thank everyone for the messages over the past week, it means a lot to myself and my family," he wrote on Twitter.
"I'd like to thank Worcester for understanding and supporting my decision to be back in Wales, I can't speak highly enough about how supportive and understanding they have been throughout.
"Thank you to the Ospreys for giving me the opportunity to continue my career back in Wales where it all started and my home region!
"Also thank you to my amazing family and friends who have been there for me, listened and given me their thoughts and support throughout.
"Looking forward to getting back out there."
Ashton signs for Tigers
Leicester Tigers have announced the signing of former England wing Chris Ashton on a short-term deal.
The 34-year-old has joined the Gallagher Premiership outfit having represented Worcester Warriors, Harlequins, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Northampton and French outfit Toulon in his career to date.
The Tigers hope Ashton can bring his penchant for crossing the whitewash to Welford Road, with the player topping the all-time charts for tries in the Champions Cup with 40 and sitting third on the Premiership list with 89.
Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick said: “Chris is a driven, professional and competitive character, who brings with him a wealth of experience to our squad."
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