Here are today's rugby headlines on Thursday, March 17.
'Steam train' Alun Wyn piles into people in training
Alun Wyn Jones has been ploughing into his Wales team-mates "like a steam train" ahead of his 150th cap on the weekend.
Jones has been thrust straight back into the starting XV despite not playing since the end of October. And he's been determined to prove to Wayne Pivac and his team-mates that he is ready and deserving of a place in the starting XV, despite the form of Will Rowlands who has dropped to the bench.
Read next: Pivac denies picking Alun Wyn Jones as a marketing ploy
Prop Dillon Lewis, speaking on the Scrum V podcast has revealed the impact Jones has been making in camp over the past few days.
"I've been trying to run away from him to be honest. Just hiding," he laughed. "He's had a few boxes to tick in terms of contact prep and he's been like a steam train running around the field. He brings a lot of leadership to what was quite a young group. It's been good to have him back and fantastic for him to be winning his 150th cap as well.
"It's easy to just look at what players do on the field but some people bring a lot more around the building with their presence and the standards they set. I've never met anyone who comes close to him in terms of those standards and the person he is. He has been a massive loss for us, not just on the field."
'Gobby' Biggar won over England star
Dan Biggar will celebrate his hundredth cap for Wales with warm words from a former adversary whose view of him changed dramatically on the 2017 Lions tour.
England international James Haskell had formed an opinion of the Welsh fly-half based on his ultra-competitive on-pitch demeanour. But the back-rower had a rethink after being drafted into Warren Gatland’s Lions squad five years ago.
“When I had the call-up, I was interested to see who I was going to get on with,” said Haskell
“I thought I would struggle with the likes of Dan Biggar. He’s a very big competitor on the field and can be quite gobby, but then I went on the tour and got on with him incredibly well.
“He’s a lovely guy, a really nice family man.
“He’s brilliant. The way he’s played in this Six Nations, the way he’s controlling that Wales team, he’s been a real star. You just want to see good things happen to good people. I could not be more pleased for him to win a 100 caps. He really deserves it.”
Captain has relished role
Biggar himself says he has relished his role as Wales captain in this season's Guinness Six Nations Championship.
The Northampton fly-half took over from Alun Wyn Jones, who returns to Wales' starting line-up against Italy on Saturday after more than four months out because of a shoulder injury.
Wales head coach Pivac, though, has retained Biggar as skipper, with the countdown continuing to next year's World Cup in France.
"I've enjoyed the responsibility of it, I really have," Biggar said.
"I probably thought I would have to be thinking a lot more about decisions and the way I controlled myself, but it has felt quite natural.
"Sometimes there have been moments when I have wanted to lose the plot a little bit or give someone a kick up the backside or whatever.
"But I think it has helped in that aspect, making sure the next moment is the most important, as opposed to when you are not captain and you can rant and rave a bit more at the other boys.
"I have really enjoyed it, but I am fully aware that obviously when Al is back properly, that may not be the case."
England aim to silence French fans
Jamie George insists England intend to mute France's Grand Slam celebrations by making the type of start that will turn the Paris crowd against their team.
France are aiming to claim a first title for 12 years, in the process issuing a statement of intent ahead of next year's World Cup, with only Ireland capable of stopping them.
They enter 'Super Saturday' as strong favourites to inflict a third defeat of the Championship on England, but their supporters can be fickle if events on the pitch take an unscripted turn and it is this vulnerability that George believes can be exploited.
"There's a huge amount of pressure on it for those guys. In terms of our psyche, we want to give them something that they're not going to expect, we want to go there and spoil the party a little bit," the Saracens hooker said.
"Generally French crowds are quite different. You go to Ireland and the crowds get in behind them when they kick the ball in the air, tackle and counter-ruck.
"The French noise comes from loose play, knock-ons, turnover ball and offloading. The atmosphere's amazing, electric.
"We want to try and silence that crowd pretty early on and we're aware of how to do that.
"Physically, it's about not giving them the things they want, and that might put more pressure onto the French team if the crowd isn't getting behind them.
"It might start becoming a little bit more difficult for them and they might start second-guessing themselves a little bit. That will all be part of the plan."
Former Ospreys coach banned for abuse
Former Ospreys defence coach Brad Davis has been banned from coaching duties for two matches after abusing referee Karl Dickson following London Irish's defeat to Leicester last weekend.
Davis was found guilty of “shouting numerous comments of disrespect to the match officials”, a charge he accepted and one that will see him suspended for two Irish games versus Harlequins and Northampton.
Disciplinary panel chairman Gareth Graham said: “In light of the acceptance of the charge, and having heard evidence from the match referee Karl Dickson, the panel found the matter proven.
“The panel concluded that Davis, while standing near the edge of the pitch at the end of the match, made derogatory comments about Dickson as the referee walked past him. The comments were made within Dickson’s earshot, were prompted by his presence, and were directed towards him.
“The panel accepted that the offence was to be dealt with as one arising from disrespecting a match official. The panel accepted that this was a deeply unpleasant experience for the referee and took the view that as a case of disrespect it should be placed within the mid-range entry point given the nature of the words used, the potential impact on the referee and his standing in the rugby community, along with the importance of maintaining the core values of the game.
“A reduction by way of mitigation was given on account of the acceptance of the charge, the obvious remorse for the comment, the commendable way in which Davis had engaged with the panel, the lack of any previous offending, and the candid apology delivered to Dickson during the hearing."
Davis joined London Irish in 2019 after leaving the Ospreys.
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