Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Friday, March 10.
Phillips hits out at 'crazy' call to drop Rees-Zammit
Wales legend Mike Phillips has hit out at the decision to drop winger Louis Rees-Zammit for the upcoming clash with Italy.
The Gloucester star is set to start from the bench in Rome, with Warren Gatland suggesting the 22-year-old was still working his way back up to speed following a recent ankle injury.
Rio Dyer will start in Rees-Zammit's place, but it's a decision that's already seen some call Gatland's judgement into question.
Phillips voiced his disagreement at the decision, taking to Twitter to write: "Now we’ve dropped our star player, @LouisReesZammit Crazy."
You can read the full Wales team news here.
Hayward insists future is bright for Welsh rugby
Byron Hayward insists the future is bright for Welsh rugby, despite his under-20s side facing up to the prospect of a Six Nations Wooden Spoon.
The under-20s, like the senior side, have lost all three of their opening games heading into Friday night's clash with Italy, which will take place against backdrop of "doom and gloom", amid problems on and off the pitch.
However, having seen the likes of Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and Mason Grady forge their way to the senior set-up, Hawyard insists there's reason for optimism.
“I look outside my window and there’s an awful lot of doom and gloom about Welsh rugby, “ he said.
“People say, ‘there’s no talent in Wales’ but I see it. There is so much talent, so much talent coming through.
“I see it in college rugby, I see it at U18 level. I see the boys who are coming through. I have seen boys coming through who are going to be outstanding senior international players of the future.
“We’ve got some big, powerful forwards, too, so the systems are working. The public maybe don’t see it, but I do.”
S4C - Friday: 6.45pm - Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol Italy U20 v Wales U20:
Full coverage from the Stadio Comunale Di Monigo, Treviso.
English commentary available. K/O 7.15pm.
Woodward backs decision to drop Farrell
Sir Clive Woodward believes Steve Borthwick made the right decision in dropping Owen Farrell for this weekend's clash with France.
Farrell is set to start this weekend's game from the bench at the Twickenham, with Marcus Smith instead getting the nod at fly-half.
World Cup winner Woodward says he understands Borthwick's decision.
"We've all dropped big players," Woodward told the BBC.
"You have got to make those calls. It's still early days for Steve and, if you are going to make these big calls to try to find out your best starting team, you need to make them early in your career.
"I was looking forward to the game anyway, but even more so now that Smith starts at 10.
"This is a big opportunity for Marcus Smith. But also I think from Borthwick's point of view, [one of the]key skills to being an international coach is selection and having the bottle to make these big calls."
Sexton 'privileged' to keep Grand Slam dream alive
Ireland captain Johnny Sexton says his side are 'privileged' to still be in the hunt of a Six Nations Grand Slam, and has played down any talk of destiny ahead of their trip to Scotland this weekend.
Andy Farrell's men travel to Edinburgh with their hopes for a clean sweep still intact thanks to bonus-point wins over Wales, France and Italy, and many will be expecting them to finish the job over the next two weeks.
Fly-half Sexton, who sat out last month's win in Italy with a groin issue, says the significance of the next two weeks isn't lost on the players, but insists they are dealing with the pressure that comes with it.
"Every team comes into this competition wanting to win a Grand Slam, wanting to win a championship and that's why it's so important to get off to a good start because it keeps everything alive," he said.
"I spoke before the Wales game -- if we lost it's Triple Crown gone, Grand Slam gone, championship, you're under pressure straight away. Every team goes in with those aspirations.
"We still have them in our grasp so we obviously acknowledge and talk about it and make sure that we deal with the pressure that comes with that but it's a privileged position to be going for it."
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