Here are the latest rugby evening headlines on Wednesday, June 29.
England great raves about Wayne Pivac
England World Cup winner Will Greenwood has lauded Wales coach Wayne Pivac as a "fabulous" coach who knows how to get the most out of his squad.
Pivac's men head into their first summer tour Test against the Springboks this Saturday (4.05pm kick-off), with the official Wales team being revealed on Thursday. Wales have never won a Test against the Springboks on South African soil, losing all 10 to date, so face a daunting runout: their first since the disastrous defeat to Italy on the last day of the Six Nations.
But Greenwood has backed Pivac's quality and revealed he would view one Wales win as a success, telling Sky Sports : "Wayne Pivac's run of results aren't great... I think he's a fabulous coach, I really do. He gets what he can out of a group of players."
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As for Springbok fans, who will get the chance to see their team play in person for the first time on home soil since before their 2019 World Cup win, Greenwood added: "They will expect their world champions to come home post-Lions in front of 50-60,000 people and then put Wales to the sword like they normally do.
"[It's] another massive tough test for Wales. Of course in camp, they'll say 'we can win the series' but from the outside if they can win one Test in South Africa, which they've never done before, it'll be a great result."
Navidi preparing for huge off-field milestone
Josh Navidi is hoping to head home from South Africa with a Wales clean sweep and his wedding speech written.
The back-rower will be hoping to start against the 'Boks this Saturday but has revealed his upcoming nuptials right after the tour are keeping his mind occupied off-field so he can perform on-field.
Navidi, who will get hitched five days after landing home from South Africa, told the Scrum V podcast: "My job is basically the car stuff and entertainment, that's my end really.
"We're basically just ironing out a few things, just ticking off what we need to do. There's only little things to get.
"I still need to finish my suit - I didn't realise I had to get a shirt, I thought the suit guy was going to sort it for me! He's done it all for me. I need to make sure when I get back I pop up to see him.
"When we land, it's five days 'til we get married - it'll be amazing. It's keeping my mind off the pitch, which is a good thing.
"I've obviously got my speech to write, I'm looking at that slowly. I'd rather do it off the cuff but I'll make a few points and try and get the gist of something - I'll get my brother to help me as well! He's my best man. He'll probably help me a little bit because he's a better talker than me."
Ospreys 'an unknown in Europe'
The Ospreys are an "unknown" in Europe and aren't being given much chance of progressing from their Champions Cup group.
The Ospreys are Wales' sole representative in the Champions Cup after sneaking past the Scarlets on the final weekend of the season, with the other three playing in the Challenge Cup. Pool stage fixtures are taking place against just two other clubs, with the SA1 region facing Premiership champions Leicester Tigers and Top14 winners Montpellier home and away.
Former England fly-half Andy Goode is fully backing the Tigers to progress from the group, saying : "Ospreys are kind of a bit of an unknown in Europe. They've got some high-quality Welsh internationals but they've under-performed over the last few years so it's always a sticky game down in Swansea but Leicester will be expecting to progress from that pool."
Wales duo named in English team of the season
Wales stars Alisha Butchers and Jasmine Joyce have been named in the Allianz Premier 15s team of the season having impressed during English rugby's top women's competition throughout the campaign.
The Bristol Bears pair, who got engaged earlier this year, have been voted as the best player in their respective positions - Butchers at No. 6 and Joyce on the wing - by a five-strong media panel. Based on stats from the season, five players were selected from each position from a variety of clubs across the league and then a selection panel of five chose their top three in each position. Three points were awarded for a top pick, two points for second and one point for third.
The team of the season includes players from seven different clubs and three different nationalities: Wales (two), England (10) and USA (three).
Premier 15s team of the season: 15. Emma Sing (Gloucester-Hartpury), 14. Ellie Boatman (Wasps), 13. Holly Aitchison (Saracens), 12. Alev Kelter (Saracens), 11. Jasmine Joyce (Bristol Bears), 10. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning), 9. Ella Wyrwas (Saracens), 1. Hope Rogers (Exeter Chiefs), 2. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning), 3. Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), 4. Rosie Galligan (Harlequins), 5. Abbie Ward (Bristol Bears), 6. Alisha Butchers (Bristol Bears), 7. Marlie Packer (Saracens), 8. Kate Zachary (Exeter Chiefs).
Ireland suffer injury blow
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell admitted Cian Healy's leg injury "doesn't look too good" following an emphatic 32-17 defeat by the Maori All Blacks. Veteran prop Healy, who came off the bench after international rookie Jeremy Loughman required a head injury assessment, left the pitch on a medical cart having twisted awkwardly.
If the front-row pair are ruled out of Saturday's opening Test against New Zealand, Andrew Porter would be Ireland's only available loosehead. Farrell, who fielded an experimental starting XV in Hamilton, also lost centre James Hume to injury, while full-back Jimmy O'Brien sustained a knock.
"Cian doesn't look too good... he was in a bit of pain coming off the field," said Farrell. "[The injury] has settled down a bit so we will have to see with him. "Jeremy actually passed his HIA by the independent doctor. We brought him off as a precaution, put Cian on and then that happens to Cian, which is not nice really.
"Jimmy came off with a strain. He's feeling good in the changing rooms. James Hume has a bit of a groin injury that needs assessment [on Thursday]."
Farrell is set to name his team for the weekend clash with the All Blacks on Thursday.
Read next:
- Ireland stunned by Maori All Blacks as New Zealand tour starts with defeat
- Maori All Blacks v Ireland haka moment leaves viewers stunned
- The likely Wales team Wayne Pivac will now name amid several clues
- South Africa name formidable team to face Wales despite missing influential fly-half
- Wales refuse to show too much respect and 'upset' Vunipola to make statement
