Here are the latest rugby headlines on Thursday, November 1.
New Wales kid tipped for big things
The Ospreys are tipping Joe Hawkins for a big future after the 20-year-old’s impressively composed debut for Wales against Australia.
Attack coach Richard Fussell watched the Test from South Africa, where the region are playing United Rugby Championship matches, and feels last term’s Wales U20s captain has all the qualities to build on his effort against the Wallabies.
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“Joe’s a great kid,” said Fussell.
"He’s powerful, he has ball-playing ability and for him to get exposure at international level is fantastic for him.
“I can’t wait to get him back to our environment, so he can show us what he’s learned and how he felt about it.
"He can dip his toe in with us then and get into it, because I know with Joe he just wants to play. He loves rugby so let’s keep him thriving. He’s a young man who has a bright future and he did really well on the international stage.
“For him, it’s brilliant.
“He’s got people like George North and Gareth Anscombe around him, high quality players, and those boys will be coming back to us as well. That consistency for him is great.”
Hawkins had been playing the Welsh Premiership barely a month earlier, but he wasn’t fazed by the step onto the Test scene. Nor will he allow any plaudits to go to his head, according to Fussell.
“Joe isn’t one of these kids who get above their station,” said the former wing.
“He has a great attitude and regardless of whether he’s playing for Wales or the Ospreys, he always wants to learn and get better.”
Dallaglio demands apology
England legend Lawrence Dallaglio has demanded an apology from England's players after the disappointing autumn that capped off the team's worst year of results since 2008.
Dallaglio took aim on the latest episode of the Evening Standard Rugby podcast and called for the players to take more responsibility in the wake of last weekend's 27-13 loss to the Springboks.
He said: “Eddie Jones, every time they lose, he comes out and says. ‘Blame me, it’s my fault’. Why don’t the players come out and say, ‘We would just like to apologise to the nation for that performance’ because that is what the nation needs? They need honesty.
“It’s the worst set of results since 2008 and, while you know the sun shines in my head every day and I like to paint the brightest of pictures, you can’t move away from the fact that this is a results-driven business and a year out from the World Cup, I’m concerned and I’m worried because everyone is attacking Eddie Jones.
“When you lose games he is going to come under pressure because he is the head coach as Wayne Pivac is for Wales, as all these guys do. But as a group of players, there are a lot of senior players in that group now, they have all won trophies at Saracens and various other clubs around the country and players have got to take responsibility. What are they doing in terms of trying to drive the focus?
Cardiff team news
Welsh international Shane Lewis-Hughes has flown out to join the Cardiff squad in South Africa ahead of Saturday’s URC clash with the Bulls in Pretoria.
The three-times flanker has been called up in the wake of fellow back row Gwilym Bradley picking up an ankle injury in the stunning 35-0 victory over the Sharks at Kings Park, Durban, on the weekend.
There are also doubts over prop Corey Domachowski (dead leg), hooker Liam Belcher (neck sprain), centre Max Llewellyn (ankle), lock Rory Thorntnon (shoulder) and wing Theo Cabango (ankle).
Director of rugby Dai Young said: “Unfortunately, we have taken a few bumps and bruises. We have a number of players that are touch and go whether they will make the game. If it gets to a point where we think playing them will mean them being out for three or four matches, then it would be stupid for us to do that.
“The intention would be to play as close to the team that started against the Sharks as possible, but I don’t think we are going to be in a position to do that.
“So we will make more changes than we actually want to make, but that does give people out here the opportunity to put their hands up.”
Springbok banned
South Africa prop Thomas Du Toit has received a three-week ban after he was sent off in last Saturday's Autumn Nations Series game against England at Twickenham.
Du Toit was dismissed for a high tackle on England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.
He appeared via video link before an independent judicial committee, who decided that it was a reckless incident, rather than intentional, autumn series organisers said.
Du Toit will miss Cell C Sharks' United Rugby Championship game against the Ospreys on Friday, plus Heineken Champions Cup appointments with Harlequins and Bordeaux-Begles.
The Bordeaux match will not be included, though, if Du Toit completes a coaching intervention programme.
France captain Antoine Dupont, meanwhile, saw a four-week suspension reduced to two on appeal.
Dupont was red-carded for a challenge on South Africa's Cheslin Kolbe during the autumn Tests and his ban is now served.
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