Here are the latest rugby evening headlines on Monday, July 4.
Springboks drop selection hint as stars return
South African forward Evan Roos is being backed to make his Springboks debut in the second Test against Wales on Saturday, with many seeing his appearance at South Africa's media conference as a sure sign he will feature.
The 22-year-old has enjoyed a sensational breakthrough season for the Stormers, who won the inaugural United Rugby Championship title, as he picked up five accolades including player of the season. His stunning campaign was rewarded with an international call-up, and he looks set to make his 'Boks bow in Bloemfontein following a "rollercoaster" journey to get to this point.
"It is quite a rollercoaster," Roos said, via SA Rugby magazine. "It has been unreal. I am just really happy to be part of this. I didn’t ever think it would happen. To be sitting here is quite surreal. I just try to work hard every day and take in as much from these experienced players and this coaching staff as I can and just become a better rugby player.”
Read more: Tomas Francis stood down from rest of Wales' tour of South Africa after horrible scenes
Should the 22-year-old debut, he would follow fellow rookie Elrigh Louw, who made his first appearance in a Bok jersey in Pretoria on Saturday.
Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber is due to name his starting line-up on Tuesday ahead of the second Test against Wales, and there looks likely to be a recall for Leicester-bound World Cup winner Handre Pollard at fly-half instead of Elton Jantjies. Jantjies produced a dismal display in the first Test and was substituted at half-time, with Damian Willemse moving to fly-half and Willie le Roux taking over from him at full-back. Pollard was a late arrival in camp following his Top 14 win with French club Montpellier.
Former world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit could also come into the selection mix. He is expected to be available following his recovery from a shoulder injury, and he would be a potential starter.
The Springboks have travelled with 42 players to Bloemfontein, and South Africa assistant coach Deon Davids added: "We were open from the outset in saying that we have a big group of players that we are working with. And we have to remember that we are working with a long-term view on the Rugby World Cup next year as well. It is our objective to try to give everyone game-time, but it is very important to get the balance right so that we can build depth and win Test matches."
Wales identify main difference in last two outings
Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys says his team’s application on Saturday was the big difference to their last outing against Italy.
Wayne Pivac’s men were much improved in their agonising 32-29 defeat at Loftus Versfeld, compared to their embarrassing loss to Italy on the final day of the Six Nations. The performances were like chalk and cheese, with Wales putting pride back into the jersey after stewing over the defeat to the Azzurri for three months.
When asked what the main difference was, Humphreys said: “We worked a lot harder than we did [against Italy] and there are a multitude of factors but one of the things we pride ourselves on is work-rate and physicality and we showed that on Saturday and we didn’t last time.”
On Saturday’s defeat, he added: “Everybody is disappointed. It was a good effort. We stuck largely to what we said we were going to do, especially in the first half. To lose in the last minute of any Test, especially this one at a full house in Loftus, is a tough one.
“It’s not hard to pick yourselves up. We talked about that in the changing room afterwards and the big thing for us is we have to be better than we were on Saturday. We have to improve if we are going to get what we want out of this tour. It is a lot of work we need to do and we are prepared to do that.”
Rowlands wants more of the same
Will Rowlands is hoping for more of the same from the crowd when Wales’ tour of South Africa rolls into Bloemfontein this weekend.
Saturday’s 32-29 thriller in Pretoria was the first time the South African public watched the Springboks in the flesh since they became world champions. It was a lively atmosphere to say the least and there are suggestions things might even ramp up a notch when Wales had to the Toyota Stadium this weekend.
“Personally, I don’t know what to expect but I hope it’s more of the same: a big, noisy stadium,” said Rowlands, who was one of Wales’ standout performers. “It was a fantastic atmosphere and thinking back it’s something I felt very lucky to be a part of. I just hope it’s more of the same. Playing in those big rugby cauldrons with passionate fans is what you want to be doing, so I’m looking forward to it.”
South Africa aim to improve kicking game for second Test
South Africa assistant coach Deon Davids says the Springboks' kicking game is a targeted area for improvement against Wales in a potential series equaliser.
The world champions won a thrilling first Test 32-29 in Pretoria, but only after Damian Willemse landed a penalty with the game's final kick, to preserve the Springboks' unbeaten record against Wales on home soil, and the teams are now preparing to meet again in Bloemfontein.
"Luckily, everyone has recovered and are fit at this stage," Davids told www.sarugby.co.za.. "We are ready to go.
"We expected a tough battle against Wales, and as we said the whole of last week, we certainly never underestimated them. They lifted to the challenge and they forced us into a slow start. They also managed to stop our momentum in the first half.
"Test rugby is about playing in the right areas of the field, and having a good kicking game is part of that to get out of your own half. Our kicking game is certainly not what we wanted, and we will work on that. We know there are areas we can improve on technically and tactically, so we have to be consistent and keep improving."
Tom Curry returns home from England tour due to concussion
England's hopes of levelling their series against Australia have suffered a blow after Tom Curry was ruled out of the last two Tests because of concussion.
Curry is to return home with the head injury sustained in the first half of Saturday's 30-28 defeat in Perth and will face "continuing assessment and ongoing management". The Sale flanker was stood down after an HIA and the Rugby Football Union says the decision to withdraw him from the tour is in the "interest of player welfare and recovery".
Curry's head whipped backwards while tackling Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi in the 14th minute and despite the heavy blow, he completed the half. It was when the 2019 world player of the year nominee presented with concussion symptoms at the interval that he was sent for an HIA and failed to appear for the second half. No decision has yet been made on whether he will be replaced in the 36-man touring party.
Under new guidelines, players with a history of concussion or who are removed from a match with obvious concussion symptoms face a minimum mandatory stand down period of 12 days. Curry fits the second of these criteria meaning he would have missed at least the second Test, which takes place in Brisbane on Saturday.
Australia's Darcy Swain faces disciplinary after red card
Darcy Swain will attend an independent disciplinary hearing on Tuesday following his red card in Australia's 30-28 victory over England in their Test series opener.
The Wallabies had the second row dismissed in the 34th minute for headbutting Jonny Hill in an off-the-ball incident at Optus Stadium but still avoided a ninth successive defeat in the fixture. However, Swain could face a suspension following an incident that was the result of some repeated "provocation" by England and Hill, according to Australia head coach Dave Rennie.
At one point Hill, who was sin-binned for his part in the incident, was pulling Swain's hair and, after the match, Rennie said: "I'm not sure if it was a team plan, but there was certainly provocation there. Not just in that situation but also earlier in the game. We'll have a decent look at the footage and work out how we're going to appeal that. We'll have decent look at the card. We'll be seeking clarity around it."
Read next:
- Pick your Wales team to face South Africa in the second Test as injury to prompt change
- The unseen South Africa v Wales moments as things turn ugly, players square up and referee makes sharp exit
- Graham Price: The lesson Dan Biggar must learn and the one change I'd make to the Wales team for second Test
- Wales ready to throw young props into Springbok cauldron as they insist Wyn Jones is not an option
- Wales star tells South Africa 'bring it on' and England's Jonny Hill to escape citing
- Jiffy identifies 23-year-old as next Wales captain after clues evident in clash against South Africa
- South Africa v Wales winners and losers as Pivac earns respite and personal horror show unfolds
- Dan Biggar denies any wrongdoing in moment that lost the game
