Here’s your round-up of all the latest rugby news for Friday, August 16.
Coaching staff suspended
The entire coaching staff of France Under-18s rugby team have been suspended following the tragic disappearance of a player.
Medhi Narjissi was swept out to sea on Wednesday, August 7, during a player recovery session at Diaz Beach at Cape Point in South Africa as the team competed in the Under-18s international series. He was swept away by powerful rip currents, with the French Rugby Federation’s initial probe into the incident declaring the beach chosen for the session was dangerous.
It means every member of coaching and support staff has been suspended, pending the outcome of the internal inquiry.
SIGN UP: Get the new exclusive Inside Welsh rugby newsletter for full insight into what’s really going on behind the scenes.
An FFR statement said: “The initial evidence gathered on site by a member of the national technical management confirms that the site chosen for a player recovery session presented dangers. This is an error of judgment that could constitute an individual and/or collective fault. The final conclusions of our investigation will make it possible to determine responsibilities.
“As it has undertaken to do, the French Rugby Federation remains determined to shed full light on the precise circumstances of the tragedy. To date, all staff have been interviewed. The FFR is now preparing to question players from the under-18 team, with all the precautions required by the psychological shock they have suffered.”
Erasmus defends surprise team announcement
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has dismissed suggestions of disrespect following his decision to make 10 changes to his side for this weekend’s rematch with Australia.
The Springboks kicked offtheir Rugby Championship campaign with a superb 33-7 win over the Wallabies last Saturday, and have left out several key names for this encounter in Perth, including skipper Siya Kolisi.
âIf you look at this team, there are 14 World Cup winners and thereâs only two guys that are new caps, so this is not disrespect to Australia and this is not us feeling nonchalant about the game,â Erasmus said.
âThis is us picking a team that we feel is good enough to still get us the win, although it will be really, really tough against a team that wants to bounce back.
“I think it would be a slap in the face of the guys who’s playing this weekend if we think they’re not as good as the guys playing last weekend. We trust them fully.
“I think if they played the team last weekend, the Springbok team, they would give them a hell of a go.”
Scrum-half Morne van den Berg and second row Ruan Nortje make their first Test starts, while Salmaan Moerat will captain South Africa from lock
South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Elrigh Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Thomas du Toit, Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels; Reserves: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard.
Former Wales-20 international lands captaincy role
Former Wales under-20 lock Sean Moore has been named captain at Cardiff RFC ahead of the first season of Super Rygbi Cymru.
Having played in 26 out of 27 matches for the Blue and Blacks last season, he is set to take over the armband from highly experienced forward Morgan Allen.
The former Mountain Ash and Pontypridd player has made a total of 75 appearances since signing with Cardiff in 2021 and has won the Indigo Premiership and WRU Premiership Cup.
He won eight caps for Wales under-20s in 2017, and played four games in the Six Nations, and also appeared in the Junior World Championship.
âItâs a massive privilege to be asked to take on the role and Iâm very proud to be appointed captain at such a huge club,â said Moore.
âIâll try my best to live up to the standards that have been set by the captains who have gone before me. When you look at the history of Cardiff, and the players who have played in the Blue & Black jersey, you then realise how much of an honour it is to be part of this club.â
All Blacks make four changes for Pumas test
New Zealand have made four changes for their upcoming second test with Argentina.
Ex-captain Sam Cane has also been included on the bench, with the All Blacks looking to avenge last weekend’s shock defeat to the Pumas in the Rugby Championship.
Cane is recalled despite having declared he will reire from international rugby at the end of the his year to take up a contract with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath.
When asked if he had ever thought there was a chance he wouldn’t play for his country again, Cane said: âI donât think I really thought that far ahead and thought of a worst-case scenario.
âI always believed that I would get back and that I had plenty to offer, still backed by my ability. Through rehab and coming back from surgery, you always get really zoned.
âYou have to, from my experience, donât think of the end result, because it seems so far away at times. Often it would be about getting through that training week and finishing the week in a better place than you started. Then often reset and sometimes just literally do the same week again and try and do it a bit better.â
Coach Scott Robertson has responded to the 38-30 loss to the Pumas by changing three backs and one forward for Saturday’s match in Auckland..
Will Jordan, who started from the bench for that defeat, is preferred on the right wing to Sevu Reece, while Caleb Clarke takes over from Auckland Blues teammate Mark Tele’a on the left.
Experienced Blues centre Rieko Ioane is recalled, while Tamaiti Williams comes in at loose-head prop.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea (captain), Dalton Papali’i, Ethan Blackadder; Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i; Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Sam Cane, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a
EMEA Tribune is not involved in this news article, it is taken from our partners and or from the News Agencies. Copyright and Credit go to the News Agencies, email news@emeatribune.com Follow our WhatsApp verified Channel
