Today’s rugby news as Wales’ changes branded ‘wild’ and Gatland ‘doesn’t know his best XV’
These are your rugby headlines on Tuesday, July 9
Wales changes branded ‘wild’
Former England star Chris Ashton has branded Warren Gatland’s repeated changes at fly-half ‘wild’.
The Wales boss is looking for his next permanent successor to the 10 jersey, with Ben Thomas becoming the sixth different player to start in the position since Gatland’s return to the job in 2022 when he took to the field against Australia at the weekend.
Dan Biggar, Gareth Anscombe, Sam Costelow, Ioan Lloyd and Owen Williams have all also started at outside-half during the coach’s second stint in the Wales hotseat. Former Northampton, Saracens and Leicester Tigers man Ashton was taken aback by the statistic following Wales’ defeat to the Wallabies, but commended Thomas for his performance which saw him kick nine points from the tee.
“We’ve got to give Ben Thomas some credit,” he said on the Rugby Union Daily podcast alongside former England team-mates Ugo Monye and Danny Care. “The Cardiff centre, he normally plays at inside centre, but Gatland decided to put him at fly-half, in front of all the other option
“He didn’t look out of place, the lad, he kicked his goals, he looked comfortable with ball in hand, but this is Gatland’s sixth different starting 10 since he came back for the 2023 Six Nations, which is just wild.”
Agreeing, Monye added: “Yeah, you need to settle them somewhat. If you’ve got a young green team, they need to settle in and get combinations. Steve Borthwick said it, Gareth Southgate’s the same with the England football team, he’s so loyal to combinations, he wants to bed them in and give people a good chance.”
Gatland named just one specialist fly-half in Costelow for the tour of Australia, with Thomas and Cardiff team-mate Jacob Beetham included in the squad to cover the position. Beetham took over from Costelow as he made his Wales debut from the bench against the Springboks last month, but could still feature from the off at some point during this tour.
Gatland ‘doesn’t know his best XV’
James Hook admits Warren Gatland “doesn’t know his best 15” but expects the Wales boss to be “there for the long haul” despite mounting pressure.
Wales have now lost eight games on the spin and there is growing frustration amongst fans, who have not seen their team win since last year’s World Cup. With this young Welsh side still in the relatively early stages of a rebuild, Gatland has always said that progress will be slow and steady but the defeat to Australia has heightened concerns that he is not getting the best out of his players.
Despite having some devastating ball carriers in their ranks, Wales’ attacking prowess has left a lot to be desired for some time and Hook is among those feeling frustrated.
Speaking on the Scrum V podcast, the former Wales fly-half said: “You feel you just want a little bit more in attack, a little more intent to play. You saw it in the last five, six minutes when the game was gone [against the Wallabies] but it’s too late then – we saw it against Scotland in the Six Nations too
“.It’s too late – why haven’t you got the intent to start with? It’s an obvious plan just to strip it back to basics, but when you look at some of those players on the team sheet, you do just want to see a little bit more,” he added.
“We all know it’s going to take time, it’s a rebuilding process. Gatland obviously doesn’t know his best starting 15 at the moment, he doesn’t know his best combinations, he’s trying to figure that out. How long that will take, I don’t know.”
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But asked if Gatland could ride another defeat, Hook replied: “I think he will, won’t he? We’re not going to pay him out are we? I think he’s there for the long haul. We’re trying to find our best combinations and I think when you listen to Gatland and look at the different team sheets, we don’t know our best team.
“You look at Gatland in his first stint in Wales, you could pick the 15, you could pick the 23 probably. But if you ask anyone now, can you name two or three certainties in the Wales team?”
Shane backs St Helen’s move
Ospreys legend Shane Williams has backed his former club’s move to St Helen’s.
The Swansea-based region confirmed on Monday their relocation to the ground in Brynmill, leaving behind the Swansea.com Stadium for the season after next.
Williams says he had fond memories of the old ground, adding he hoped supporters would now return to watch his former side.
“I’m glad they’ve got a new home,” he said to BBC Radio Cymru. “They’ve been trying for a couple of years now. I’ve fond memories of St Helen’s.
“Obviously The Gnoll is my favourite stadium but I knew that it wasn’t big enough to cope with the supporters, Swansea is a nice place, by the sea, not sure if they’ll get decent weather every week, but hopefully St Helen’s will a good home for them.”
He added: “I remember a good atmosphere in St Helen’s, always good support. It’s easy to reach, easier for supporters in Swansea obviously, but it isn’t too far from anywhere. Hopefully the Ospreys will be able to get everyone back in the stadium again.”
Ireland duo ruled out
PA Staff
Craig Casey and Dan Sheehan are out of Saturday’s second Test against South Africa in Durban because of injury, the Irish Rugby Football Union has confirmed.
Scrum-half Casey will sit out because of concussion suffered in a challenge by former Munster team-mate RG Snyman which saw him leave the field on a stretcher, while Leinster hooker Sheehan sustained suspected ligament damage to his left knee as he tackled Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth.
Ulster half-back Nathan Doak and Connacht forward Dave Heffernan have been drafted into the squad as a result.
A statement from the IRFU said: “Following medical assessments after Saturday’s opening Test, the Ireland management can confirm that neither Craig Casey (concussion) nor Dan Sheehan (left knee) will play any further part in the South African series which concludes next Saturday in Durban.
“Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan and Ulster scrum-half Nathan Doak have been called up and the duo have linked up with the squad in Durban.”
Ireland went down 27-20 to the world champions in Pretoria on Saturday despite scoring two tries inside the final six minutes as the hosts survived a concerted fightback.
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