vendredi 30 septembre 2016
Cipriani must be first-choice 10 to get recall
Danny Cipriani must oust George Ford and Owen Farrell to reignite his England career.
Eddie Jones omitted Cipriani from England's training camp squad and the Elite Player Squad (EPS) on Friday, then challenged the Wasps playmaker to raise his performance levels.
Cipriani won the last of his 14 England caps in August 2015 and has not featured at all under head coach Jones.
Jones has admitted he does not consider the 28-year-old as a back-up squad option, after promoting Saracens' 23-year-old Alex Lozowski into his 45-man EPS.
"I had a number of difficult conversations yesterday," said Jones of informing a host of players they had been overlooked for selection. "Danny knows what he's got to do.
"Look he's a talented player but I said it quite clearly to him. At the moment he's not one or two in England in terms of stand-offs.
"We see George [Ford] and Owen [Farrell] together as one and two. They are 23 and 24 years old, they are the heart of the England side.
"They can organise the team, they are tactically smart.
"So for Cipriani to get into the squad he's got to be able to show he can be number one."
Bath star Ford and Saracens' Farrell have thrived in tandem at 10 and 12 under taskmaster boss Jones, and the Australian boss admitted the pair remain at the forefront of his revised England approach.
Cipriani has been in fine form for Wasps after rejoining his boyhood club from Sale Sharks in the summer.
The richly-talented fly-half has endured a host of injury setbacks and off-field issues in his career, but has been determined to display a calmer temperament to impress England boss Jones.
Jones insisted he does not view Cipriani as back-up material, challenging the high-profile star to prove he deserves to start at fly-half in order to force his way back into England's squad.
"I don't see him as a player who comes in the squad as a number three or four player," said Jones. "To me he's not that sort of player, he likes to be the main man. And when he plays well enough to be number one he'll be in the squad."
Cipriani must be first-choice 10 to get recalljeudi 29 septembre 2016
Nowell returns from injury for Exeter
Tom HamiltonRugby Editor
England's Jack Nowell is set to play his first rugby of the season after being named on Exeter's bench for Friday's match at Northampton Saints while George Kruis returns for Saracens.
Nowell, who has 18 Test caps, has been sidelined with a thumb injury but makes a timely return to action with England naming their Elite Player Squad on Friday ahead of the autumn Tests.
Ollie Devoto is back in Exeter's starting XV with Luke Cowan-Dickie and England hopeful Sam Hill dropping to the bench with the Chiefs making a total of five changes.
Northampton hand Calum Clark a start after he recovered from his shoulder injury while Saracens have England lock Kruis back for the first time this season but Alex Goode, Owen Farrell and Schalk Brits miss out through injury.
"Owen Farrell has a back problem, which we're continuing to monitor. It's really a day-by-day thing with Owen at the moment -- it's a bit of an open-ended injury which is always frustrating for the player and the club, but we won't risk him," Saracens boss Mark McCall said.
"Alex [Goode] and Schalk [Brits] picked up a knocks against Harlequins and they were both touch and go for tomorrow evening, but we have a long season ahead and they both miss out on this occasion.
"Sean Maitland has a knee injury and he is nearing return, whilst other guys such as Will Fraser (hip), Duncan Taylor (ankle) and Tim Streather (leg) are a bit further away from a return to action and we'll manage their return to play accordingly."
Nowell returns from injury for ExeterSpringboks change three for Wallabies
The Springboks have made three changes ahead of Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with the Wallabies in Pretoria.
Rudy Paige is handed his first Test start at scrum-half and he partners the recalled Morne Steyn in the half-backs. Johan Goosen is dropped from the matchday squad with Pat Lambie named at fullback while Willie le Roux is named on the bench.
There is no place in the 23 for Elton Jantjies or Faf de Klerk who both started in the Boks defeat against the All Blacks in their last run out.
"We had a very good training week so far and there is definitely excitement amongst the players to play in front of our South African supporters again as we continue to build continuity with just the three changes to the starting team and an unchanged pack of forwards," said South Africa coach Allister Coetzee.
"Pat has shown great confidence all week long and we are very pleased to have him back, as well as Lood [de Jager] and Julian [Redelinghuys], both of who have also shrugged off injuries. Willie will add a lot of experience on the bench.
"The selection of Pat at fullback fits into the way we want to play this weekend, together with his experience, calmness and leadership, which will be invaluable this weekend. Elton and Faf remain an integral part of the squad and both are part of our future plans, but Rudy and Morné deserve an opportunity to start.
"Australia will be determined to build on their previous two wins and they will pose difficult questions to us with their tactical and technical approach. We have our own goals to achieve within the two remaining matches, starting on Saturday when we play the Wallabies in front of a good crowd at Loftus."
South Africa: Patrick Lambie, Bryan Habana, Jessie Kriel, Juan de Jongh, Francois Hougaard, Morne Steyn,Rudy Paige; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Francois Louw, Teboho Mohoje, Warren Whiteley
Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Stephen Kitshoff, Julian Redelinghuys, Lood de Jager, Willem Alberts, Jaco Kriel, Lionel Mapoe, Willie le Roux
Springboks change three for Wallabiesmercredi 28 septembre 2016
Premiership coaches question RFU succession policy
Tom HamiltonRugby Editor
Aviva Premiership coaches have questioned the logic behind the Rugby Football Union encouraging prospective England coach candidates to seek overseas experience.
Ian Ritchie, the RFU's CEO, has challenged future successors to Eddie Jones "to go and get some international experience".
Jones' contract is up in 2019 and when he took the job, one of his tasks was to put in place a succession plan from within his coaching staff, but if no suitable candidate fits the RFU's criteria, then Ritchie has not ruled out looking abroad or even attempting to persuade Jones to prolong his stay with England.
Exeter boss Rob Baxter feels the approach of talking about an ideal candidate to replace Jones is potentially counter-intuitive. He is widely considered to be an option as a future England coach, having taken Exeter from the Championship to the Premiership final, but hasn't got the requisite international experience.
"The RFU has to find the best man for the job and if they believe that's the case and the right person is overseas -- someone who's been coaching abroad then fine," Baxter said, talking at the launch of this season's Champions Cup. "For me, it's a little odd that the governing body wants the best coaches in the country, to leave the country. To me that's not a pathway."
Baxter also asked rhetorically, "where is this example of an established Premiership coach failing as the England coach?", referencing Jones' predecessors Martin Johnson -- who came into the England job having never coached -- and Stuart Lancaster, whose time in charge of Yorkshire Carnegie was hardly remarkable but then developed his reputation as a top level coach within the RFU's system.
Jim Mallinder, Northampton Saints' director of rugby, believes a coach "getting as many experiences as he possibly can, can't be a bad thing" but agrees with Baxter about Premiership coaches not really being considered for the top England post in the past.
Both have experience of coaching within the RFU's systems while Exeter's Ali Hepher was on their June tour of South Africa. And for Mallinder the experience was not dissimilar to coaching at Northampton.
He said: "Coaching a side is coaching a side. It's getting a group of players working all together towards one goal. That's what coaching is."
Saracens boss Mark McCall, who has experience of coaching at Ulster and Castres, says working abroad does not necessarily mean you are ready for international duty and also pointed to the experience Leicester's Richard Cockerill and Saints' Mallinder have following years of service in the Premiership.
"That experience is pretty good," McCall said. "I don't think they need to go to New Zealand to be able to coach England."
Premiership coaches question RFU succession policySaracens unsure when Farrell will return
Tom HamiltonRugby Editor
Back injuries are plaguing two of England's key players with Saracens unsure when Owen Farrell will return from his particular niggle while Northampton are confident Dylan Hartley will be back on the field within the fortnight.
Farrell is yet to play this season having picked up the back injury in pre-season training and Saracens are reluctant to put a timeframe on when the England playmaker will be back on the field.
The news will concern both club and country with England due to name their Elite Player Squad on Friday.
"It is a back injury but it is not one where the physios are able to tell you he will be back by this or that point," McCall said. "It depends entirely on how he feels and on what he can do.
"And he just can't do enough things to get him on to the pitch to play. It's frustrating for him, it's frustrating for us. He can't play until he is ready.
"It has taken longer than thought but it is no one's fault. Brad [Barritt] trained with him last week and took more or less a full part in it but there were a couple of things he tried to do but couldn't do.
"Until he can do those things, he can't play. He might be able to play next week but he might not be able to."
Farrell is struggling to "kick properly", according to McCall, but the Saracens boss is optimistic the injury will not require surgery.
The news is more promising regarding England captain Hartley who was forced off in Northampton's round two win over Bristol.
He is back running in training and while the Saints are not etching in a definite date for his return, their director of rugby Jim Mallinder is hopeful he will be back in a "couple of weeks".
"I think it was probably a bit sore before the Bristol game," Mallinder said of Hartley. "He came off at half-time. We're hopeful that once he gets back he's back properly. You could push him and he could probably play this weekend.
"What we don't want is to play him for 40 minutes and him then to be out for another two weeks. We want to get it sorted properly and it hopefully then not affecting him for the rest of the season."
Saracens unsure when Farrell will returnMontpellier sign Scotland head coach Cotter
Scotland head coach Vern Cotter will return to the French Top 14 with Montpellier next season.
Montpellier, the European Challenge Cup holders, confirmed in a post on the official club website that 54-year-old New Zealander Cotter will arrive for the 2017-2018 campaign.
Cotter will replace South African Jake White, whose Montpellier contract expires next June.
Cotter, who coached Clermont Auvergne to the 2010 Top 14 title, has been at the helm in Scotland since 2014, but it had already been announced that he will be succeeded at the end of this season by Gregor Townsend.
"The arrival of Vern Cotter for the 2017/2018 season, should help, too, to write a new chapter in the history of MHR (Montpellier) and continue to grow," the club said.
Scotland face Australia, Argentina and Georgia in November, followed by a Six Nations campaign that features home games against Ireland, Wales and Italy.
Montpellier, meanwhile, are third in the Top 14 ahead of facing former European champions Toulon this weekend.
Montpellier sign Scotland head coach CotterEdinburgh head coach Alan Solomons resigns
Alan Solomons has quit as head coach of Edinburgh after the Scottish club lost three of their opening four Guinness PRO12 games.
The South African will be replaced by Duncan Hodge on a caretaker basis after ending his three-year spell in charge, although the latter will be given the chance to stake his claim to land the job on a permanent basis.
Solomons has not managed to secure a PRO12 finish higher than eighth but he did lead Edinburgh to the European Challenge Cup final in 2015, losing 19-13 to Gloucester.
In a statement issued by the Scottish Rugby Union, Solomons said: "I have decided to step down. I understand Scottish Rugby have appointed Duncan Hodge as the new acting head coach and I wish him well.
"I have greatly enjoyed working with the players and coaches and feel I have helped to put the club on a much stronger footing over the past three years and am leaving it in a better place than when I arrived."
SRU chief executive Mark Dodson added: "Alan came in as head coach at a difficult time in Edinburgh Rugby's history and helped to stabilise and strengthen the club.
"He achieved some notable successes including leading the first Scottish team to a European final of the Challenge Cup in 2015 and back-to-back 1872 Scottish Cup victories over Glasgow Warriors.
"Duncan brings his recent coaching experience from the Scotland national team as well as his long playing career with Edinburgh into the role and he will receive our full support to keep moving the club forward.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan for his significant contribution to the Edinburgh club and I wish him well for the future."
Hodge, who made 150 appearances for Edinburgh, returned to the capital club in November last year as assistant coach after working with Scotland. Stevie Scott and Peter Wilkins remain on the coaching staff.
Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons resignsConcussion forces Ireland prop White to retire
Ireland international prop Nathan White is to retire from rugby on medical advice following a concussion injury.
White's provincial team Connacht and the Irish Rugby Football Union made a joint announcement that 35-year-old White's professional career is over.
Born in New Zealand, he qualified for Ireland on residency grounds, and won 13 caps in 2015 and 2016, including being part of Ireland's World Cup campaign last year.
"While it's disappointing to finish up this way and not on my own terms, I feel that I can look back at my rugby career with a lot of pride," White said.
"I am retiring at 35 years of age, and with so many great memories from my time playing in both New Zealand and Ireland.
"I am not sure what exactly the future holds, but I know I am really excited about it. I've loved my time as a player, but feel I am ready to move on now and challenge myself in other ways."
White captained Waikato before moving to Ireland and initially playing for Leinster under current Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt, then joining Connacht in 2012.
Connacht chief executive Willie Ruane added: "Nathan has been a very important part of the team and organisation over the last number of years.
"He has contributed a great deal to the culture here and has inspired so many young players with his leadership on and off the pitch.
"He will, of course, be sorely missed at Connacht Rugby, but he can be proud of what he has achieved both here and with Ireland."
Concussion forces Ireland prop White to retiremardi 27 septembre 2016
Bath complete deal to sign centre Fruean
Centre Robbie Fruean has completed a deal to join Bath, reuniting with his former Canterbury Crusaders coaches Todd Blackadder and Tabai Matson.
The 28-year-old will move to the Aviva Premiership after his Mitre 10 Cup commitments with Hawke's Bay, with the competition culminating in late October.
The 2007 IRB world under-19 player of the year excelled in New Zealand's junior ranks, but was then blighted by both illness and injury.
Fruean rebuilt his career making more than 60 appearances for the Crusaders under Blackadder and Matson's tutelage, and now the trio will link back up again at the Recreation Ground.
"We are really excited that Robbie has agreed to join us here at Bath," said Bath rugby director Blackadder.
"Tabai [Matson, Bath head coach] and I know him very well from his time at the Crusaders, and he is the kind of player we know will fit right in with the squad we have here, both on and off the field."
The Mitre 10 Cup final will be held on Oct. 28, suggesting the latest Fruean could arrive at Bath would be early November.
The versatile three-quarter's impending arrival will no doubt boost Bath's resources during the autumn internationals.
England centre Jonathan Joseph was a late withdrawal from Bath's 34-14 Premiership defeat at Leicester Tigers on Sunday, suffering from thigh trouble.
"Whilst my focus for the time being is still on the Mitre 10 Cup with Hawke's Bay, I'm really looking forward to getting over to Bath and getting started," said Fruean.
"It will be a new challenge for me, the Aviva Premiership is such a tough league, but Bath have had a good start, and I know that being over there and competing in it will bring out the best in me."
Bath have also recruited Dragons prop Shaun Knight on loan until the end of the season.
The 26-year-old former Gloucester front-rower slots into the Bath ranks immediately, offsetting David Wilson's return to home club Newcastle Falcons.
England Under-20s graduate Knight made his name at home club Gloucester, following in his father's footsteps.
"Shaun is a very strong scrummager, and we're excited to see how he continues to develop now that he's with us," said Bath's first-team coach Toby Booth.
"We've got some very good props within the squad, and Shaun adds to that strength in depth and competition for places."
Bath complete deal to sign centre Fruean