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The latest rugby news and headlines from Wales and beyond
Here are your latest rugby evening headlines for Tuesday, July 7.
Rees-Zammit told to ‘work harder’ to end dry spell
Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit has been told he might need to work a little harder against Argentina this weekend as the 25-year-old bids to end his longest dry spell in Test rugby.
It’s now been six matches for Wales since Rees-Zammit last dotted down, which is the longest he’s had to wait throughout his 41-cap career so far. Five of those matches were at full-back, with the Bristol Bears man switched back to his favoured wing to face Fiji last weekend.
Despite that, he managed just a couple of carries in the 39-24 victory, being replaced by Ellis Mee before the hour-mark.
Former Wales wing Alex Cuthbert believes that there could be more opportunities against Argentina this weekend, but added that Rees-Zammit might need to go looking for more work himself.
“I thought he did pretty well in the air,” said Cuthbert on the Scrum V podcast. “Watching Scotland against Argentina, they got around them a lot.
“We’re going to need to use him a lot. He’s probably going to have to work a little harder to make that extra number.
“You watch Darcy Graham, Scotland were finding those extra numbers. Argentina were all sorts in defence. It’s how do you get him (in the game) because he’s one of our potent attackers?
“How do you get him and Eddie James in the game? We didn’t see enough of him really.”
Wales vs Japan VIP and hospitality tickets
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Former Wales U20s star signs new deal
Former Wales U20s scrum-half Harri Williams has signed a new deal with the Ospreys.
The ex-Scarlets half-back joined the Ospreys last season after playing in Australia with Tuggeranong Vikings in the ACTRU Premier Division in Canberra.
The scrum-half featured just once though, featuring for a couple of minutes off the bench against Connacht in March.
Despite his limited minutes, head coach Mark Jones has decided to keep the 23-year-old around for another season.
“It was a season of mixed emotions for me,” said Williams. “I picked up a tough injury early on in the season which was difficult, but I managed to get through that and finally make my debut for the club, which was a real privilege.”
“The medical team and S&C staff worked really hard to get me in a place to make my first appearance and I would like to take this opportunity to thank them for that. Being out with a longer-term injury is never easy, but being around this group of players every day definitely helped me to keep pushing to get back fit.
“I really want to pay that back this season by improving and helping this team in whatever way I can.”
Ospreys boss Jones added: “Harri worked extremely hard in training last season, so it was a real shame that he picked up the injury when he did. It says a lot about his character that he was able to get back to a place where he could contribute for us towards the end of the season.”
“With Reuben (Morgan-Williams) and Kieran (Hardy) often away on international duty, it’s important for us to a quality crop of scrum halves, and we feel we definitely have that with Luke (Davies) and Harri both still a part of our playing group.”
England call up duo
By Jim van Wijk, Press Association
Emmanuel Iyogun and Chandler Cunningham-South have been called up to England’s squad for the Nations Championship match against Fiji at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday following more injury withdrawals.
Northampton prop Iyogun, who could be in line to make his debut, replaces Beno Obano, while Cunningham-South comes into the squad in place of the injured Cadan Murley.
Obano had come off the bench for the closing stages of England’s 45-21 defeat to South Africa at Ellis Park on Saturday, but will now miss the Fiji match because of an unspecified issue.
Murley had been forced off during the second half against the Springboks with a shoulder problem.
Tom Roebuck, who was a surprise omission from Steve Borthwick’s original 36-man squad, was called up on Monday to replace George Furbank.
Harlequins-bound full-back Furbank had his appendix removed on Friday while in Johannesburg, and is set to leave hospital to return to the UK on Tuesday.
Full-back Freddie Steward is expected to be available for Saturday’s clash with Fiji in Liverpool after missing the Springboks showdown because of a rolled ankle.
England are also set to face another away Nations Championship fixture against Argentina in Santiago del Estero on July 18.
Rookie props in line for Ireland debuts
By Press Association Sport Reporters
Rookie props Billy Bohan and Sam Illo could be handed Ireland debuts in Saturday’s Nations Championship showdown with Japan.
Munster loose-head Jeremy Loughman is unavailable after suffering a head injury in last weekend’s 33-31 victory over Australia, and head coach Andy Farrell may decide to keep his powder dry with tight-head Tadhg Furlong as the eagerly-anticipated clash with New Zealand looms.
As a result, Connacht pair Bohan, 20, and 25-year-old Illo could find themselves called upon when Ireland face the Brave Blossoms in Newcastle, New South Wales, and scrum coach John Fogarty is convinced they are ready.
He told a press conference in Sydney on Tuesday: “There’s a reason they’re here. Both Billy and Sam have performed well throughout the season. They’ve put their hands up and we’re seeing that form in training.
“It’s been brilliant. It’s been exactly what we’d wanted for them. The learnings are huge.
“To be around the other more experienced props and be around Andy (Farrell), Paul (O’Connell), Goody (Andrew Goodman), Johnny (Sexton), Simon (Easterby), and get reviewed and understand what it’s going to take to become an international player, we’re seeing that and I’m sure they’re feeling that throughout the week.”
A first cap would complete a remarkable season for Bohan in particular.
The then 19-year-old made his Connacht debut in December and was called into Farrell’s Six Nations squad in January after injuries to Andrew Porter, Paddy McCarthy and Jack Boyle ate into Ireland’s pack resources.
Fogarty said: “He’s learning the whole time. He’s got a huge appetite to learn, very curious around his bits and pieces. Tadhg Furlong will be the first to tell you that he’s constantly figuring ways out to do things well. So is Billy.
“Like I said, he’s got the right mindset to continue to grow. We’ve seen him grow since he got here, so he’s been great. He had more game time under his belt and he had a certain confidence.
“When we bring guys in, a lot of the time we’re bringing them in to expose them to the level of training, and we want to see them go back and kick on.
“We want to see them go back and use any little bits that they’ve taken and put it in their game and be consistent, and he has done that – and he’s found a bit of consistency in what he’s doing around scrum and certainly around the game.
“Size-wise, he’s just about perfect. It’s really exciting, but he’s got a lot to learn and he understands that. He’s certainly someone that we’re very excited about. We’ll see how it goes.”
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