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Here’s your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Tuesday July 14.
All Blacks legend hits out at TMO interference
Jeff Wilson has urged World Rugby to change their TMO protocol following frustrations at the number of interruptions in recent Nations Championship games so far.
Wilson says he’s been “frustrated” by the level of interference from video officials during New Zealand’s 47-17 win over Italy as well as a Australia’s 42-26 defeat to France.
“I was frustrated, both with that game in Wellington and the game in Australia. The TMOs are now looking at reasons not to give tries, finding all of the little things which I think not just frustrate the players, the coaches but the fans,” Wilson said on The Breakdown.
“You cannot be inside a stadium and not know what is going on, the fans have to know.
“We went a long way in Super Rugby, we almost went to the extreme, but for me I found it frustrating that those two games in particular really lacked any flow.
“If this is what World Rugby wants, we’ve got an issue,” he added.
“When you start having these sort of stoppages, a delay for this and a look at this, and you go, ‘was that a neck roll?’ For me I find it difficult for any game to be entertaining and flow.
“You think about how we were talking about the game out of Christchurch and how long this game went in Wellington.
“They’ve got to do a better job of understanding and connecting, and actually get some of the basic laws right.
“The TMO was having to remind the on-field officials [during All Blacks v Italy] of some of the basics of the game, that’s just not good enough.”
Adams: Springboks clash will answer questions
Wales star Josh Adams says there is “no harder test” than the Springboks as he prepares to take on Rassie Erasmus’ side this weekend.
Steve Tandy’s men were convincingly beaten by Argentina on Saturday as they failed to back up their opening Nations Championship win over Fiji against the Pumas.
Having flown 5,000 miles to South Africa, they will now bring their 2025/26 season to a close against the Boks, who come into the game off the back of wins over both England and Scotland.
When Wales and the Springboks last met in November, Tandy’s side were thumped 73-0 in their heaviest ever home defeat and Adams knows that Saturday’s clash will “answer a lot of questions” about how much progress they have made under the head coach.
“There’s probably no harder test,” said the Cardiff wing after the Argentina clash. “It’s certainly something that will test this group and it’ll probably answer a lot of questions about where we are.
“How can we react from the Argentina game? The physicality, contact area, movement is all magnified against a team like South Africa so we have to be at the races.
“We can talk about lots of areas of the game, but we’ve got to move quickly, hit hard and stay in the fight. Those are the simple things we need to work on this week.”
On his side’s performance against Argentina, Adams added: “We were just slightly off it around our physicality, first time tackles, speed around the ruck – the basics where you need to be at it at this level.
“We still managed to find ourselves in the Test match and it was going back and forth until they pulled away with a couple of scores before half-time.
“Argentina are a good team when they stay on top of you and if you are not at it in the areas that I have mentioned – and with your discipline – then teams will punish you.”
Slade credits England legend for recall
By PA
Henry Slade has revealed that advice from World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson paved the way for his England return.
Until his comeback on this month’s continent-hopping tour, Slade’s most recent appearance was against Argentina in November – a match he feared might be his final outing at Allianz Stadium.
He has fallen in and out of favour since Steve Borthwick took over as head coach in 2022 and, despite being awarded an enhanced England contract for 2025-26, he saw converted wing Tommy Freeman take over at outside centre.
But Slade’s outstanding form as Exeter reached the Gallagher Prem final, coupled with the Freeman experiment being put on pause as injuries bite, have propelled him back into the starting XV.
While his mum Jayne and wife Megan have proved helpful sounding boards, it is conversations with Wilkinson during coaching sessions with the hero of England’s 2003 World Cup triumph that have made the difference.
“My career has not been plain sailing, there have been ups and downs and times when I’ve had to come back and prove people wrong,” Slade said.
“I speak to Jonny Wilkinson. He comes into camp and does a lot of kicking stuff with us. He’s been good to talk to about things and he said you’ve just got to control what you can control.
“You’ve got to believe in yourself and work hard and stick to the process and hopefully the opportunity comes around again.
“It’s all you can do because selection is out of your hands – it’s opinions and how other people want to piece a team together.
“For me it’s about is how well I prep my body each day, how I turn up for training and how well I play for Exeter at the weekend.
“Taking it day by day, creating good habits and putting good performances together are hopefully enough to get another shot, and thankfully for me they have been enough.”
Pollock sets England target as demand issued
By PA
Henry Pollock is eyeing a starting spot in England’s back row as Steve Borthwick faces a clamour to promote his hat-trick hero from Saturday’s blitz of Fiji.
Former England stars Ben Youngs, Chris Ashton and Jeremy Guscott are among the voices to call for Pollock to be elevated from the supporting role he has been given for all but one of his 12 caps.
It comes after the 21-year-old took top billing at Hill Dickinson Stadium with a trio of electric finishes that left Fijians trailing in his wake.
Following the 73-8 victory Borthwick hinted that he would remain a high-impact replacement for the time being, but Ashton’s reaction was “stop messing about and put him in” while Youngs urged “just start him, please!”.
It is an ambition shared by Pollock himself, with Saturday’s showdown against Argentina his final opportunity to force his way in until the autumn.
“A big thing for me at the minute is wanting to get that starting shirt,” he said. “Steve said to me before the Fiji game to just go out there and be myself. I hope I did that and hope he saw enough in me.
“But at the same time, the depth in the squad is crazy good, so I’m happy with any role I’m playing as long as I’m in the team. I’m just trying to focus on myself and focus on my performances. Hopefully on the back of that, I’ll get results.”
Pollock mimicked Jude Bellingham’s outstretched arms celebration when he completed his hat-trick with seconds remaining to lift his hit rate to six tries in 12 Tests.
While also capable of grafting at close quarters and making an impact at the breakdown, it is the flashier moments that have transformed him into the game’s most talked about player.
Reflecting on his show of speed against Fiji, he said: “It is like a unique thing where I’m able to back myself like that. I had the confidence and the ability to take boys on the outside.
“I’m enjoying my rugby. I’m very confident in myself and trust my ability. I just go out there and try and get into good positions.”
