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Here are your rugby evening headlines for Tuesday, July 14.
Five players summoned following red cards
Five players – including Wales’ Luke Evans and England’s Seb Kelly – have been summoned to face disciplinary bosses following red cards in the Junior World Rugby Championship.
Replacement Evans was shown a 20-minutes red card for a dangerous tackle against Australia on Sunday.
Richard Whiffin’s side ran out 38-36 winners, taking their first southern hemisphere scalp at U20s level since beating New Zealand in 2019.
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They will now look to finish fifth in the tournament – which would be their best finish since being runners-up in 2013.
However, they might be without Evans – depending on how his hearing goes.
English flanker Kelly is likely to pick up a hefty ban, having been handed a straight red card for a headbutting South Africa’s Luan Giliomee on the floor during their semi-final defeat.
The incident has been widely condemned across the world of rugby, leading to England’s eventual collapse to defeat.
Giliomee was also shown a red card for making contact in the air – with his case being heard on Tuesday as well.
USA’s Alfie Booth and Ireland’s Harry Walters are also set to learn their fate after being dismissed on the weekend.
Wales need to improve on ‘horrible’ showing
Wales forwards coach Danny Wilson says that Steve Tandy’s side need to improve upon the “horrible scoreline” from the last time they faced South Africa.
The Springboks inflicted a record 73-0 defeat on Wales in Cardiff back in November, with both sides missing players due to the match falling outside of the Test window.
Having beaten South Africa in Bloemfontein four years ago, Wales have now conceded 241 points in their last five matches against the Springboks.
On average across those games, they’ve lost by a margin of 37 points. Having once been competitive against South Africa – winning five out of six Tests between 2014 and 2018 – the two sides are now poles apart.
With few giving Wales any hope of a surprise victory against a Boks team that has scored over 40 points against both England and Scotland in recent weeks, simply improving on that horrendous scoreline in Cardiff last year is the starting point for Wales.
“Well, first of all, there were a whole load of contributing factors that led into a horrible scoreline last time we played South Africa—there’s no doubt about that,” said Wilson. “But also, as you know, it was a very, very impressive performance from them. We definitely want to and need to improve on that scoreline.
“At the same time, we’re very aware of the challenge that we have ahead of us, and we know we’ve got to raise our game from the weekend. As we’ve spoken about, through Italy, the Barbarians, and obviously into Fiji, we showed some of those progressions.
“Although the result on the weekend wasn’t what we wanted and there were some disappointing parts, there were also some positive parts.
“Making sure that we’re recognizing and building on those is key, as well as improving some of the areas where we weren’t quite on it. We will have to be on it this weekend against a side that can hurt you very, very quickly.”
Wales vs Japan VIP and hospitality tickets
Seat Unique is offering VIP hospitality tickets for Wales’ Nations Championship matches against New Zealand and Japan in November.
Scotland dealt injury blow
Alex Samuel, Kyle Steyn and Rory Darge have all been ruled out of Scotland’s Test against Fiji at Murrayfield on Saturday due to injury.
Samuel is ruled out with a knee injury, while Steyn misses out with a foot knock.
Darge won’t play after failing a HIA at half-time against South Africa on the weekend.
Samuel had been named on the bench for that Springboks match in Pretoria, but pulled out on the morning of the match.
Afterwards, Gregor Townsend confirmed that he would require surgery on his knee – meaning he’ll be out for several weeks.
Despite also losing tighthead prop Elliot Millar Mills to injury, Townsend has not called for reinforcements ahead of the match with Fiji on the weekend.
Irish duo fit to face All Blacks
By Press Association Sport Reporters
Rob Baloucoune and Jeremy Loughman are both in contention for Ireland’s Test against New Zealand this weekend as a fully-fit squad trained on Tuesday.
Baloucoune had been picked to face Australia in Sydney in the opening match of this tour but pulled out with a hamstring problem which also forced him out of the win over Japan.
Loughman, meanwhile, suffered a head injury against the Wallabies which sidelined him against Japan.
But both were involved as the players trained at Kings College in Auckland ahead of this weekend’s clash at Eden Park, a venue where New Zealand are unbeaten in their last 52 games.
“It was great to have everyone out there on the fourth week of the tour,” backs coach Andrew Goodman told reporters.
“Everyone was training and available, so it’s a good place to be at the end of the tour.”
Jimmy O’Brien turned in two excellent performances in the absence of Baloucoune, and the latter’s return will leave Andy Farrell with a decision to make.
“To have Rob back training and fit, he obviously had an amazing Six Nations for us and we were looking forward to getting him going from week one,” Goodman added.
“It’s a shame he pulled up with an injury, but he’s charging around training again today. It creates a healthy dilemma for us as coaches and some good discussions.”
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