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Here are your rugby evening headlines for Monday, July 6.
Argentina and South Africa to face different Wales
Josh Adams says Argentina and South Africa will face a better Wales team than they did last year.
In Steve Tandy’s first campaign, Argentina helped themselves to 52 points in a victory in Cardiff – before the Springboks claimed a record 73-0 victory weeks later.
Wales have started to turn things around slowly, as demonstrated by Saturday’s victory over Fiji.
Ahead of Nations Championship matches against Argentina and South Africa, Wales will have a chance to show just how far they have come – starting in San Juan this Saturday.
“We feel as a team that we’ve progressed from then,” Cardiff winger Adams said. “I’d like to think they’ll see a progression in our game.
“It will certainly be a different test going to San Juan and playing Argentina, and then the world champions in Durban.
“So we’ve got some tests coming up and it will be a good gauge where this team is at the next two weeks, certainly.”
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Adams, who scored in the 39-24 win on Saturday, was part of the side that won a two-Test series in Argentina back in 2018.
“I played at San Juan (first Test) back in 2018 and I won,” Adams added.
“But I know how tough it is and I know how good the Argentinians are at the minute.
“They are a very good team. You talk about Tests – and that’s right up there.”
The victory over Fiji marked Wales’ first consecutive Test victories since the 2023 World Cup pool stages, with Adams hailing the growth in this side.
“The boys referred to it (momentum) from the Ireland and Scotland games in the Six Nations and then beating Italy,” he said. “We can’t get hung up on that because that’s a previous campaign when we did well.
“There were loads of good improvements from the Six Nations, which was pleasing. We saw the game out and managed it really well.
“We want to kick on, we’ve been together now for three campaigns.
“There’s more expectation now within our group and we put more pressure on ourselves to achieve things. Our game’s moving on nicely.”
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.
Anglo-Welsh matches announced
Beaten Gallagher Prem finalists Exeter Chiefs have announced pre-season friendlies against Welsh duo Cardiff and Scarlets later this year.
The west Walians will travel to Sandy Park to begin their pre-season campaign on September 5, as they look to bounce back from a difficult season.
The Scarlets have played at Sandy Park on five previous occasions, winning once.
Then, on September 19, Exeter will travel to the Arms Park to take on the Blue and Blacks.
Cardiff are set to have a friendly somewhere in England on September 5 – but the capital club have yet to announce who they will play.
Wales international switches clubs
Wales second-row Abbie Fleming will join Leicester Tigers Women ahead of next season after leaving Harlequins.
The 30-year-old is one of three Wales internationals to leave Quins, alongside Carys Phillips and Lisa Neumann.
Since joining in 2023, Fleming has played 39 times for the club.
“I’m really looking forward to joining Tigers this season,” said Fleming, who has also played for Cardiff and Exeter.
“I believe in the game plan, and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together as a club.
“It’s a fresh start, and I’m excited to rebuild and grow as a player at a club whose values I fully align with.”
Leicester finished bottom of PWR last season, having lost every one of their 16 league games.
“Abbie is somebody who is incredibly physical, we’re really looking forward to seeing what she’s going to add to our defence but also her attacking prowess as well,” said Tigers director of women’s rugby Fraser Goatcher.
“She’s got a great skillset so we’re really looking forward to seeing what she brings.”
Springboks rip up team
Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus has made wholesale changes for this weekend’s clash with Scotland, having named his team early.
Just days after comfortably beating England, the back-to-back world champions continue their Nations Championship campaign against a buoyant Scotland side. However, true to his word, Erasmus has made a number of changes for this weekend’s Test in Pretoria.
10 of the matchday 23 from the England win are retained, with five of the starting XV remaining the same. They are Jesse Kriel, Damian Willemse, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Paul de Villiers, and Ruan Nortje.
Canan Moodie, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Zach Porthen, Ben-Jason Dixon and Grant Williams are the other remaining faces from last Saturday – with Moodie promoted from the bench to the starting side.
With the likes of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager, Ox Nche, Franco Mostert and Andre Esterhuizen out injured, it’s a chance for South Africa to test their depth once again.
“We have good depth in our squad, and this will be a great test for the team,” said Erasmus.
“We told the players from the outset that we would give as many of them a chance as possible to play this season, while we are also trying to manage some players, while others are not available for selection this week, so it was important to select a team with some continuity from last week, while bringing in players we believe will be the right fit for what we are expecting from Scotland.
“They had a good Six Nations campaign, and they come off a victory against Argentina away, so they will be psyched up going into this match.
“All of the players have been working extremely hard at training, and they are fully aware of the threat Scotland poses. Many of these combinations have played together for the Springboks and for their provincial teams this season.
“Many of the players will also be playing at their home ground at Loftus Versfeld, so they know the field and conditions well.
“They (Scotland) are a quality team, who will test us in all areas of the game, and they are well coached, so they will throw everything they have at us.
“Matches against them are always tough, and looking back, there have been some very close encounters between the sides in the past, so we need to be switched on from the first whistle, be accurate in all departments of the game, and use our opportunities if we want to get the desired result.”
Ireland prop ruled out of Japan match
Ireland prop Jeremy Loughman will miss this weekend’s Nations Championship clash against Japan.
Loughman suffered a concussion after replacing Tom O’Toole in the second-half of their narrow win over Australia in Sydney.
As such, he has been stood down for Saturday’s Test match in Newcastle.
Rob Baloucoune missed the victory with a hamstring injury – with Ireland to monitor his fitness before naming their side on Wednesday.
