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Here are the latest rugby headlines on Friday, July
Roberts criticises pay dispute timing
Former Wales centre and current Welsh Rugby Union board member Jamie Roberts has criticised the fact talks to resolve a pay dispute between Welsh players and the WRU were left so late to be resolved.
Senior players and WRU bosses were locked in discussions on Wednesday, cancelling a scheduled press conference as Welsh rugby threatened to erupt in chaos once again.
A deal was eventually struck, with Wales players now believed to be getting paid £9,000 per match for the Nations Championship matches this summer after initially being offered thousands less by the union.
While Wales boss Steve Tandy has praised the players for their handling of the situation, suggesting it has had minimal impact on preparations for Saturday’s opening match against Fiji, Roberts insisted things should have not have been allowed to go so close to the wire.
Asked what he knew about the situation on Scrum V, Roberts said: “I don’t know anything. That’s the frustrating thing. I think we all agree, for one reason or another, this has dragged into a Test week and it shouldn’t. That shouldn’t happen.
“These sorts of things should be put to bed weeks before a Test match. As a player you want to concentrate on preparing for Test matches. It is the privilege of a lifetime to play for Wales and the last thing you need is that hanging over your head.
“Hopefully moving forward that doesn’t happen again. It should not be something that is being discussed the week of a Test match but it has been resolved, thankfully.
“These sorts of negotiations happen in every sport, not just Welsh rugby but you feel there should be established timelines for when those talks take place. It should not be dragging out this late in the process.”
Former Wales international Lloyd Williams said there’s no doubt the dispute would have affected the players. He said: “It certainly does (affect players). Most of your time during the week is away from the field where you’re having those really important conversations that are to beat a team on the weekend, which is really hard. They are are definitely talking about this.
“Unfortunately it is just wasted energy. We are saying hopefully it doesn’t happen again but I remember having the same kind of discussions in 2011 the week before games. To think it won’t happen again is probably unrealistic. It’s a shame.”
Last-minute Wales vs Fiji VIP and hospitality tickets
Seat Unique is offering last-minute VIP hospitality tickets for Wales’ Nations Championship match against Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium.
Rees-Zammit could still be ‘world class’ full-back
Steve Tandy believes that Louis Rees-Zammit could still become a “world-class full-back” as he moved the Bristol Bears star back to his preferred position of wing.
Rees-Zammit will revert to out wide this weekend to face Fiji, having scored in each of his last two Tests against the Pacific Islanders. Blair Murray will take back the 15 jersey, having been usurped by Rees-Zammit in the Six Nations.
Tandy revealed on Thursday that Rees-Zammit wants to play on the wing – although he added he would “have no problem whatsoever” with playing full-back.
“I think as Louis said, he loves scoring tries,” said Tandy. “I think those opportunities, those one-v-ones and getting his hands on the ball while on the front-foot, there’s an element of that. At full-back, if you’re playing against Louis, you’re not going to go long to give him that free space to run in.
“I think being on the wing brings in his attacking kicking game on those edges as well. Ultimately, he can beat people.
“I think we’ve got lots of competition in there and it’s about always having these conversations with the players. We’re pretty open as a group and pretty connected. That’s where Louis does well on the wing.
“I do believe he could be a world-class full-back as well, but ultimately we’ve got Blair who has responded well from the Six Nations.
“Blair has got some unbelievable qualities with how he works around the back-field. He’s got a left-footed kicking game and, whether there’s space or not, he’s exciting for us.”
Pollock backed to beat South African haters
England star Henry Pollock is being backed by Steve Borthwick to come out smiling if targeted by South Africa’s giant forwards in Saturday’s Ellis Park collision.
Pollock is the England player Springbok fans love to hate and is happy to play the pantomime villain after departing for the July tour with an Instagram post saying “See you soon” followed by a South African flag and a drop of blood emoji.
Apart from being trolled by the world champions’ supporters online and the centre of attention amongst local media, the headline-grabbing 21-year-old has also been criticised by former players with Schalk Burger calling him a “TikTok dancer who plays a bit of rugby”.
He was even told by a passerby at England’s team hotel in Johannesburg that he is seen in South Africa as “public enemy number one”.
The expectation is that he will receive a brutal welcoming party from the home pack when he steps off the bench, but Borthwick knows from having seen him shrug off provocation by French teams when on Northampton duty that he will rise to the occasion.
England head coach Borthwick said: “Over the last couple of years as Henry Pollock has emerged he’s faced challenges, especially in European rugby.
“Teams see what he gives to his own team and they want to try and nullify that. I’ve seen that over and over, yet Henry Pollock just always seems to shine and thrive – with a smile on his face.
“We want more personalities like that. We want more people playing rugby in that way, smiling like that. He’s a wonderful character and we love having him in our squad.”
