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The latest rugby news stories on the second weekend of Nations Championship action
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Saturday, July 11.
Wales on brink of World Rugby rankings comeback
Wales could return to the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time in two years this weekend.
Steve Tandy’s side are currently ranked 11th in the world – having closed the gap on the top 10 following a win over ninth-ranked Fiji last weekend. Victory over Argentina in San Juan on Saturday would see them back in the top 10, providing Italy don’t beat New Zealand for their first time in their history.
Wales fell out of the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time in their history back in July 2024 under Warren Gatland, with the former coach presiding over a 14-Test losing run.
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That would eventually stretch to 18 Test matches after Gatland departed, with Wales falling as low as 14th in the world.
Under Tandy, things have improved – with Wales winning one match in each of their past four campaigns.
A return to the top 10 is hopefully on the cards at some point, but that could be difficult to achieve this weekend against Argentina.
The last time the two sides met back in November, Argentina scored 52 points in Cardiff.
Wales aren’t the only side who could move into the top 10 this weekend.
Japan could make it back there for the first time since July 2023 if they beat Ireland in Australia, providing Italy and Wales lose.
Elsewhere, South Africa could surrender top spot – but it would take a first-ever home defeat to Scotland, with a margin of more than 15 points, and New Zealand beating Italy.
The All Blacks themselves could fall down to third, but that would require a loss to Italy and Ireland beating Japan.
France could overtake Ireland in third place. That would need them to beat Australia and Japan to beat the Irish, with one of those matches needing a winning margin of more than 15 points.
England could climb to fourth with victory over Fiji, providing Scotland lose and France lost by more than 15 points.
But were Fiji to win in Liverpool, they could climb up to seventh. That would take a big win over England and Australia losing.
Scotland could also climb to a new high – with third and fourth possible. However, Gregor Townsend’s side could also drop back to seventh if England and Argentina win – with Los Pumas needing to beat Wales by more than 15 points.
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.
Wales coach’s son starts for under-20s
Wales U20s head coach Richard Whiffin has made two changes for the fifth place semi-final of the World Rugby Junior World Championship against Australia on Sunday.
Loosehead prop George Tuckley and second row Tom Cottle were unavailable for selection due to injury and have been replaced by Ospreys’ Dylan James, who is the son of Wales senior scrum coach Paul James, and Bristol Bears’ Osian Williams respectively.Bristol prop George Leyland is earmarked to get his first taste of action in the championship from the bench.
Wales failed to qualify for the top four semi-finals after losing to South Africa but can still finish the tournament on a positive note.
“This is little time to dwell on what might have been against the Junior Boks with such a quick turnaround between games,” said Whiffin.“The boys put in a great effort against South Africa but now the focus is fully on another southern hemisphere opponent.“This is a great opportunity for this group of players as they haven’t played Australia before. Australia will be a tough act to overcome but we are confident in the squad we have selected and look forward to the challenge ahead.”
Wales U20s: Lewis Edwards; Rhys Cummings, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Steffan Emanuel, Tom Bowe; Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Sion Davies; Dylan James, Tom Howe, Jac Pritchard, Will Evans, Osian Williams, Deian Gwynne, Caio James, Evan Minto. Replacements: Oscar Thomas, George Leyland, Yestyn Cook, Luke Evans, Alex Ridgway, Cai Gealy, Lloyd Lucas, Bailey Cutts.
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Scotland aim to do their talking on the field
Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu insists his side will do their talking on the pitch when they take on world champions South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday.
Gregor Townsend’s men face the toughest challenge in world rugby against the back-to-back world champions who comfortably beat England last weekend.
But Scotland are in good form having secured a notable victory in Argentina last time out.
“I’d like to think maybe our confidence is a little bit more quiet, to keep it in the changing room,” Tuipulotu told the BBC.
“There’s no point about talking about anything like that before the game, because you’ve got to go out there and play the world champions in their backyard.
“Maybe this is a little bit of me gaining experience over the last two, three years, it’s better to just leave it to Saturday.
“Of course I’m confident in my group. I’d be stupid as a captain to sit up here and say, ‘I’m not confident in my group and we’re going to go there and lose’ before the game. That’s stupid, you know?
“So of course I’m confident in my group, but we’ll focus on ourselves. We know the challenge at hand and we’re just really excited for it, genuinely.”
It is a daunting task but the Glasgow centre insists occasions such as Saturday at Loftus Versfeldt is why he wanted to play international rugby.
“This is why I started playing rugby when I was 12 years old, to be in these types of weeks, preparing with this type of group, with an opportunity to play the world champions in their backyard,” he told the BBC.
“Just reflecting this week of where we’ve come on since the pain of Argentina, but not only that, I won’t get this opportunity again to come up with a team and develop with a team like I am right now.
“I feel like I’m in probably a rare space in my career where I’m not going to get this opportunity again to be coached by this coaching staff, to play with this group of players, in the current state of where I am in my own career. So I’m very grateful to be in the space that I am and captaining this side.”
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