6 Nations

Laidlaw Lays into Referee Poite After Loss

Published

1 year ago

February 11, 2019

Joshua Freeman

Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

Scotland’s Greig Laidlaw had some words to get off his chest after Saturday’s loss to Ireland in Murrayfield and they have gone largely unnoticed.

Following his sides 22-13 loss, Laidlaw claimed that referee Romain Poite gave a couple of soft decisions in favour of the Irish directly after the match.

“Romain Poite picked us up in the middle of the field, Sean O’Brien reefed the ball out and he’s given a knock-on and it’s right on front of him,” he said in an interview to BBC directly following the game.

“He doesn’t seem to like us Romain. He refereed us against South Africa as well, and we don’t seem to see eye to eye, so,” he added.

Laidlaw’s comments could have been forgiven due to the heat of the moment in losing, as he did also say we’re not going to blame him, we’ve got to look at ourselves, and again credit to Ireland.”

"He doesn't seem to like us,"

Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw wasn't impressed with the performance of referee Romain Poite after his side were beaten by Ireland in the #SixNations.

Continuing #SCOvIRE reaction 👉 https://t.co/BkHCpGp693 #bbcrugby #SixNations2019 pic.twitter.com/U11h6fBM0f
— BBC Rugby Union (@bbcrugbyunion) February 9, 2019

However, Laidlaw continued his attack on the French referee during the post-game press conference to add fuel to the fire. Again, he pointed to the Sean O’Brien incident.

“There’s one moment in particular. We launched off a lineout in the second half and Sean O’Brien kind of reefed the ball and Romain was right there and he gave a knock on against us when it was clearly not a knock on,” said Laidlaw to the press.

“It was play on so you can understand why, with the way the game was going, we get frustrated. We talk about Test matches turning on small points and again that just allowed us to release the pressure valve [on Ireland],” he continued.

He also spoke of his team’s “disappointment” in the decision but was not 100% backed up by head coach Gregor Townsend.

“I think nines are always frustrated when they can’t get the ball away cleanly and quickly. There was an incident on the screen with two Irish hands on the ball, and Greig ripped them away from it, and he was probably frustrated having seen that picture a number of times,” Townsend said in the press conference.

“You can understand his frustration. But it’s a tough game to referee, Romain is an outstanding referee, and today was a proper test match with two teams in the way they defend and compete hard at the breakdown and is difficult for referees to manage,” he added, refusing to blame the referee.

The question now arises should Laidlaw’s comments see him face some form of punishment for questioning officials?

Only time will tell what happens but for now it would seem Laidlaw would not be best pleased if Poite referees any of Scotland’s future games especially when his side face Ireland once more in the World Cup later this year.

Another incident that went unpunished was the collision that forced Stuart Hogg out of the game early doors after what could be described as a late hit. We take a look at the kick and the reaction here.

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6 Nations

May Issues Injury Update

England ace Jonny May has provided the public with an injury update after undergoing surgery

Published

2 weeks ago

March 16, 2020

Joshua Freeman

(Photo by David Rogers - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

England winger Jonny May has taken to social media to provide the public with an update on his fractured cheekbone.

The 29-year-old picked up the injury early on in England’s win over Wales in the Six Nations and was forced off. It was later revealed that he would have to undergo surgery, but following that he has said he is raring to go and be sharper than before.

“It’s never good picking up an injury but I will use this as an opportunity to regenerate/sharpen up and will be doing everything I can to get back on the pitch as soon as possible,” he said in his post.

There is no exact timeline on when May could return to Premiership side Leicester Tigers and feature, with the club claiming he will miss an “extended period” after the surgery.

However, with many leagues across the globe putting a halt to their campaigns due to the coronavirus outbreak, reports claim that the Premiership will follow suit in the next couple of days meaning it means May might not miss much rugby at all while injured.

Depending on how it all works out May will probably be aiming for a return before the summer in order to get some minutes under his belt before England take on Japan in their two-test tour.

It’s all up in the air at the moment, but it’s good to know that May is on the mend and relishing a return to play.

6 Nations

Wales Switch Four for Scotland Game

Wales have made four changes to their starting line-up for this weekend’s Six Nations clash with Scotland

Published

2 weeks ago

March 12, 2020

Joshua Freeman

(ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has made a total of four changes to his starting XV for this Saturday’s Six Nations game with Scotland in the Principality Stadium at 14 15.

Three of the four changes come in the pack with Wyn Jones and WillGriff John coming into the front-row, while Cory Hill comes in for Jake Ball in the second-row, in what will be his first test start for over a year.

The only alteration in the backs sees Rhys Webb take the place of Gareth Davies, who drops to the bench.

Elsewhere it’s the same as last time out against England with Ken Owens in the front-three alongside Jones and John, while Hill links up with captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second-row, with the skipper set to equal the world record for test caps with 148 during the game.

The back-row has remained the same with Ross Moriarty staying in as blindside-flanker, Justin Tipuric continues on the openside and Josh Navidi remains at No 8.

Webb partners Dan Biggar in the half-backs, while Hadleigh Parkes and Nick Tompkins are once again used in the centre-pairing.

Liam Williams takes his place on the left-wing again, with George North on the right and Leigh Halfpenny finishes off the starting XV from full-back.

TEAM NEWS 👥 @AlunWynJones to equal world record for test appearances in #WALvSCO 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Cap cyntaf i brop @WillGriffJ a dychweliad i @coryhill_ yn yr ail reng.

📰 – https://t.co/Qnui85BdB0 #HWFN pic.twitter.com/XzYqp4AxcB
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) March 12, 2020

On the bench there is a huge amount of talent with the likes of Rhys Carre, Taulupe Faletau and Johnny McNicholl joining Davies among the replacements.

Speaking ahead of the game Pivac paid tribute to his captain and hopes the team can get a much-needed win.

“Saturday is a great opportunity for us to wrap up the campaign with a big performance at home in Cardiff. We want to finish with the performance we know we can deliver and we have been working hard to get there. Alun Wyn is one of the most iconic figures in the game, he is our leader and I’m delighted for him as he continues to set the bar across the game,” he said.

Wales will hope to avoid a fourth defeat in a row when they take on the Scots on Saturday, but they come up against a side who are on a high after seeing off Italy and France in their last two games.

Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below.

Starting XV:

Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Nick Tompkins, Hadleigh Parkes, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, WillGriff John; Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones (C); Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi

Replacements:

Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre, Leon Brown, Will Rowlands, Taulupe Faletau, Gareth Davies, Jarrod Evans, Johnny McNicholl

6 Nations

Scotland Change Three for Welsh Test

Scotland have made a total of three changes to their starting line-up for their final game in this year’s Six Nations against Wales

Published

2 weeks ago

March 12, 2020

Joshua Freeman

(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his starting XV for this Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales at the Principality Stadium at 14 15.

All the changes come in the forwards with Stuart McInally taking over at hooker from Fraser Brown, who in turn drops to the bench.

Like Brown, Scott Cummings also move to the replacements as Sam Skinner takes a spot in the second-row and lastly Magnus Bradbury replaces Nick Haining at No 8, with Haining currently ill.

Elsewhere it’s as you where from the team that defeated France last weekend with Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson either side of McInally in the front-row, while Skinner joins Grant Gilchrist in the engine-room.

Jamie Ritchie continues as blindside-flanker, with Hamish Watson on the openside and Bradbury completes the pack from No 8.

Ali Price remains at scrum-half, with Adam Hastings at fly-half, and they have Sam Johnson and Chris Harris outside them in the midfield pairing.

Blair Kinghorn is once again on the left-wing, with two-try hero from last weekend Sean Maitland continuing on the right and Stuart Hogg captains the side from full-back.

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Scotland team named to face Wales in our final 2020 Guinness Six Nations Test at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm). #AsOne pic.twitter.com/BgSR8qqPBJ
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 12, 2020

There is a mix of experience and youth on the bench with the likes of Brown and Cummings being joined by Matt Fagerson and Kyle Steyn among the replacements.

Speaking ahead of the game Townsend admitted he is hoping that his team can build on their win last week.

“We set out this season to improve our consistency over a run of five tough games, something we have done well so far. We’ve stayed in the fight in every game, which is a credit to how hard the players have worked in training and during the Tests. It’s also been encouraging to see how well the players have grown together and have taken on board the input from new coaches, Steve (Tandy) and Pieter (de Villiers), who have done a great job in their first season with the team. We have huge respect for the Welsh team, who narrowly missed out on a World Cup final a few months ago. They are well-coached and have some outstanding players. It will be a fantastic occasion and one last opportunity to play to our potential in this championship,” he said.

Scotland will hope that they can pull off a first win on Welsh soil for 18 years on Saturday and know victory will see them finish above their rivals in the table. However, they will face a Welsh team desperate to avoid a fourth loss in a row.

Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below.

Starting XV: