Content about Rugby union

TWO FORMER Welsh internationals have questioned Scott Johnson’s
credentials as head coach ahead of the Six Nations clash between Wales
and Scotland tomorrow.

Johnson, who is currently head coach of Scotland’s national side, “found it hard” being in charge of Wales according to Deiniol Jones, who is now the match-day team manager at the Cardiff Blues.

ALUN Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton have been included in the starting line-up for Wales’s game against Scotland on Saturday, but Ryan Jones retains the captaincy.
The reshuffle means two of Wales’s most promising performers in this season’s Six Nations, Andrew Coombs and Justin Tipuric, drop to the bench for the game at Murrayfield. Paul James replaces the injured Gethin Jenkins in the front row in the only other change to the team.

The Cardiff Blues welcome two Grand Slam stars back to the starting line-up to face the Llanelli Scarlets tomorrow evening.

Alex Cuthbert, winning try-scorer against France, is back on the wing while Lloyd Williams starts at scrum-half. Unfortunately, the four other Blues representatives in Wales’s Grand Slam winning side will not be running out against the Scarlets with Leigh Halfpenny out with a dead leg, Gethin Jenkins out with a shoulder injury and Jamie Roberts, who has not been picked for the match.

Mervyn Davies, a key member of Wales's triumphant 1970s side, died this morning at the age of 65 after losing his battle with cancer.

Davies, nicknamed 'Merv the Swerve' throughout the rugby world, was widely regarded as one of the standout players during the heyday of Welsh rugby.

Rob Howley believes Wales will have added motivation to beat France tomorrow, so they can honour the memory of Mervyn Davies who died today.

The Wales attack coach said the players were saddened to hear of his death this morning just before training.  But Howley says it will give the team an extra determination to win tomorrow.

The WRU has appealed to rugby fans not to use ticket touts after advertisements were spotted on empty shop windows in Cardiff city centre.

The ads were asking for tickets to sold-out Wales games against France at the Millennium Stadium this weekend and the victory over England at Twickenham last month.

The notices read: "Rugby Tickets Wanted" with cash offered in "strict confidence" and two phone numbers also provided.

The International Rugby Board (IRB) has dismissed a Scottish appeal over the eligibility of Steven Shingler.

Scotland had picked the utility back, who is primarily a centre for his club London Irish, in their preliminary squad for this season’s Six Nations championship in January.

But Shingler has already appeared for Wales’s under-20 side, and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) argued this meant he could not represent the senior side of another nation.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made seven changes for the Azzurri’s clash against Wales with the relegation of Tobias Botes to the bench in favour of Kris Burton.

Saturday’s fixture also sees the return of Mirco Bergamasco to the left wing to reach his 86th cap with Luke McLean moving to the right. Bergamasco will not however take over kicking duties as he has done in the past with Burton taking up the responsibility.

When video referee Iain Ramage uttered the word "inconclusive" just after 5.30pm on Saturday evening Wales's 20th Triple Crown was sealed and, crucially, the illusive Grand Slam title came one step closer.

England winger David Strettle’s score was disallowed, giving Sam Warburton the first piece of silverware of his short international captaincy. Thrilling wins over Ireland in Dublin, Scotland in Cardiff and the biggest scalp of all, the 19-12 triumph over England at Twickenham, have set Wales up for their third slam in eight years.

In order to prevent their star players from moving abroad, the Welsh Rugby Union should issue players central contracts. That is the view of former Wales international scrum-half Andy Moore.

Cardiff Blues make seven changes for this evening’s RaboDirect Pro12 clash with Connacht, their first home game at the Arms Park since May 2009.

The one-off return to the city-centre ground, which was announced earlier this week, has raised anticipation for the game and the club expects a bumper crowd, having sold 6,000 tickets by last night.

Paul Tito’s men will see this as the perfect opportunity to get their league campaign back on track.