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The 42
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
'Specific' captains and the other big ref focuses for Lions series
YOU MIGHT HAVE overheard the exchange between Lions captain Maro Itoje and referee James Doleman just after Argentina's breakaway try in the last act of the first half in Dublin last Friday night. Well, you might have overheard Doleman's part in it. Itoje was a little far away from the ref mic to be clearly audible, but it was obvious that he was protesting the legitimacy of the Argentina try, which came after the ball squirted out of Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe's grasp. 'Be specific,' was Doleman's response after Itoje first spoke to him. 'The ball was out,' continued New Zealand's Doleman. 'Maro, we're not just going to have a lolly scramble. Be specific with what you're asking.' A 'lolly scramble' is a Kiwi children's game where sweets are thrown into the air and kids scramble around to catch them or scoop them off the ground. It's chaotic. Itoje took a breath and made a more specific query, with Doleman asserting again that Argentina had legally played the ball. What we're really interested in here is Doleman's demand that Itoje be 'specific.' This relates to one of the guidelines World Rugby has issued to its top referees ahead of the British and Irish Lions series in Australia, as well as the rest of the international games around the world in the coming weeks. Ben O'Keeffe of New Zealand, Italy's Andrea Piardi, and Nika Amashukeli of Georgia will referee the three Tests in Australia. Their decision-making will be crucial. Andrea Piardi will referee the second Lions Test. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO World Rugby wants referees to make it clear that captains can't forcefully challenge every single decision throughout a game. National teams have been told that their skippers need to be calm and specific when they believe something might have been missed and needs to be checked by the Television Match Official [TMO]. It seems that leading referees feel some captains are simply questioning too many decisions, sometimes chancing their arm even if they aren't sure themselves. And World Rugby has told match officials that this needs to work both ways. Referees have been directed to be respectful and open in dealing with captains' queries around the big moments in games, things like tries and cards. Even if there aren't formal reviews, World Rugby has told teams that their captains being specific, calm, and precise in their interaction with the referee will often allow the TMO to quietly check things in the background. So Doleman and Itoje's exchange might not be the only time we hear the request for 'specific' information in the coming weeks. One of the major focuses in this international window is the 20-minute red card, which is now in play for the Lions series and all other professional rugby. Ireland fans got a taste for the 20-minute red card when centre Garry Ringrose was shown one during this year's Six Nations clash with Wales. Ringrose was initially yellow-carded and his high tackle was referred for an off-field review, after which his sanction was upgraded to a 20-minute red card. Bundee Aki replaced Ringrose after that period. Garry Ringrose had a yellow card upgraded to a 20-minute red during the Six Nations. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO All of the Lions Tests will involve a foul play review officer [FPRO] who is tasked specifically with carrying out such off-pitch reviews. However, Ireland's two Tests against Georgia and Portugal don't have FPROs, so the off-field reviews will be done by the TMO. That means the on-pitch officials will need to be even more alert while the TMO is carrying out any off-pitch review. It's worth underlining here that full, permanent red cards are still part of the game. However, the only person who can make the decision to issue a permanent red card is the referee. FPROs and TMOs cannot upgrade a sanction to a permanent red card, only to a 20-minute red. Referees have been reminded that they can and should issue permanent red cards for foul play that involves a h igh level of danger, is intentional, and is always illegal. World Rugby wants referees to be strong enough to show permanent red cards in these instances. So offences like shoulder charges to the head, deliberate targeting of the lower limbs of defenders jackaling for a breakdown turnover, and more obvious stuff like punching, kicking, head-butting should be met with a permanent red card. Take, for example, this incident of foul play by Italy's Giacomo Nicotera against Ireland during the Six Nations. Advertisement Nicotera was shown a yellow card for this shoulder charge to Peter O'Mahony's head, with the incident sent for off-field review. However, World Rugby has seemingly directed that this should have been a permanent red card because it was a shoulder charge with a high degree of danger and always illegal. Nicotera's 'tucked shoulder' in this instance has been highlighted as one of the cues in determining an illegal shoulder charge, along with the player's palm facing backwards away from the contact, or a clenched fist as they make contact. Some incidents of head contact won't involve a high degree of danger – for example, when there is indirect contact to the head – and the 20-minute red card should still apply in those instances. And even when there is a high degree of danger involved, if the foul play is not deliberate or intentional, then it should be punished with a 20-minute red card. So take Ringrose's tackle against Wales as an example. World Rugby has advised that there was a high degree of danger involved but that Ringrose attempted to wrap in the tackle, so it wasn't always illegal. That's why a 20-minute red card was the right call. Another element of foul play that referees have been told to watch out for is dangerous low tackling where the defender goes off their feet to make a tackle. Tackles like the one above where the defender has a knee on the ground before tackling have been cause for concern given the obvious possibility of injury for both the ball-carrier and the tackler themselves. The breakdown is always a key battleground in any game of rugby, but things have changed there in recent times as scrum-halves have been given more space to operate. Referees have been reminded that defenders can't swing up the sides of the breakdown to muddy the recycle. No one can play the scrum-half from within the ruck anyway, but some players have subtly been swinging up into the attacking team's space and acting innocent, sometimes even asking referees if they can hook the ball back with their feet. This kind of stuff should be swiftly penalised. The match officials have been asked to be more vigilant in punishing defenders at the fringes of the breakdown sneaking onside, while they've also been asked to focus on ensuring players chasing restarts aren't getting ahead of the kicker. There has been emphasis put on teams' backlines not breaking the 10-metre offside line before lineouts have ended. This also applies to the attack, with many attacking teams stealing a march on the defence by breaking the 10-metre line. As ever, the set-piece contests will be key in the Lions series and every other Test match this summer. Some of the key focuses at lineout time are ensuring that defensive jumpers are not leaping across the lineout and landing on opponents, as well as ensuring there is no contact on opponents' arms or hands while in the air. The lineout, maul, and scrum will be pivotal in Australia. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO There will be renewed focus on receivers or '+1′ players only being allowed to join the lineout before the throw if they are clearly replacing another player who leaves the lineout. Some teams are making several switches of receiver pre-throw to confuse the defence, but World Rugby want it to be crystal clear. At maul time, referees have been asked to ensure that defenders have clear access to the lineout jumper when they land and aren't obstructed by lifters 'double banking' ahead of their jumper. On the other side, match officials have been asked to refocus on defenders entering the maul at their side's hindmost foot and only coming through the middle of the maul. Defenders have increasingly been testing the waters by swinging up the sides of mauls, so referees will look to clamp down on that. The scrum will be an intriguing part of the Lions series, with the tourists probably believing that they can get momentum in this area against the Wallabies. The match officials will be aiming for fewer reset scrums and fewer collapses by focusing on a couple of key elements. Front rows will be reminded not to touch their opponents before the 'bind' call in order to ensure a gap remains, while hookers will have to clearly apply the 'brake foot' to help create better balance in both scrums. The brake foot is where a hooker has one foot positioned forward in the middle of the tunnel of the scrum to bring about more stability. Referees will demand that the hooker's brake foot is clearly visible and that it only moves backwards when they call 'set.' So we will probably hear plenty of mentions of the brake foot during this Lions series. Referees have also been encouraged to use penalty sanctions sooner rather than later to discourage negative scrum behaviour that prevents a genuine contest from developing. So, as ever, there is a huge amount for the match officials to nail in these huge international games. Who'd be a ref?
Wales Online
a day ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
The likely Wales team Matt Sherratt will pick to face Japan next week
The likely Wales team Matt Sherratt will pick to face Japan next week Wales will look to break their record losing run against Japan next Saturday Dewi Lake will be a key figure for Wales this summer (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency ) Wales landed in Japan this week determined to end their 17-game losing streak. Matt Sherratt's side take on Japan in the first Test in Kitakyushu next Saturday. There is just one place separating Wales in 12th and Japan in 13th in the World Rugby rankings. Wales are favourites to overcome Japan but it won't be easy, especially with former Australia and England coach Eddie Jones in charge of the Brave Blossoms. Here is the matchday 23 Sherratt is likely to select for the first Test. 15. Blair Murray Despite a desperately poor season results-wise, Murray has been one of the only players who has risen above the mediocrity to impress. The 23-year-old isn't the biggest of men but he is a deadly broken-field runner with electric footwork and is an excellent finisher who makes good decisions under pressure. Article continues below Murray also enjoyed a fine debut campaign for the Scarlets and was named in the United Rugby Championship team of the season, albeit on the wing. Should thrive in Japan where Wales are planning to play an expansive game. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby. 14. Tom Rogers The 26-year-old has been one of Wales' better players this season and was excellent for the Scarlets as they reached the URC play-offs. Rogers is very good under the highball and like Murray is a dangerous broken-field runner with pace to burn. The Scarlets man is also an excellent finisher and should thrive in Japan and Wales will undoubtedly want to get his hands on the ball as much as possible. 13. Joe Roberts Roberts has had a difficult time with injuries over the past couple of seasons and it has taken a bit of time for the 25-year-old to get back to his best. But he hit top form for the Scarlets during the latter stages of the campaign as they reached the URC play-offs before putting up a good fight in a defeat to Leinster in the quarter-finals. Roberts is an explosive runner who tends to ghost his way past defenders and is very physical in the contact area. There's still a few rough edges with his decision making with ball in hand needing to improve but if he can stay fit he can be an asset to Wales moving forward. 12. Ben Thomas There's a strong argument for Johnny Williams to start at 12 given his excellent form for the Scarlets towards the tail end of the season and his partnership with Roberts. But Sherratt is a big fan of Ben Thomas who perhaps suits the attacking brand of rugby the Cardiff coach wants to employ. Thomas is a lovely footballer with a crisp passing game and tons of peripheral vision, while his kicking isn't bad either. The Cardiff playmaker will be central to Wales' attack firing. 11. Josh Adams The 30-year-old has been plagued by injuries over the past couple of seasons and has struggled to reach the heights which won him a place in the British & Irish Lions squad to tour South Africa in 2021. But Adams remains one of best wings in Welsh rugby and his experience will be invaluable if Wales are to turn around a record run of 17-straight Test match defeats. Adams may have lost a bit of pace but he is still a potent finisher who is strong defensively and under the high ball. 10. Sam Costelow This is a close-run thing between Costelow and Ospreys playmaker Dan Edwards but the Scarlets man might just edge it. It is even possible they will start a Test each in Japan. Costelow was a key figure in the Scarlets' late-season resurgence, with his ability to take the ball to the line, his running threat and his kicking game standing out. With 20 international caps to his name Costelow really needs to kick on and make the number 10 shirt his own. 9. Kieran Hardy The 29-year-old has been in outstanding form for the Ospreys and thoroughly deserves an international recall after getting left out of the Six Nations squad. Hardy has always been strong at the fundamentals with his box kicking and slick service standing out but he is also a threat with ball in hand. Join WalesOnline Rugby's WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free The Ospreys number nine will be a key figure in Japan this summer with his partnership with either Costelow or Edwards crucial to the outcome. 8. Taulupe Faletau The 34-year-old must surely be high up on the Lions' standby list so will want to be at his very best for Wales in Japan this summer. He might be at the tail-end of his career but Faletau remains a quality operator and Wales are a far poorer team without the Cardiff No 8. As always Faletau will be required to get Wales over the gainline and lead from the front in Japan. 7. Tommy Reffell With Jac Morgan away with the Lions, Reffell will surely wear the number seven shirt in the first Test. The 26-year-old has been in excellent form for Leicester and played a crucial role in the east Midlands club reaching the Gallagher Premiership final where they were beaten by Bath at Twickenham. Japan will want to play fast and furious, meaning Reffell will be one of Wales' most important players given it is mainly down to him to slow down the speed of ruck ball. 6. Aaron Wainwright The 27-year-old has been one of Wales' better players during this wretched run of results and will be a key figure in Japan. Wainwright has a nice blend of athleticism and physicality and the Dragons man will be tasked with getting Wales over the gain line. Wales will also likely use Wainwright in the wide channels with his explosiveness and offloading games a potential asset to Sherratt's side. 5. Teddy Williams The 24-year-old has been in fine form for Cardiff this season and is the type of player who would thrive in the frantic pace and the searing heat of Japan. Williams is an athletic second-row who is a top-class lineout operator, while he is also very effective in driving lineouts. The Cardiff lock has had to bide his time in the international arena but with Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard missing, this could well be his chance. 4. James Ratti The 27-year-old is the unsung hero of the Ospreys pack and is the type of player who gets through a mountain of unseen dirty work which allows others to shine. Ratti is a powerful carrier who adds a lot of weight in the scrum and should complement the more athletic Williams well. The Ospreys man won his only Wales cap against South Africa at Twickenham last summer and will view this tour as a chance to progress his international career. 3. Archie Griffin The 23-year-old was a revelation on Wales' tour of Australia last summer, putting in a remarkable 26 tackles in 74 minutes in a narrow defeat to the Wallabies. Griffin is a very dynamic carrier capable of making post-contact metres, makes a lot of tackles and is a strong jackler at the breakdown. His scrummaging can be a bit inconsistent but he is capable at the set-piece and gave world-class Wallabies loosehead Angus Bell an outing at the Principality Stadium last November. 2. Dewi Lake (captain) The Ospreys man will undoubtedly be bitterly disappointed to have missed out on a place on the Lions tour having been touted as a potential tourist for much of the past year. A series of injuries which curtailed his minutes on the field, particularly during the Six Nations, probably damaged his chances. But he will be a vitally important figure for Wales in Japan with his leadership, powerful carrying game, set-piece prowess and his work at the breakdown standing out. 1. Nicky Smith The 31-year-old has been a revelation in his first season at Leicester Tigers and gave world-class Springboks tighthead Thomas du Toit a hiding at times in the Gallagher Premiership final. Smith is a very destructive scrummager and it has been a long time since anyone got the better of the former Ospreys star at the set-piece. The man from Swansea isn't the biggest prop but he carries well with his footwork at the point of contact - a nice trait - while he also gets through a lot of work in defence and at the breakdown. Replacements 16. Elliot Dee The experienced Dragons man is the most accurate hooker in Wales when it comes to throwing into the lineout. Dee will have an important part to play in Japan but will probably be backing up Lake. 17. Gareth Thomas The Ospreys prop is an underrated player who is a solid scrummager and hits really hard in defence. 18. Keiron Assiratti The 27-year-old is a solid scrummager and a talented ball player. It's imperative Wales gain the upper hand at scrum time and Assiratti is likely to share game-time with Griffin. 19. Freddie Thomas The conditions and the style of play will likely suit the Gloucester lock in Japan. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here. Thomas is an athletic forward who is comfortable playing a high octane and expansive brand of rugby. 20. Taine Plumtree The 25-year-old was left out of the Six Nations squad due to his ill-discipline but proceeded to fix that issue and was outstanding for the Scarlets during the latter half of the season. Plumtree's versatility will be useful for Wales. 21. Reuben Morgan-Williams The 27-year-old has had to bide his time for a first cap but it is likely to come this summer which would be just rewards for his consistency for the Ospreys over the past few seasons. 22. Dan Edwards As was stated above it is a close call between Costelow and Edwards for the starting berth. Whatever direction Sherratt decides to go in Edwards will have a big role to play in Japan, whether that is through starting or seeing the game out as a replacement. 23. Macs Page The 20-year-old is one of the finest prospects in Welsh rugby and has tons of x-factor. Article continues below Page is an explosive carrier with wicked footwork and a dangerous turn of pace. The uncapped Scarlets man, who can play centre or wing, looks destined for a long international career.
Scotsman
a day ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
World Rugby ranking so important to Scotland as 'huge test' awaits
Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... In the World Rugby rankings only two places separate Scotland and Fiji so there will be plenty on the line when the sides meet in Suva on July 12. Gregor Townsend would like his side ensconced in the top six by the time the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup takes place in December and thus avoid the calamity of last time when the Scots were in the third group of seeds and ended up in a pool with South Africa and Ireland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad They are currently seventh in the rankings, just behind England and ahead of Australia, with Fiji tucked in in ninth place. If they get into the top six by the time of the draw they will be in the first pot of seeds because the expanded 2027 tournament will feature 24 teams in six pools of four. Scotland beat Fiji 57-17 in Edinburgh in November but Townsend will not be underestimating them. In the very early days of his tenure as national coach, the Scots lost 27-22 in Suva a week after beating Australia in Sydney. The message is being drummed into the squad, and not just by Townsend. Harry Paterson during a Scotland training session at the Oriam earlier this week. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group) | SNS Group / SRU 'Fergus Burke was telling us about his time with Crusaders,' explained Harry Paterson, the Edinburgh full-back who is looking to win his first cap since last summer. 'He was saying that playing the Fijians over there is extremely tough. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'The conditions are not kind. It'll be a huge test for us against a team who will relish the challenge of playing Scotland at home.' Burke, the uncapped Saracens stand-off, played against the Fijian Drua Super Rugby side during his time in New Zealand and will be more used to the heat and humidity than most in the Scotland squad. Conditions should be a little kinder in the other two tour games. The Scots open against the Maori All Blacks a week on Saturday in Whangarei then return to New Zealand for the final match, against Samoa in Auckland on July 18. 'The other two games will be difficult as well,' said Paterson. 'The Maori All Blacks are so strong and talented, and Samoa you know is going to be so physical as well. 'The Fiji and Samoa games are ranked, so we know there's real meaning in them. We need to be ready for it. It's a serious tour.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Fiji's Tevita Ikanivere leads the Cibi ahead of the Autumn Nations Series match against Scotland at Murrayfield in November 2024. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group) | SNS Group / SRU For Paterson, it is also a chance to reestablish himself as an international player after another injury-disrupted season. The versatile back-three player has played just nine games for Edinburgh since making his Scotland debut against France in the 2024 Six Nations. The 24-year-old got back into the Edinburgh team towards the end of the season and knows this tour is an opportunity he must grasp with both hands. 'I feel fresh and ready to go,' he said. 'I know myself I need to make the most of it. Any chance I get in a Scotland jersey, I need to take it. 'I just want to get down there and smash it to be honest. That's the aim over these next few weeks. I've never been to New Zealand or Fiji before, so I'm absolutely buzzing to experience something new.
The South African
3 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Springboks v Baabaas: SEVEN All Blacks to face Boks
The Springboks host the Barbarians for the first time in history. They host over half a dozen All Blacks too. The Springboks host the Barbarians for the first time in South African history on Saturday, 28 June 2025. Meanwhile, SEVEN All Blacks are a part of the Barbarians side ready to take on the Boks in SA. Capped All Blacks Sam Cane (loose forward), Mark Tele'a (wing), Shannon Frizell (loose forward), Tawera Kerr-Barlow (scrumhalf), Hoskins Sotutu (loose), Peter Umaga-Jensen (utility back) and Leicester Fainga'anuku have all been named in Robbie Dean's Barbarians side. Meaning, a large contingent of the Barbarians side will compose of ex and current All Blacks stars. Cane in particular will has a point to prove to himself and to the Boks. So, Cane will be extra motivated following his last experience with the Springboks. Last time the former All Blacks captain ran out, his side fell agonisingly short of the perfect send-off. New Zealand lost 12-11 after Sam Cane was red carded in a gutting send-off for the ex-All Blacks captain. Meanwhile, for all of these capped All Blacks it is an honour to face the Springboks since it is the greatest rivalry in World Rugby. The Springboks will have a new look about them when they face the Barbarians for the first time on SA soil on Saturday. Kick off is at 17:10. 30 years ago the Springboks famously won their first-ever Rugby World Cup in 1995 on home soil. Now, they will host the Barbarians in SA for the first time ever. Additionally, we have a brand-new Springboks home and away jersey. Moreover, there is a new era of rising Boks with these FOUR players, named on this iconic day (the 30th anniversary), set to make their Springboks debut.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
France forward Cameron Woki cleared to play after red card at Twickenham
DUBLIN (AP) — Forward Cameron Woki has been cleared to play following his red card in France XV's win over an England XV last weekend at Twickenham. Woki was sent off for an illegal clearout of Jamie George late in Saturday's match. A bunker review upgraded his yellow card to red. Advertisement But a World Rugby disciplinary committee on Tuesday determined a red card should not have been issued in the head contact protocols because there was not a high degree of danger. Despite playing with 14 men, France came from behind to win 26-24. ___ AP rugby:
