The latest headlines from Wales and around the world
These are your evening rugby headlines on Monday, April 21.
Wales coach says he needs more time
Wales head coach Sean Lynn says he needs a “good pre-season” with his squad after falling to a fourth successive defeat in the Women’s Six Nations. Lynn came into the top job at the start of the tournament, with less than a week separating his final game with Premiership Women’s Rugby champions Gloucester-Hartpury and his first in charge of Wales, but he is still looking for a first victory in charge of the national team.
Losing is not a familiar feeling for the Welshman, who only suffered six defeats in three league seasons with Gloucester-Hartpury, but he watched his side fall on the wrong side of the scoreline again on Sunday as they lost 14-40 to Ireland at Rodney Parade.
That loss followed defeats to Scotland, England and France with Wales now staring down the barrel at a second successive wooden spoon finish as they prepare to face Italy in the final round next weekend. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
With the Rugby World Cup just four months away, such a run could well be cause for concern but Lynn is confident that he can get his side fired up in time for the tournament across the border.
“Really hurt, the players are hurt, the staff are hurt,” he said of Sunday’s defeat. “But look, this is an Ireland side that beat New Zealand and we have got to start turning pressure into points.
“I need a good pre-season with them, put my stamp on it, just making sure that we’re training with intensity and accuracy. I just need to make sure that we are a 60-70-minute team and are going to be a side that stays in the fight for as long as we can.
“I’m starting to implement a little at what I’m looking at, but pre-season is going to be big for us.”
Struggling legend to seek treatment
France rugby icon Sebastien Chabal says he is going to “get treated” after revealing that he cannot remember “a single second” of his playing career.
Earlier this month, the 47-year-old made the alarming admission that he he has no memory of any of the 283 career games he played, including the 62 times he represented his country. Tragically, the former Bourgoin, Sale, Racing Metro and Lyon star also claimed he doesn’t remember the birth of his daughter.
His claims sparked a major reaction from across the rugby world, but the former forward says the response has made him “sad” as he spoke out for the first time since making the shocking admission.
“I found it a bit sad,” he said in a TV interview with the Canal Rugby Club. “We who are close to the players’ fields, we know that there are players who have said loud and clear that they have real troubles, real problems in their daily lives and unfortunately this has not been relayed or supported.
“That’s what annoyed me a bit. It’s not because the bearded man says he doesn’t remember that we should have made a big fuss. We should have been better interested in people for whom daily life is difficult.”
Explaining how his memory loss had affected his everyday life, Chabal added: “You notice it when you talk with friends. In a conversation, I’m not the one who talks the most – maybe it’s my temperament – and I’m not the one who says ‘do you remember?’
“I listen, I agree, we don’t want to talk about it too much, we hide a little, we try to protect ourselves or not face the truth but it’s been a long time. This morning, my wife asked me if I remembered when my parents came (to Sale)… I have no memories.”
While he doubled down on his claims that he can’t remember his daughter’s birth, the Frenchman said he would be visiting a doctor in the coming days after initially suggesting it would be a pointless endeavour.
“In the interview, I said that I didn’t remember the birth of my daughter, it’s a reality,” he added. “My wife tells me but I don’t know. A memory is often accompanied by emotions, sensations, images… I hardly have that anymore.
“It’s not a blackout but as far as rugby is concerned, I don’t have much anymore. [But] I’m going to get checked out, get treated.”
‘Absurd’ Itoje hailed amid Lions captaincy links
Maro Itoje has been hailed as ‘incredible’ and ‘absurd’ by team-mate Theo Dan, as the England lock waits to hear if he will be made British & Irish Lions captain for this summer’s tour.
The 30-year-old is a leading contender to be named skipper for the tour, with Andy Farrell set to publicly announce his decision when unveiling the squad on May 8.
Itoje has impressed this season and on Saturday maintained his record of completing every match he has started for club and country since September as helped Saracens come from behind to beat Gloucester.
His consistency at the top level – which has seen him average 78.59 minutes per game across his 93 England caps – has left team-mate Dan in awe, with the hooker blown away by his “unbelievable” stats.
“He’s incredible,” he said. “I actually said to him in the changing room ‘I don’t know how you do it’. The level of consistency and the level of performance he puts in, week in week out; it’s not 40s [minutes], it’s not 50s, he puts in 80s every week.
“To churn out that level of performance with that amount of game time really is incredible. I’ve seen the stats… unbelievable. His engine is crazy. It’s absurd. I thought he was outstanding today, he always is.”
“He’s a massive role model in terms of his performance and professionalism,” Dan added. “On and off the pitch he’s a fantastic leader. We’ve found that this year with Sarries and England. There’s no better guy to look up to.”
Cheika: I see World Cup in Premiership
By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent
Leicester boss Michael Cheika likened the Gallagher Premiership play-off race to a Rugby World Cup pool stage after his team beat title rivals Bristol 36-19 at Ashton Gate.
Tigers’ bonus-point win saw them climb above Bristol, Sale and Saracens into second place, with four regular-season rounds remaining. There are just five points separating Leicester and sixth-placed Gloucester.
Bristol failed to collect a Premiership try-scoring bonus point for the first time since late December after Leicester successfully stalled their free-scoring machine. And it also gave the Tigers revenge for a 54-24 drubbing by Bristol on home soil just before Christmas.
“They are nearly all finals now, all the games during the run-in,” Leicester head coach Cheika said. “It is almost like a group stage of a World Cup. You have got to get as many points as possible.
“The play-off chances will be decided after the final game. There are no points for being third, fourth, first or second now. There is no prize for that.
“For me, personally, and for us as a team we really wanted to play this game for the fans. We were poor the day they (Bristol) came to us…and we really did want to turn that around today. It is not just about knowing the strategy or technical stuff, it is about doing it as well.
“The players accepted that challenge and prepared accordingly and if you prepare accordingly during the week you will get the performance you need when the pressure is on.
“The number one thing we have got to get in our heads is playing well at home. We have played some good games at home but I want to be better at home.”
