These are your rugby headlines for the morning of Sunday June 12
Pivac sweats on Biggar as he is forced out
Wales face an anxious wait over skipper Dan Biggar’s fitness after he was forced out with an injury in Northampton’s 27-14 Gallagher Premiership semi-final defeat to Leicester at Welford Road.
The 100 cap fly-half appeared to injure his back attempting a charge in the first half, straightening up in discomfort. He kept playing, but eventually had to call it a day on 51 minutes.
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Biggar had scored two penalties before the break and then participated in a try from full-back Tommy Freeman. It was unclear whether the back spasm or a knee problem was the reason for his departure from the pitch and Wales boss Wayne Pivac will await an official diagnosis from doctors.
The Wales players are soon reunited for their three-Test tour of South Africa, with Biggar chosen to lead the team ahead of Alun Wyn Jones.
Biggar is one of three named fly-halfs, with Rhys Patchell and Gareth Anscombe the others. Patchell limped out of the Scarlets’ last game against Stormers with a hamstring injury, shortly after coming on, while Anscombe is yet to pick up speed at Test level due to his own issues of knee.
Winger Alex Cuthbert was another scare after missing the Ospreys’ crucial final game of their United Rugby Championship campaign at home to the Bulls with a hamstring problem, despite his manager Toby Booth calling it ” slight boredom”.
Cuthbert is one of several players in the 33-man Welsh tour squad who ended the season with injury, including Patchell, Josh Adams, Wyn Jones, Tomos Williams, Ryan Elias and Will Rowlands.
Wales are definitely without Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty, Aaron Wainwright, Uilisi Halaholo, Leigh Halfpenny and Johnny McNicholl and are desperately hoping Biggar’s problem isn’t too serious and he can lead the Country Wales in battle.
The first test against South Africa will take place at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday July 2, with further matches to follow in Bloemfontein and Cape Town.
In Biggar’s absence, Leicester have taken charge of their clash with Northampton and will face Saracens in next Saturday’s Premiership final at Twickenham. Sarries beat defending champions Harlequins 34-17 in the first semi-final, with Wales internationals Nick Tompkins and Aled Davies crossing for tries.
Skinstad: Wales players set to travel to South Africa
Former Springboks skipper Bobby Skinstad believes the Welsh players could benefit from a switch to rugby in South Africa. The former fullback, who himself moved in the opposite direction spending a season with the Dragons, believes such new experiences can be very beneficial.
“If Wales have, say, five quality outside halfs, but only four teams, they could contract one of those players to a South African franchise. Wales benefit and someone can go to Cape Town. The player benefits, the team benefits and the National Union benefits,” he said.
Skinstad believes that the fact that the two countries are now involved in the same domestic competition – the United Rugby Championship – offers a real opportunity on this front.
“I sincerely think it solves the situation where players are out of sight, out of mind. If a Welshman goes to Japan, nobody sees him. Now he can play in another part of the world, but the same tournament. It’s got to work. It makes sense. I know common sense isn’t that common, but we have to look at this and say it’s better for the player and it’s better for the teams.” , did he declare.
The 42-cap Skinstad also responded to comments from former Wales and Lions captain Sam Warburton who said the URC made no sense and “looked like a random mix of clubs”.
“Sometimes things have to look random for a while before they straighten out,” he said. “I have no doubt that the URC format will start to put more pressure on the domestic leagues in Europe. I think this league will be the best place to play rugby.
Vermeulen’s absence explained
Duane Vermeulen will miss the Springboks’ games against Wales with a knee injury, it has been learned in South Africa.
The veteran World Cup-winning absence grabbed headlines during the squad’s appointment over the weekend, as the Bulls and Stormers staged a play-off final dominated by South Africa.
However, it has since emerged that Vermeulen, who often has blockbusters against Wales, is injured.
His No. 8 spot in testing will either go to Kwagga Smith at No. 8 or exciting youngsters Elrigh Louw and Evan Roos. Jasper Wiese is another option.
Ford dedicates victory to Youngs family
George Ford has dedicated Leicester’s thrilling Gallagher Premiership play-off victory over Northampton to the Youngs family after the Tigers ended a nine-year wait at Twickenham.
A minute’s applause was held before kick-off against Northampton at Welford Road in memory of Tiffany Youngs following the tragic news about her earlier in the week. Her husband Tom retired in April after a career that saw him captain the Tigers and make more than 200 first-team appearances.
Ford scored 22 points on a try, a conversion, a drop-goal and four penalties, and he created a second-half touchdown for Freddie Steward in his final home appearance for Leicester before joining Sale later in the summer.
“Some things are more important than rugby, and what the Youngs have been through no one can imagine, to be honest,” Ford told BT Sport.
“This effort today, from everyone here at Welford Road, was for the Youngs family.”
Can come back and ready to sizzle
Jonny May enters the final stages of his career determined to enjoy every moment after a knee injury recovery spell whetted his appetite for the game.
May missed the Six Nations campaign in England with a torn meniscus which was initially caused by a kick to the back of the leg by Gloucester team-mate Ruan Ackermann in early January.
Four months later, the 32-year-old power wing will be hoping to force their way back into Eddie Jones’ plans in time for Sunday’s game against the Barbarians and the ensuing tour of Australia.
“I’m probably in the last quarter of my career now and the goal is to leave no stone unturned, keep exploring, stay curious and try to have a little more fun,” May said.
“You realize that when you’re injured you feel sorry to play 80 minutes every week sometimes because it’s hard. Be happier, enjoy it and do your best.
“There are always silver linings and opportunities when you are hurt to rethink things, reassess, take a break and then be grateful again.
“At the end of the day, I’m still just as hungry and desperate to be a student of the game and constantly looking for ways and small tweaks to improve myself. Just to be a happier person and a better rugby player.”
