Here are the latest rugby headlines for Sunday March 5.
England and Lions legend criticizes Wales players
English great Fran Cotton believes the performance from Wales’s interiors in last weekend’s 20-10 loss to England was the worst he had ever seen in a Welsh shirt.
Cotton, 76, is the only Lion to win a Test series in South Africa as a player and coach.
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Warren Gatland made nine changes for England’s visit to Cardiff last time out, opting for Owen Williams at the opener, his namesake Tomos at No. 9, with young duo Joe Hawkins and Mason Grady at No. 12 and No. 13 respectively.
Cotton told The Rugby Paper: “The insides they played against England last week were the worst I’ve ever seen in a Wales shirt. There was no lack of effort, there was no lack of pride in the shirt but there was a total lack of quality and experience.
“I can’t see them beating Italy next weekend. Until Warren Gatland sorts out their internal defences, it will be an ongoing fight…”
Wales next face Italy in the Six Nations, with Gatland’s men traveling to Rome in the fourth round looking to avoid the wooden spoon.
Rugby spectator taken to hospital
A rugby spectator who watched Cardiff v Ulster has been taken to hospital after a suspected cardiac arrest, the BBC reports.
The spectator fell down the stairs at Cardiff Arms Park on Saturday night, a Cardiff Rugby spokesman said, and was taken to the University Hospital of Wales, where his condition is unknown.
The club thanked supporters in the North Stand, which was packed with traveling Ulster fans, for assisting the medical staff.
O’Driscoll names the most exciting players
Ireland legend Brian O’Driscoll has named the nine most exciting players to watch in rugby, but there is no place for any player from Wales or England.
Two stars from Ireland and France appear, along with a Scotsman, a New Zealander, an Australian, a South African and an Argentine international.
O’Driscoll said: “Caelan Doris. Ardie Savea. I think Samu Kerevi is very exciting. Garry Ringrose and Finn Russell are very exciting. Damian Penaud and Antoine Dupont too, and Lukhanyo Am. Santiago Carreras, the Argentine who plays for Gloucester, He’s a very exciting player who probably doesn’t get the headlines the others would get. But there’s a nimble nine!”
Ioan Lloyd scores twice as Bristol go on a rampage
Wales international Ioan Lloyd scored two tries to help the Bristol Bears to their biggest Premiership win ever, by 54 points. Pat Lam’s men scored nine tries in total to beat Northampton 62-8.
Fin Smith’s penalty put Northampton ahead, but the Bears responded with 27 unanswered points in the first half as Harry Randall (2), Harry Thacker and Lloyd crossed the white line. Tries by Lloyd and Chris Vui took the lead to 41-3 before George Hendy responded.
George Kloska, Fitz Harding and Jake Heenan then scored to give Bristol their third successive Premiership win.
The play-off chasing Bears are unbeaten in seven games at Ashton Gate.
Lloyd, 21, made his Welsh debut with Wayne Pivac in the autumn of 2020 but hasn’t appeared since.
Dragon Trainer mourns loss
Dragons head coach Dai Flanagan believes the way they beat Connacht sums up the season so far, with the hosts outscored 22-20 in a tense finale at Rodney Parade.
Aaron Wainwright and Jared Rosser crossed the white line, with the Welsh side reduced to 14 men when Matthew Screech received a first-half red card for a shoulder to the head. The Dragons enjoyed several chances to score while two late drop goal attempts failed.
“That game summed up our season,” Flanagan said. “There was a lot of character, togetherness, effort but a lot of inaccuracy. That’s disappointing because there are areas of our game that are growing: game management when we were 13 was amazing and Will Reed took a step forward in his development.
“But the inaccuracy. We had two goal attacks and the good teams finish them off. We have plans to improve, but we are not executing them at the moment and we have to stick to them. Things don’t change overnight, but I want them to change faster. We have a little work to do.
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