These are your headlines on the morning of Friday, February 20
Tandy backs Plumtree
Steve Tandy has backed Wales back-row Taine Plumtree to put his disciplinary woes behind him after handing him his first Six Nations start.
The Scarlets flanker has picked up six yellow cards already this season, having been sin-binned in three of his last four matches for Wales. However, despite his knack of getting on the wrong side of referees, Plumtree will start on the blindside flank against Scotland this Saturday – having been named in the starting side ahead of Olly Cracknell.
“I think Taine’s been better,” said Tandy. “I think there is an awareness.
“It’s not just Taine. Taine has had a tendency to give yellow cards away but I thought the one against England was hard.
“That was hard, but I think over this period of time I’ve seen more consistency in Taine. He’s well aware of it.
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“I think even looking back at the New Zealand game, there’s opportunities where he goes to jackal, he’s listening to the referee. Again, the high tackle against New Zealand, he’s trying to make an impact, but it’s making sure that we don’t search for something and be too desperate, that we get out of the system or push the limit too far and you get that yellow card.
“It’s that learning for Taine. I think he’s totally aware of it. We are chatting to him.
“He’s been so much more consistent in training. For me, it’s focusing on him being the best he can be with or without the ball and not over-searching for things.”
Plumtree’s selection means that Tandy has named a different back-row in each of the first three Six Nations matches. Alex Mann and Aaron Wainwright have started all three, with the other place flitting between Josh Macleod, Cracknell and now Plumtree.
In the first game, Macleod wore seven with Mann in the six jersey. However, Cracknell’s introduction saw Mann move to openside, with Wainwright moving from No. 8 to the six jersey to accommodate the Leicester back-row.
Plumtree’s selection means Wainwright can move back to No. 8, with Mann continuing in the seven jersey.
The Cardiff back-row is not a traditional jackal threat like Macleod or the overlooked Tommy Reffell, but Tandy is satisfied with his back-row balance at the minute.
“I think the way we want to play at the minute and for the game against Scotland, we feel Alex is right for that,” said Tandy. “Against Ireland and Italy, it might be different, but where we feel we want to play against Scotland, we feel Alex is the right fit for that.”
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Jones joins Quins
Welshman Joe Jones has left Doncaster Knights to join PREM club Harlequins with immediate effect.
The 30-year-old, who has also played in the Welsh Premiership, English Championship and France’s Pro D2 in a varied career, has been released from his contract after making just under 50 appearances for the Knights.
He’ll now head to The Stoop to work with Adam Jones and Co, having already played at the level with Sale Sharks, signing a deal until the end of the season.
Doncaster head coach Darren Fearn said: “Joey’s been excellent for us and he’s earned this opportunity. It’s another player progressing to the Premiership from Doncaster knights, that’s a credit to his work and the environment here.
“We’re ambitious as a club and we want players who perform at a level that attracts the top tier. Joey has done that. He’ll be missed, however we’re confident in the strength and depth of our group, and we’re excited about the competition for that No.3 shirt.”
Doncaster added: “Everyone at the club is delighted for Jones, and wishes him all the best best as he makes the step back up to the top level.”
Harlequins have also signed Alessandro Heaney on a short-term deal, while Luke Yendle has returned to parent club the Dragons.
Senior coach Jason Gilmore said: “With injuries to Harry Williams, Ethan Clarke and Jamie Miller in the past week, and Luke Yendle returning to the Dragons, we’ve had to add further depth to our front row for the Prem Cup campaign and beyond.
“We’re in a tough spot in two specialist positions, which we’re having to navigate on the move.
“Joe and Alessandro have come into the building this week and had to settle in quickly, but they are excited for the opportunity to contribute to the shirt.”
Itoje speaks out
By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent
England captain Maro Itoje has criticised the “corrosive” effects of social media in response to the racial abuse faced by Ireland’s Edwin Edogbo following his international debut.
Edogbo, born and raised in County Cork to Nigerian parents, was targeted online after his appearance as a replacement in Saturday’s 20-13 Guinness Six Nations victory over Italy.
The Irish Rugby Football Union is investigating the abuse having been forced to disable comments on a post on its X account in which Edogbo is pictured holding his first cap, accompanied by the caption “Our latest debutant”.
Itoje, who will win his 100th England cap against Ireland at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, said: “It’s very sad on two fronts.
“Social media has been a force for good in many ways, but it’s been a force for negativity in a lot of other ways.
“It’s really important for athletes, as well as ordinary people, not to live their life based on what social media says about them. It will just be a horrible way to live your life.
“I’d advise all top-level athletes not to spend too much time on social media because it’s really corrosive, both from the negativity that’s on there but also what it does to our brains.
“I think we’re going to see in the coming years a huge amount of damage that has been done to us as humans and as a society as a result of social media in terms of brains and brain development.
“Secondly, the stuff around Edwin is obviously incredibly sad. It’s something that no one should have to go through and it’s a further reminder that there’s still work to do.”
Itoje insists athletes need to have a social media presence for the benefit of their careers but the British and Irish Lions skipper urges caution over its use, including not being seduced by any hype.
“It’s very dangerous, not only for the negativity but even when it is positive it can be corrosive,” Itoje said.
“What tends to happen is positive news tends to be extremely positive and negative news seems to be extremely negative and in reality you are always somewhere in the middle.”
Football has been tarnished by racism this week after Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr was allegedly abused by Gianluca Prestianni of Benfica during a Champions League. Prestianni denies the allegation, which is being investigated by UEFA.
“We have these incidents that happen which are terribly sad and they should be condemned with full force when they do happen,” Itoje said. “But what happened to Vinicius Jr…30 years ago that probably wouldn’t have even made the press. The referee would have told him to get on with it. His team-mates probably would have said that to him.
“So while the stuff we’re seeing, whether it’s Vinicius Jr., whether it’s Edwin Edogbo, they are terribly sad and we as a community need to keep on stamping this type of thing out.
“But I do also believe that we are moving in somewhat the right direction, although moving in somewhat the direction is not a given.”