These are your rugby headlines on the morning of Wednesday, March 4
Aaron Wainwright assessed
Wales are assessing an injury issue with star man Aaron Wainwright this morning, as Steve Tandy names his team to face Ireland.
While three changes are expected to the starting XV, with Dan Edwards, James Botham and Ellis Mee all starting, the concern over Wainwright is a worry.
He is thought to have picked up a leg injury in training and will be assessed over the coming days as Wales are desperate for him to be involved. If he has to pull out, Olly Cracknell is likely to replace him at number eight.
Tandy will provide an update on the situation when he holds a press conference later this morning after the team announcement which you can follow live here.
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All Blacks name new coach
The new All Blacks head coach has been named overnight, with Dave Rennie winning the race for the top job ahead of Jamie Joseph. The 62-year-old succeeds Scott Robertson, who was sacked after last year’s Rugby Championship.
Rennie led the Chiefs to Super Rugby titles in 2012 and 2013 before taking charge of Scotland and Australia at international level. He was sacked by the Wallabies ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and replaced by Eddie Jones.
“Coaching the All Blacks is an incredible honour. I’m extremely proud to have been entrusted with this role and understand the expectations that come with it,” Rennie said.
“I’m really clear on the way I want the All Blacks to play and I look forward to working with the players, management team, and the rugby community.”
New Zealand Rugby chair David Kirk said: “He is a world-class coach who has consistently shown he can build strong performance environments and win.
“Dave understands what it means to coach the All Blacks and play a style of rugby that reflects who we are as New Zealanders.”
Carre signs new deal
Wales international Rhys Carre has ended months of speculation by signing a new deal with English PREM side Saracens.
WalesOnline reported back in December that the former Cardiff Rugby man was set to turn down offers from France to remain with the north London outfit and that has now transpired.
He was of interest to a host of Top 14 clubs, while he was also a target for rebel competition R360, but he has now put pen to paper to remain at Saracens.
Carre made a return to the international fold last autumn after being left in the wilderness by former head coach Warren Gatland, who cited fitness issues.
Carre said of his new deal: “I’m thrilled to be staying at the club and I can’t want to see what the future has in store for us.”
Saracens director of rugby, Mark McCall, added: “Rhys has had an inspiring resurgence in the last few years and we are all proud of the progress he has made and the hard work he has put in to achieve it.
“We are thrilled he will be staying at the club.”
Carre will be joined at Saracens by Wales scrum-half Tomos Williams next season, who also have Nick Tompkins in the ranks.
Tuchel visits England camp
By Duncan Bech, Press Association Rugby Union Correspondent
Steve Borthwick has ripped up his team for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy after admitting England’s performances against Scotland and Ireland fell below the required standard.
Reacting to the 42-21 rout at home by Andy Farrell’s men in round three, Borthwick has made nine changes in personnel and three positional switches for the visit to Rome.
It is the most changes ever made by England in the Six Nations era and includes an entirely new back-line that will be directed by fly-half Fin Smith, who wins his first start since the autumn at the expense of axed veteran George Ford.
Behind the scrum Tommy Freeman is the only survivor from the defeat that came a week after England’s collapse at Murrayfield but he is moved from wing to outside centre, forming a midfield partnership with Seb Atkinson.
Borthwick’s hand is partly forced by injuries to Alex Mitchell and Ollie Lawrence and he stressed that selection was based on a blend of recent displays, Italy’s threats, rotation in the forwards and what he has seen in training.
But the head coach also made clear that by gutting the starting XV, he was firing a warning shot in response to the dramatic end to England’s title ambitions.
“All of us have been really disappointed with the performances in the last two games,” Borthwick said.
“Clearly there are some key aspects that weren’t good enough. Those have been addressed.
“I say to the team that we have certain standards and I’m going to hold them to those standards. There are certain things that, to me, are unwavering. Things that I will not move upon.
“Unfortunately, in the last two games, on certain things, we’ve not met those standards. We want an improved performance and result this weekend.”
None of the units in the back-line have previously played a Test together but Borthwick says they have developed familiarity on the training field throughout the Six Nations.
Adding experience to the spine of the team are returning hooker Jamie George and full-back Elliot Daly.
Borthwick and his players spent time with Thomas Tuchel on Tuesday after the manager of the national football team visited England’s Surrey training base.
While he did not have the opportunity to speak to Tuchel about the pressures of managing an England side, he has had conversations with the German’s predecessor Gareth Southgate and his cricketing counterpart Brendon McCullum.
Borthwick, whose regime is under scrutiny following recent results, said: “Expectation comes with the territory when you’re involved with English sport. I’d much rather be involved with the team with expectation than the one without.
“With Gareth Southgate and with Brendon McCullum I’ve certainly talked about the approach to those expectations and how they’ve dealt with it.
“We live in a society now where there are these extremes, there is this polarity. I can’t do anything about what’s outside, but what I can do is about what’s inside.
“Which is, let’s concentrate on what the main thing is, let’s keep that. There’s all this stuff trying to pull you one way or the other, but we’ll stay on the main thing.”
Welsh club stalwart dies
Pontypridd RFC have paid tribute following the passing of their club historian Dr Alun Granfield.
Mr Granfield served the club for over five decades in various roles before becoming the club’s official chronicler.
The 84-year-old produced a book – ‘In Black And White – Pontypridd RFC 1876-2003’ – detailing the history of the club and followed them home and away.
Honorary club secretary Steve Reardon said: “The significance of Alun’s contribution, over many decades, to the annals of Pontypridd RFC cannot be overstated.
“Not only as sentinel but as creator also; from generating individual player-profiles, to programmes for awards evenings, to his era-defining book. A personable historian whose oratory and storytelling was always fascinating to hear.”
Ponty added: “Pontypridd RFC wishes to extend its deepest condolences to Dr Alun Granfield’s family, friends and all who knew him. Rest in peace Alun, you will be remembered, respected and deeply missed by everyone connected to the club.”
James: We will have a go at Ireland
By Phil Blanche, Press Association
Eddie James says Wales will take a front-foot approach against Ireland, despite being Guinness Six Nations underdogs.
Wales are 16-1 with some bookmakers to upset Ireland in Dublin on Friday night and end a run of 14 straight Six Nations defeats.
Steve Tandy’s side are bottom of the Championship after three rounds of matches, while Ireland revived title hopes after racking up their highest-ever points tally at Allianz Stadium with a stunning 42-21 victory over England.
“We don’t go into any game thinking we can’t win,” said Scarlets centre James.
“That’s not the mindset to have in any professional sport. We’re definitely going there to put our best foot forward and have a go at them.
“Ireland are a top side, they’ve got threats everywhere and are a well-drilled team.
“But for us it’s building from our performance against Scotland and trying to implement that into Ireland.
“It’s going to be a big ask, but one we’re looking forward to.”
There were some positive signs for Wales against Scotland two weeks ago after crushing opening defeats to England and France.
Wales scored a couple of well-worked tries and led until five minutes from the end.
James said: “We played with a bit more intent. Not scared to make mistakes, attacking more with and without the ball.
“It was a big boost and the confidence has gone up 100 per cent.
“It’s about doing that away from home now. We’ve shown we can do it in front of 70,000 at home, it’s about taking it on the road now to Ireland.
“It’s obviously a big difference (playing at home), so we’ve got to bounce off each other, give each other energy, and be there mentally.”
James played his formative rugby at inside-centre before making the number 13 jersey for club and country his own this season.
It has allowed the 23-year-old from Carmarthen, who is 6ft 4in tall and weighs 17st 5lbs, to strike up a growing partnership with club colleague Joe Hawkins.
“I enjoy playing with Joe and we’ve got a good relationship off the pitch as well,” said James.
“The more games you play in any centre partnership you get a feel of what each other do.
“Joe reads the game well, he can carry the ball and he’s also a ball player.
“That’s good for me because I like carrying hard. He’s a smart player.”