Here are your rugby morning headlines for Wednesday, July 1.
Leigh Halfpenny appointment details emerge
Details of Leigh Halfpenny’s summer role have emerged after it was announced the Wales legend would join the national team’s coaching team on an interim basis for the second successive summer.
Having helped out Matt Sherratt last year in Japan while the former Cardiff boss was Wales’ interim head coach, the former Lions full-back will once again assist Wales’ attack coach after being brought into Steve Tandy’s coaching team on a temporary basis for the Nations Championship Tests against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa.
Wales are currently searching for a full-time kicking coach to not just work with the national team, but also the pathways and regions – with Halfpenny believed to have applied for that role. While it’s unclear whether he will get the job on a full-time basis, he will get another opportunity to grow as a coach – having hung up his boots back in May.
On what he will bring to Wales camp, Sherratt said: “First and foremost, he’s got respect from the group as a world-class player.
“He’s not been a world-class player by accident, his work ethic is the best there is in terms of preparation, diligence and the amount of practice he does. I think that rubs off on the young backline.
“He’s very personable so he’s always there when the players want to do extras. His coaching career is on its first steps so it’s brilliant for Leigh to come in and for the lads to have him.”
Sherratt also offered some detail on what Halfpenny would be focusing on this summer as part of Tandy’s coaching staff.
“We do kick strategy as a coaching group,” he said. “Steve obviously has looked at that and myself, Danny (Wilson) and Murch (Pete Murchie) will have input in that.
“Pence has a lot of experience in back three and covering space and will add value to that. But mainly the technical side of goal kicking, especially the goal kickers.”
Springboks blocked from picking England star amid stunning claim
England’s decision to call up Benhard Janse van Rensburg has taken another twist after South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus claimed the Springboks wanted to select the centre themselves but were prevented from doing so.
Janse van Rensburg, who qualifies for England on residency grounds and is expected to become eligible on July 8, has been named in Steve Borthwick’s squad and is in line to make his full Test debut against Fiji just days later.
However, Erasmus has now revealed he held talks with the 29-year-old earlier this year about representing the Springboks and says South Africa had planned to bring him into their squad before a previous commitment from the South African Rugby Union prevented the move.
Erasmus said injuries in midfield had prompted him to reconsider Janse van Rensburg for this summer’s fixtures, only to be told by SA Rugby chief executive Rian Oberholzer that the union had already assured World Rugby and the Rugby Football Union it would not attempt to cap the Leicester Tigers centre.
“If I tell the honest truth with him… we had conversations with him and he was very keen to come,” Erasmus said.
“Then we wanted to [call him up] in June and give him a chance because we were thin at centre… and then I saw the CEO. He said, ‘No, you can’t… I already committed to England and to World Rugby that we won’t go that route.’
“So we were looking at him and we wanted to cap him but because of a promise… we did not pursue it.”
Janse van Rensburg, who was born in South Africa and previously represented the country’s under-20 side, has already featured for England A and is widely expected to make his senior England debut later this month.
His inclusion in Borthwick’s squad has sparked debate, with former England scrum-half Danny Care among those to question the selection, but Erasmus insisted he has no issue with England pursuing the powerful centre.
“I think it is a good thing if you can make the team better and he deserves it,” Erasmus added. “We’re glad he is not playing this match against us because we know him well. He’s a tough man. That’s why we considered him.”
Easterby: Ireland must lay down marker against Australia
By Jim van Wijk, Press Association
Ireland assistant coach Simon Easterby feels the players must be ready to face an Australia side looking to “lay down a bit of a marker” for the World Cup when they kick off their Nations Championship campaign in Sydney.
Andy Farrell’s 36-strong squad – which has three uncapped players, with Dan Sheehan set to stand in as captain – face the Wallabies on Saturday looking to push on again following a promising Guinness Six Nations campaign where they finished second behind France.
With Australia building towards a home World Cup in 2027, Easterby is anticipating a stern test from a team out to make a response following a 46-19 defeat in Dublin during November.
“(They are) a physical team who will look to try and impose themselves on the opposition, something that we were well aware of, and their threats in attack, their ability to attack in a way that can create opportunities. Those are the things that we have spoken about in a bit of detail,” Easterby said at a press conference.
“(We are) just expecting a side who have probably got a chance to go and lay down a bit of a marker leading into a World Cup year, playing at home for the first time in a while, so it is exciting for us to be here in the first game.”
Uncapped Connacht trio Billy Bohan, Sam Illo and Sean Jansen have all been included in the 36-player squad, which will also have games against Japan at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle and then New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland on July 18.
Ireland Caelan Doris, who has a foot injury, is one of several players who have to sit out the tour, including the likes of fly-half Jack Crowley, prop Andrew Porter as well as wingers Mack Hansen and Tommy O’Brien.
Leinster hooker Sheehan will skipper the squad during the tour and Easterby feels the initial signs in the camp have been positive.
“Sometimes players miss out for whatever reason, through injury or non-selection, and you get the opportunity to work with other players, and they have all slotted in really well,” Easterby said.
“It is testament to the group that we have not had anyone drop out in training. They have worked hard, and I can say they have hit the ground running.
“It is going to be an interesting few weeks in terms of selection, because some of the more experienced players are training well, but also some of the younger guys have made the mark as well.”
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