Here’s a roundup of the latest rugby news for Friday, August 16.
Technical director staff suspended
The entire coaching staff of the France U-18 rugby team has been suspended following the tragic disappearance of a player.
Medhi Narjissi was swept out to sea during a player rescue session while competing in the team’s Under-18 international series at Diaz Beach in Cape Point, South Africa, on Wednesday, August 7. He was swept away by strong undercurrents and the French Rugby Federation’s initial investigation into the incident declared the beach chosen for the session dangerous.
This means every member of the coaching and support staff has been suspended while we await the outcome of the internal investigation.
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The FFR statement said: “Initial evidence collected on the pitch by a member of the national technical management confirms that the pitch chosen for a player rescue session presented dangers. This is an error of judgement that could constitute an individual and/or collective error. The final results of our investigation will make it possible to determine responsibilities.
“The French Rugby Federation is determined to fulfil its duty to fully elucidate the exact circumstances of the tragedy. All personnel have been interviewed so far. The FFR is now preparing to question the players in the under-18 team, taking all the necessary precautions due to the psychological shock they have suffered.”
Erasmus defends surprise team announcement
South Africa coach Rassie Erasmus has denied allegations of disrespect following his decision to make 10 changes to his squad for this weekend’s return match against Australia.
The Springboks kicked off their Rugby Championship campaign with a stunning 33-7 win over the Wallabies last Saturday, leaving several key players out of the squad for the clash in Perth, including captain Siya Kolisi.
“If you look at this team, there are 14 World Cup winners and only two new players. So that’s no disrespect to Australia and it doesn’t mean we’re insensitive to the game,” Erasmus said.
“That means we pick a team that we think is good enough to get the win, but it’s going to be really tough to play against a team that wants to come back.
“I think it would be a slap in the face to the players who played this weekend, considering they were not as good as the players who played last weekend. We have complete confidence in them.
“If they had played the Springbok team last weekend I think they would have given them a big chance.”
Scrum-half Morne van den Berg and second-row Ruan Nortje will make their first Test starts, while Salmaan Moerat will captain South Africa from lock
South Africa: Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Morne van den Berg, Elrigh Louw, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Salmaan Moerat (captain), Thomas du Toit , Johan Grobbelaar, Jan-Hendrik Wessels; Subs: Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard.
Former Wales-20 international captaincy role
Former Wales Under-20 player Sean Moore has been appointed captain of Cardiff RFC ahead of the inaugural season of Super Rygbi Cymru.
The name that will take over from experienced forward Morgan Allen, who played in 26 of 27 matches for the Blue-Blacks last season,
The former Mountain Ash and Pontypridd player has made 75 appearances since signing for Cardiff in 2021, winning the Indigo Premiership and WRU Premiership Cup.
In 2017, he played in 8 matches for the Wales Under-20 team, playing in 4 matches in the Six Nations Championship and also featured in the Junior World Championship.
“It is a huge privilege for me to take on this role and I am proud to be appointed captain of such a great club,” Moore said.
“I will do my best to live up to the standards set by my predecessors. When you look at the history of Cardiff and the players who have played in the Blue & Black, you realise what an honour it is to be part of this club.”
All Blacks make four changes for Pumas test
New Zealand have made four changes for their second match against Argentina.
Former All Blacks captain Sam Cane has been benched as they look to avenge last weekend’s shock defeat to the Pumas in the Rugby Championship.
Cane was recalled despite announcing he would retire from international rugby at the end of the year and sign with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath.
Asked if the possibility of never playing for his country again had ever crossed his mind, Cane said: “I guess I didn’t think that far ahead and think of the worst-case scenario.
“I always believed I would come back and that I had so much to offer with the support of my abilities. Through rehab and coming back from surgery, you always really go into the void.
“In my experience, you shouldn’t think about the outcome because sometimes it seems so far away. It’s usually about getting through that week of training and finishing the week in a better place than you started. Then often reset and sometimes just do the same week again and try to do a little better.”
Coach Scott Robertson responded to the 38-30 defeat to the Pumas by substituting three defenders and one forward for Saturday’s match in Auckland.
Will Jordan, who started on the bench in this defeat, has been preferred over Sevu Reece on the right wing, while Caleb Clarke replaces his Auckland Blues teammate Mark Tele’a on the left wing.
Experienced Blues centre Rieko Ioane has been recalled, while Tamaiti Williams remains on the bench.
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett; Will Jordan, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke; Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara; Ardie Savea (captain), Dalton Papali’i, Ethan Blackadder; Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i; Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Tamaiti Williams.
Backups: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Sam Cane, Cortez Ratima, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Tele’a