The latest rugby news stories in the wake of the weekend’s Six Nations action as Wales were heavily beaten again
France Defence Coach Shaun Edwards arrives at the stadium(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Here are the latest rugby headlines on Monday, February 16.
Warburton finds hope in James
Sam Warburton believes the performance of Scarlets centre Eddie James against France should offer hope for the future.
Steve Tandy’s men were outclassed by Les Bleus, who ran over eight tries to notch up their highest ever points tally against a Wales side.
The result leaves Wales bottom of the Six Nations table with two defeats from two, and extends their wait for a win in the competition to 13 games.
However, Warburton believes there were some crumbs of comfort from this latest reverse, which unfolded in front of a record low crowd for a Six Nations match in Cardiff.
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“I’m looking at the small wins that they can take away from this,” he said on the BBC afterwards.
“There’s no point in battering this team and kicking them while they’re down. You’ve got to look at what went well and can get better at this point.
“Everyone can state the problem. It doesn’t take an expert to state the problem. But what’s the solution to getting better? What parts of the game went well? What young players have the mentality and ability to play at this level?
“Every time the game is player you find out a little bit more about someone.”
Sam Warburton says he was pleased by the performance of Eddie James in the defeat to France(Image: BBC)
Warbuton insists the performance of 23-year-old James was a particularly pleasing element on the day – and pointed to the possible improvements still to come in this side.
“I was really pleased with Eddie James,” he added, Really pleased. I look for somebody that can take over this midfield since Jon Davies has hung up his boots.
“I just saw enough of Eddie James. In the second half, he came out in defence and took a really nice ball when France tried to go wide. They got us there every time in the first half, but he’s gone back at half-time and I’m sure the defence coaches have gone on the laptops and said ‘Look they’re doing this. Make that at the back. Back yourself’.
“And he’s gone on and he’s done it.
“These young players need time in the jersey to make these mistakes. Come back and prove themselves right. He’ll go in now thinking ‘I can play at this level’, and then every time he does that he builds in confidence.
“If you do that with all the young players, then in time it will improve.”
Shaun Edwards praises Wales
France defence coach Shaun Edwards has praised the Wales team’s fitness levels, whilst putting its heavy defeat into context.
Wales lost 54-12 against the reigning champions at the Principality Stadium on Sunday in front of their lowest ever Six Nations crowd in Cardiff.
Speaking to S4C post-match, Edwards, who helped Wales to Grand Slam wins in 2008, 2012 and 2019 as well the Six Nations title in 2013 as part of its coaching team, spoke to put the huge points differential into context. Don’t miss a rugby story, sign up for our newsletter.
He said: “I think what people have to realise is, the number of points scored in rugby now, is totally 100% different to what it was 10 to 15 years ago.
“The rules are so pro attack. To have a bit of a stuffing before was like 25-3, or something like that, but now its 50-odd.
“You look at the results in the top 14 this weekend, it was like 75 points being scored every time, so you have to take it in the context of that, and having a record score against you and all that, because there’s never been as many points scored in rugby as there is at the moment.
“I thought Wales’ fitness levels were really good. They hung in there, there was effort, 100% for the whole game. I’m sure things will turn around quickly.”
Scotland aim to pile misery on Wales
By Anthony Brown, Press Association
Sione Tuipulotu predicted Saturday’s stirring 31-20 Calcutta Cup victory over England will have a galvanising effect on Scotland as they bid to banish their recent troubles.
The Scots went into the Murrayfield showdown under intense pressure after defeat in Italy in their Guinness Six Nations opener made it seven games in a row without victory over sides ranked in the top 10 in the world.
But they responded with a magnificent performance to end England’s 12-game winning streak with their biggest victory over the Auld Enemy since 2018.
Captain Tuipulotu believes the euphoria of putting their oldest rivals to the sword in such emphatic fashion can help get them back on track ahead of Saturday’s trip to Cardiff to play Wales.
“I’ve been on this journey now for four or five years with this team and I take the last week as a low moment for myself, but I’ve also had some massive highs, and this is one of them,” said Tuipulotu.
“But I really want this to be the growth now, us to show our growth next week to back up this performance in a stadium that we’ve had troubles in over the last 20 years.
“But I’m really excited, and I do hope this change – you sense when a moment changes a feeling inside a changing room – and I can’t tell you how happy I am for the group to feel the feeling that I’m feeling now, because I really do feel that that is a performance that can change a lot.”