The latest rugby news from Wales and around the world
Morgan has been out since dislocating his shoulder in the autumn(Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
These are your evening rugby headlines on Thursday, March 12.
Jac Morgan returns
Wales flanker Jac Morgan has been spotted back in training with the Ospreys, four months on from being injured on international duty.
The influential back rower suffered a dislocated shoulder in Wales’ opening autumn international fixture against Argentina in November, with the injury ultimately ruling him out of Steve Tandy’s side’s Six Nations campaign after he underwent surgery.
Morgan, who is leaving the Ospreys at the end of the season to join Gloucester in the Gallagher PREM, has missed 11 games for Mark Jones’ side as a result, but could now play a part in the closing weeks of the season after being spotted back training.
JOIN OUR WALES RUGBY FACEBOOK PAGE Latest news, analysis and much more
The British & Irish Lions star was involved in a session hosted by Bristol Bears on Wednesday, as the Ospreys went up against the English side to keep their fitness up ahead of their URC clash with Benetton next weekend.
Having been without Morgan for the entirety of the Six Nations campaign, Tandy spoke about the 26-year-old after naming his side to face Italy on Thursday morning and said he was “in great spirits”.
“He’s been around some of the games,” said the Wales head coach. “But we knew he wasn’t going to be ready for this tournament and look, he’s in great spirits.
“He’s obviously behind the team, he’s been to the games and again, when he’s fit and ready, he’ll be back on the pitch.”
Content cannot be displayed without consentAll Blacks great dies
Former All Blacks captain Nev MacEwan has died at the age of 91.
The towering forward – who featured at lock and in the back row – played 52 matches for New Zealand over the course of his international career, including 20 Tests.
He partnered the legendary Colin Meads in the All Blacks engine room in several of those Test matches, while he also skippered the side during three tour games.
MacEwan – who passed away on Wednesday – also established himself as a club legend with Wellington Lions, playing 133 games over 14 seasons, facing the British & Irish Lions in 1966 having won the Ranfurly Shield a decade earlier.
Outside of rugby, he had several occupations from school teacher and shipping agent to bed and breakfast owner. In the 1970s, he battled alcoholism and attempted suicide, but turned his life around as he found religion and became a prison chaplain, helping prisoners to change their lives.
A statement from the All Blacks read: “We are saddened to hear of the passing of All Black #578 Nev MacEwan. Between 1956-1962, MacEwan played 52 matches in the black jersey, including 20 Tests.
“As Wellington Lion #1015 he played 133 games across 14 seasons, including against the British and Irish Lions in 1966, and winning the Ranfurly Shield in 1956.
“He captained at club and provincial level, as well as three All Blacks tour matches, and also served as Chair of the New Zealand Rugby Museum from 1974-1978. Our thoughts are with Nev’s family and loved ones.”
Four changes for Ireland
By Edward Elliot, Press Association, Dublin
Ireland boss Andy Farrell has made four personnel changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s crunch Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland in Dublin.
Hooker Dan Sheehan, lock Joe McCarthy and openside flanker Josh van der Flier return to the forward pack, with Ronan Kelleher and Nick Timoney dropping to the bench and James Ryan ruled out by a calf injury. Tommy O’Brien is preferred to Jacob Stockdale on the left wing in the sole alteration among the backs following last week’s 27-17 bonus-point win over Wales.
With Ryan unavailable, Connacht lock Darragh Murray, 24, is in line to make his championship debut – and win his third Test cap – from the bench. Centre Bundee Aki, who was suspended for the opening three rounds, is also among the replacements and poised to make his first appearance of the tournament.
Ireland and Scotland will go head-to-head for the Triple Crown in a bid to keep alive their respective title hopes before table-topping France host England in the final fixture of the championship.
Jack Crowley again partners scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park, with Ciaran Frawley retained as fly-half cover ahead of Sam Prendergast. Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose, backed up by the returning Aki, continue in midfield, while Robert Baloucoune and Jamie Osborne are retained at right wing and full-back respectively.
In the pack, props Tom O’Toole and Tadhg Furlong join Sheehan in the front row, Tadhg Beirne partners McCarthy, and captain Caelan Doris lines up in the middle of the back row, between Jack Conan and Van der Flier.
Head coach Farrell said: “It is an incredible privilege for the squad to play at home in front of a packed Aviva Stadium with a trophy up for grabs. We know about the challenge facing us on Saturday and Scotland will travel with confidence.
“You’ll see two teams who like to attack and we’ll look to implement our game plan to get the performance that we want. When you factor in a loud home support and with the game taking place on St Patrick’s weekend, it really has all the ingredients for a cracking contest.”
Ireland: J Osborne; R Baloucoune, G Ringrose, S McCloskey, T O’Brien; J Crowley, J Gibson-Park; T O’Toole, D Sheehan, T Furlong, J McCarthy, T Beirne, J Conan, J Van der Flier, C Doris (capt)
Replacements: R Kelleher, M Milne, F Bealham, D Murray, N Timoney, C Casey, C Frawley, B Aki
Townsend names Scotland side
By Mark Walker, Press Association
Scotland have named Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist as their new-look second row, with Zander Fagerson restored at prop for Saturday’s crunch Guinness Six Nations clash against Ireland in Dublin.
Gregor Townsend’s side can seal their first Six Nations title in their final match with victory over Ireland, if France slip up against England in Paris later in the day, while the Triple Crown is also up for grabs.
Head coach Townsend has made three changes, two of them forced as second rows Gregor Brown (calf) and Scott Cummings (hamstring) have been ruled out through injury.
Edinburgh lock Gilchrist, 35, is set to win his 88th cap for his country, becoming Scotland’s all-time record appearance-maker for a second row. Front row Fagerson replaces D’Arcy Rae at tighthead, while the back row of Glasgow trio Matt Fagerson, vice-captain Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey remains unchanged.
Wing Darcy Graham will resume in an unchanged back line after becoming Scotland’s all-time leading try-scorer with a brace in last week’s thrilling 50-40 win against France.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Kyle Steyn, Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Max Williamson, Grant Gilchrist, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey
Replacements: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Alex Craig (Glasgow), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow), Tom Jordan (Bristol).
Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our free daily newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here for all the breaking news.