Here are the latest rugby headlines for Wednesday, April 6.
Dan Biggar injury update
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar won't be rushed back for club duty after an abdominal injury, Northampton Saints say.
The half-back and 2021 Six Nations winner has missed both Saints matches since returning from Wales duty.
Northampton's forwards coach Phil Dowson told the Northampton Chronicle : "He's been training for the past couple of weeks but we don't want to put anyone in who is not quite ready.
"He's certainly been in the group but he's taking it quite slowly because we don't want to rush anyone in case we lose them for a longer period of time."
Northampton will play Ulster in the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Challenge Cup this weekend
Biggar is one of four Wales players in line for European quarter-finals this weekend.
Elsewhere in the Challenge Cup, Bath host London Irish on Friday night, where Taulupe Faletau will be vying for the No. 8 starting spot.
In the Champions Cup, WillGriff John's Sale Sharks are away to La Rochelle, while Tomas Francis' Exeter Chiefs host Leinster
Brian O'Driscoll makes Lions prediction
Brian O'Driscoll has backed Leinster to end Exeter's reign as European champions on Saturday, and is also throwing his support behind Sam Simmonds' Lions chances.
Away from the scrap for a European semi-final appearance, it promises to be a final audition for some British and Irish Lions contenders ahead of head coach Warren Gatland announcing his squad to tour South Africa early in May.
And while O'Driscoll is intrigued by the midfield battle between players like Henry Slade, Garry Ringrose and Robbie Henshaw, he also acknowledges Exeter number eight Sam Simmonds' powerful Lions claims.
Simmonds won the last of his seven England caps three years ago, and he has so far been overlooked for a recall by head coach Eddie Jones during a season that has seen him score 14 Premiership tries and produce blistering form.
"Sam Simmonds has had a point to prove for a number of months now," O'Driscoll added.
"He is playing the rugby of his life, but he is not getting any love from England, so maybe he's that bolter that Warren Gatland is looking for.
"I don't think any of us would be really shocked if 'Gats' decided to go with Sam Simmonds, because he plays the sort of brand - that fast, hard, running rugby - that will be suited to the terrain in South Africa."
Sale boss defends Scarlets
Sale Sharks director of rugby Alex Sanderson said the Scarlets were "better than" their 57-14 scoreline at the weekend.
Sharks, who now face La Rochelle in the quarter-finals, produced a dominant display built on immense forward power and 32 points - a Sale European Cup record - from fly-half AJ MacGinty.
Wales hooker Ken Owens and flanker Jac Morgan scored tries for the Scarlets that full-back Leigh Halfpenny converted, but the Welsh side were outclassed and outmuscled as Sale cut loose and condemned their opponents to a record European Cup home defeat.
Sanderson added: "I would not think we would come down and win [with] 57 points. They are better than that, and we know that. We caught them cold and we were red-hot.
"Everything seemed to click today and you get those kind of games. We have felt like a good performance has been coming and today was a level up."
Owens said post-match: "Rugby is a very simple game and we didn't match their physicality at all.
"We made back-to-back errors, especially in the first 30 minutes, far too often, which played into their hands.
"We were beaten by a better side on the day. We got dominated physically. We can't have any complaints.
"We have had a hiding today and we can't shy away from that. We are definitely a lot better side than what we showed."
South Africa begin preparations for Lions tour
South Africa have reportedly begun preparations for July's British and Irish Lions tour.
Director of rugby Rassie Erasmus, along with Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber, will hold camps for players in Johannesburg and Pretoria, Durban, Cape Town and Bloemfontein.
It will be the first time South Africa's players have officially gathered as a squad since they lifted the World Cup back in November 2019.
The country's strict lockdown rules mean almost all rugby activity has been halted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, but Erasmus and Nienaber will now have a chance to meet with groups of players at a time to present their plans for the 2021 season.
"With a very busy and demanding international season looming, it is important we get everyone aligned as soon as possible," said Erasmus in a SA Rugby news release.
"Although Jacques and his coaching staff have been in constant communication with the players throughout the past 15 months or so – keeping tabs on their performances, injury recovery and general wellbeing - we are now very excited and looking forward to meeting the players in a familiar team environment."
Springbok players based in the UK, Ireland and France will gather as part of separate groups, while there will also be virtual meetings for players based in Japan.
The opening test is on July 24, and is set to be played behind closed doors.
A contingency plan drawn up in March to play matches in Britain and Ireland was rejected by both Lions organisers and head coach Warren Gatland, who's set to announce his squad for the tour at the start of May.
England star handed Lions boost
England centre Manu Tuilagi's hopes of being a part of this summer's Lions tour have been given a potential boost.
Having been sidelined with an achilles injury since September, Sale's director of rugby Alex Sanderson has revealed that the 29-year old is set to return to action next month.
Lions boss Warren Gatland is set to name his squad on May 6, meaning Tuliagi's window to prove his fitness could prove tight.
Nevertheless, Gatland is likely to be keen on seeing the player back in action, with The Guardian reporting that the Kiwi coach is set to put together an official standby list, along with his 36-man group.
"[We’re] saying May now, some time in May," said Sanderson when asked about Tuilagi's fitness.
"That’s brilliant isn’t it? [We’ll] get him back for some big games for the back end of the season."
Jake Ball escapes punishment
Wales star Jake Ball has escaped citation for his controversial clear out on Springboks superstar Faf de Klerk during the Scarlets’ Champions Cup defeat to Sale.
De Klerk was preparing to launch a box kick with his hands placed on the ball at the back of a ruck before being flattened by the Scarlets star.
At the time, the TMO and match referee Mathieu Raynal examined the incident, but the apparent contact to de Klerk's head by Ball's shoulder during the tackle was not discussed.
The Welsh lock came in for heavy fire from the South African media over the incident, with calls for him to be handed a long ban.
One South African rugby show labelled Ball's actions as “a complete cheap shot”, “shameful”, “ludicrous” and “awful”.
However, competition organisers have now revealed there will be no citing for the 50-cap star.
