Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, July 5.
Warren Gatland to name next Lions XV today
Warren Gatland will today name his British and Irish Lions side to take on the Cell C Sharks.
The Lions' team will be named at 10am (UK time) before Gatland faces the media and explains his selection decisions at a press conference at noon.
There are set to be appearances in the starting XV for those who haven’t yet featured in the starting line-up in the opening two games.
Brian Moore warns of Russell Test omission but Adams 'nailed on'
Former England and Lions hooker Brian Moore has warned fans that Finn Russell may be omitted from the Test XV even if he is outstanding in each of his warm-up games.
Russell showed some moments of real quality, as is typical of a man with such ability, but blew hot and cold during the course of the match.
Who gets the No. 10 shirt for the first Test is a hot topic at the minute, with many believing Dan Biggar deserves the spot over both Russell and England's Owen Farrell.
Writing in his Telegraph column, Moore said of Russell: "He again showed that on the front foot he has few equals in terms of distribution and variety. The timing of his passes and his angles of attack constantly exposed opponents; all his colleagues had to do was pick a good line and he set them loose.
"Many Celtic supporters have already dismissed Farrell as a starter in any position. Do not be surprised if Russell is outstanding in all his pre-Test games and still does not make the starting XV."
It's good news for Josh Adams, though, who is a nailed-on Test starter in Moore's view.
"The need to score tries remains ubiquitous, however different the challenges of warm-up and Test games. Good news for Adams, even though he has not had the accolades of other wingers, most of whom have been considerably less productive. Perhaps it is his simple effectiveness and refusal to grandstand that has prevented him becoming a media darling.
"Whatever the reason, Gatland will have noted not just that he continues to score tries but also his tenacity in the kick chase, his general work rate, and his willingness to do the dirty work around the breakdown when needed. For me, he is a nailed-on Test starter."
Ronan O'Gara also unconvinced
Ireland legend and former Test Lion Ronan O'Gara was left unconvinced by Finn Russell's showing against the Sigma Lions.
O'Gara believes that Russell's performance against the Sigma Lions probably reaffirms the school of thought that he is a better option off the bench late on rather than a starter.
"I think our point of difference will be if we can get tempo or flow on a phase game and then variety in our kicking game. If it's a Barbarians game, there is no decision - it's Finn Russell starting at No. 10," O'Gara said on Sky Sports.
"But at this level, 60 percent of it is defence and 40 percent is attack, and you need to build your team around that because occasions to score are so precious and it's so difficult.
"Even to give up 14 points, that's too much to give up to a South African game and you have to be so stingy in defence.
"So much of that is going to be crucial, so I'm absolutely intrigued to see which way he goes.
"The point of difference for me would be you have an ace up your sleeve with Russell on the bench depending on how the game is going. Can he weave his magic in the first 30 minutes of a Test match? I wouldn't be so sure."
Springboks blow as RG Snyman undergoes surgery
The Springboks could be without their World Cup-winning lock RG Snyman after he underwent surgery for a skin graft.
The operation came following an incident in June when someone poured petrol on a fire, causing an injury to Snyman as well as fellow Munster players Damian de Allende, Mike Haley and CJ Stander.
Snyman now seemingly faces a race against time to feature in the Test series, with South Africa assistant coach Deon Davids giving the second-row only a "small chance" of making it.
"RG Snyman is currently out of the squad, he's not with us," Davids said.
"He went for a skin graft operation and will start the process of rehabilitation.
"As he recovers, there will be a medical update. He can return. At this stage, there’s a small chance as it stands of him playing in the series against the British and Irish Lions, but he will return for the remainder of the year's Test matches."
Hogg urges Lions to win ugly contests
Saturday's Lions captain Stuart Hogg has urged the team to dominate the ugly contests if they are to come out on the right side of a series result against the Springboks.
The 56-14 win over the Sigma Lions provided Warren Gatland and his coaching team with many positives, not least a four-try haul from Wales wing Josh Adams.
However, notwithstanding some spellbinding tries, Hogg was best pleased with the Lions' work-rate and desire to win contests in the close quarters.
"At times we went to dark places. We made ourselves uncomfortable in the way that we were defending, the way that we were trying to attack," Hogg said.
"We wanted to win the no-talent battles, things that require no talent, and that's getting up off the deck and getting yourself back in the game and making it as difficult as we possibly can for the opposition.
"At times we got that spot on, but for me the exciting thing is we can get better. We can get better individually and we can get better collectively.
"We want to be a formidable defensive unit because that will win you Test matches. We work incredibly hard and we want to be tough to beat.
"We want to be in positions to make dominant collisions, to get some turnovers and play on the back of it, so we want to work incredibly hard for each other.
"That will then give us an opportunity to then play with ball in hand, which for the likes of myself and the rest of the back three, that's when we come alive."
Pivac expects stern Argentina Test
Wayne Pivac is anticipating a far sterner test against Argentina next Saturday after his side inflicted a 68-12 drubbing on Canada last weekend.
Pivac was able to blood five new caps against the Canadians on a day which, barring Leigh Halfpenny's agonising early injury on his 100th cap, was near perfect.
However, next up are the Pumas and despite winning the last four fixtures against the South American outfit, Pivac believes it will serve as a far better barometer of where this very young team actually is.
"We needed a game," Pivac said. "To go in cold against a side that has drawn twice against Australia and beaten the All Blacks, you have to respect that team.
"They are a serious Tier One nation now, and for this young team to go up against a side like that is exactly what we need.
"It will show them how much hard work they need to put in if they want to play at this level on a regular basis.
"We will need to step it up across our whole game, really. It (Canada performance) has highlighted a few things for us that we will go away and work on. We will be tested across the board."
Wales take on Argentina at the Principality Stadium on July 10.
Eddie Jones challenges England's 12 new caps to earn right to be selected again
Eddie Jones has challenged England's "historic" 12 new caps to earn the right to build on their Test debuts.
England overcame the USA 43-29 at Twickenham on Sunday, handing out the most debuts in one match since 1947.
Joe Cokanasiga bagged a try brace, with Marcus Smith, Sam Underhill, Ollie Lawrence, Jamie Blamire and Harry Randall also crossing for the hosts.
Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz, Cam Dolan, Hanco Germishuys and Christian Dyer forced scores for the spirited USA in a match that broke up considerably in the second half.
Jones was delighted to blood an entire new generation of England stars, with a host of senior men either rested or on tour with the British and Irish Lions.
"It was a historic occasion, with 12 new caps for England, 10,000 people back in Twickenham, and a few of the players could see their families while they were singing the national anthem," said Jones.
"So it was a great day for the sport.
"A lot of new players have had a taste of Test rugby now, and now it's about how hard they want to work to keep improving."
James Ryan thanks physios for recovery despite missing out on Lions
James Ryan has thanked the Ireland physios for helping him produce a remarkable recovery to full fitness ahead of captaining Ireland to their 39-31 win over Japan on Saturday.
Ryan was tipped to replace Wales and British and Irish Lions captain Alun Wyn Jones following his own injury against the Brave Blossoms, however the Leinster lock was suffering with an adductor problem and ultimately, after a chat with Ireland boss Andy Farrell, Warren Gatland decided to call up Adam Beard.
But Ryan made a miraculous recovery and led Ireland out at the Aviva Stadium in place of the rested Johnny Sexton, and he praised the work of the medical staff for making that a reality.
"The last couple of weeks I was managed quite a lot, a credit to the physios for getting me back, it was a huge honour to lead the boys," Ryan said.
"At times throughout the season I've had niggles and little breaks in the game, I probably haven't been able to put games and weeks together the way I would have liked.
"After these next couple of games it will be a good window for myself to work on little niggles so I can commit fully physically into next season and beyond.
"But leading the boys was a huge honour and we're really happy with the result."
