These are your rugby headlines on Wednesday, March 2.
Goode questions Williams' behaviour
Former England man Andy Goode has questioned Liam Williams' "footballer" behaviour at Twickenham.
Speaking on the The Rugby Pod, Goode and Jim Hamilton discussed the match between England and Wales at the weekend, with both praising the way the away team fronted up in the second half.
But Goode said he had to question Williams for what he perceived to be actions normally associated with the round-ball game.
"I've got to question Liam Williams though," he said.
"As much as I'm with you Jim, about seeing how the Welsh dug in... backs against the wall... there's a bit of footballer coming out in Liam Williams.
"Firstly, you know when he gets sin-binned, and he slaps the ball out of the hand, did you see him hold his face as if he'd been whacked and he was pretending it wasn't him and he was trying to make out he had an injury or something?
"You're like 'that's football' in terms of faking something, an injury or holding your face when you've not even been touched. And then the second thing when Josh Adams gets over for that try, and what a seed from Tomos Williams as well, right across the face, he's sshing the crowd, they're 17-0 down, he's sshing the crowd before Josh Adams has even got the ball down.
"I was just trying to work it out. You talk about the values of the game, you talk about how much the Welsh put into it, backs against the wall, then you've got Liam Williams behaving like that, it just didn't add up to me."
Goode added that he thought Alex Cuthbert's display on the occasion of his 50th cap was superb, especially considering the upheaval he faced in the build-up to the match.
"Cuthbert was ridiculous," he added.
"The week that he had, his baby daughter was born in the week, his 50th cap, people questioning his place in the team because Louis Rees-Zammit got sent back to Gloucester... my God. Cuthbert, you talk about best players on the field, Cuthbert, I think he was the best player on the field, and if not he was up there in the top three."
Farrell weeks, not months away
Saracens director of rugby Mark McCall has revealed that Owen Farrell's recovery from injury is progressing positively.
England skipper Farrell was ruled out of the entire Six Nations on the eve of the tournament with an ankle injury.
He should return by the end of the month, McCall added.
"His recovery is going positively, and we’re certainly hoping he’ll be back playing towards the end of March – exactly when that will be I’m not sure," he said. "It’s weeks rather than months.
"He’s not doing any training with the team, he’s still with our performance team, but he’s actively involved in meetings, preparation and that kind of thing.
"This weekend is our 17th league game of the season, and Owen has played four. To have a world-class player to come back in for the last five or six games of the season will be huge for us."
Peel delighted with Williams extension
Scarlets coach Dwayne Peel says he is delighted with Scott Williams' new deal, adding that the centre concedes his move to the Ospreys "didn't go as he planned".
The Wales star has been in consistently impressive form this season for the west Walians, with his name also mentioned in some circles with a recall into the national team set-up.
Sean Holley and James Hook sang his praises on Scrum V the week before the England game, labelling him the form centre in Wales right now.
And Peel says he's over the moon to retain his services.
“It’s great news for us,” said Peel.
“Scott would say himself his move [to the Ospreys] probably didn’t go as he would have liked and he obviously picked up a few injuries.
“To come back home was good for him and he’s great for me. He’s been captain a lot of the time here and he’s led from the front.
“Both on and off the field, he’s been excellent. His quality has shown and there’s a lot to learn from him.
“He’s playing week in, week out at the minute and it’s great to have him. He has played a lot of minutes and he’s had a number of man of the matches for us.”
Navidi in great shape
Cardiff captain Josh Turnbull says Josh Navidi is in great nick ahead of his return to action this weekend.
The 28-cap Navidi returns for Cardiff against Ulster on Friday night after five months out with a dislocated shoulder.
Dai Young expects him to be called up by Wales next week.
Turnbull said: "Navs is the type of guy you could drop back into an international and you wouldn’t think he’s been out for six months.
“He does a lot of hard work behind the scenes to put himself in that condition. It’s been no different this time. He’s worked incredibly hard and he’s in real good shape.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him back on the field.”
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