Here are your rugby evening headlines for Tuesday, 28 June.
Springboks play down Wales scrum issues
South Africa have played down Wales' front-row problems ahead of Saturday's first Test in Pretoria.
Tomas Francis has been struggling with a back niggle, with uncapped duo Sam Wainwright and Harri O'Connor called into the squad. With South Africa's scrum always strong, many are worried about the issues Wales might face in that area of the game.
Read more: South Africa name formidable team to face Wales despite missing influential fly-half
However, coach Jacques Nienaber refused to be drawn in by talk of the Springboks dominating the scrum. “I know there might be a couple of new props in for Wales but if you look at our previous Test matches, it was always a tight affair.
“We are very lucky with the front row options we have. The key thing is that we can’t play on our reputation, it’s a new season, a new Test.
“It’s our first Test at home in front of a crowd, so the worst thing we can do is to think our reputation of our front row is going to carry us through the Test match. They have to work hard in the week, make sure they are accurate when it comes to Saturday.
“Obviously, it’s something we will have to start building from scratch again.”
Prop Ox Nche has also echoed those sentiments, despite Wales' abundance of inexperienced props in the squad. "A 21-year-old can have more pride than a guy who has been in the system for a long time.
"I promise you, we don't go into a game thinking about youngsters who have no experience. Those youngsters could be the best on the day.
"It's important to understand that they're very competitive and they know South Africa is the number one rugby nation in the world, and they want to prove something."
Ospreys ready to test themselves against Europe's best
Ospreys coach Toby Booth is excited at the prospect of challenging themselves against the champions of England and France in Europe.
Wales’ sole representatives in the Champions Cup will face Leicester and Montpellier home and away in the group stage of the competition in December and January. Former Bath and London Irish coach Booth said: “We want to test ourselves against the best and there is two of the best right there.
"We are up against the two league winners, which is what I wanted before the draw. Let’s take the very best on and find out where we are.
“Obviously I am very familiar with Leicester, as you can imagine, from my previous life, and they are on the crest of a wave at the moment and very buoyant.
“There is just a different edge to European competition and with the South African teams on board now the level of competition is going up and up and that’s exciting. It’s an extreme challenge but one we look forward to.
“We know it’s going to be extremely challenging and, with this four-match group format, there’s very small margin for error. We need to be peaking at the right time and having a fit squad is vital.”
Former Ireland captain forced to pay 'substantial' damages to lawyers
Rory Best is to pay "substantial" undisclosed damages to a team of defence lawyers over an interview he gave about an ex-teammate’s rape trial.
The former Ireland and Ulster rugby captain also issued an apology to the legal representatives of Paddy Jackson as part of a settlement reached in their libel action against him. The 39-year-old attended the high-profile trial in Belfast in 2018 where Mr Jackson and another former Ulster player, Stuart Olding, were ultimately acquitted of rape.
Two years later, Best referred to his attendance at the trial in an interview with Off the Ball. As a result of comments made in that interview, the legal team who successfully acted for Mr Jackson all sued for libel.
A court a statement was read out on behalf of Mr Best to confirm the terms of the settlement. His senior counsel, Gerald Simpson QC said: “On January 22, 2020 I gave an interview to Newstalk’s Off the Ball.
“During the course of that interview I made reference to the legal team acting for former Ulster Rugby player and colleague, Paddy Jackson. I wish to make it clear that I had not intended to impugn the integrity of these lawyers, who at all times treated me with the utmost respect and professionalism.
“Insofar as any of my comments did not make absolutely clear, I did not, and did not intend, to criticise Mr Jackson’s legal team nor did they mislead me in any way. I unreservedly apologise to Paddy Jackson’s legal team and have agreed to pay the plaintiffs substantial damages, and to pay the plaintiffs’ legal costs.”
Outside court Rory Lynch of Gately Tweed, representing the plaintiffs, said: “Our clients are very satisfied with this comprehensive and categoric, albeit belated, vindication of their reputations”
Aki honoured to captain Ireland
Bundee Aki says it will be ‘an honour and a privilege’ to captain the Ireland team against the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton.
The Ireland centre previously played Super Rugby in Hamilton for the Chiefs between 2013 and 2014. Aki will lead a youthful Irish side featuring five uncapped players on Wednesday ahead of their first Test this weekend at Eden Park.
And the 32-year-old centre admits captaining Ireland on New Zealand soil will be a special moment in his career.
“It is a huge privilege, it’s an honour. A very proud moment for myself and my family,” admitted Aki.
“A kid from south Auckland, not many opportunities come your way. Privileged to be here, be a part of this team and to lead the boys out. It’s special to do it here, that’s where I played my Super Rugby.
“When Faz (Andy Farrell) asked me to be captain, I stood there for a bit. I obviously thought he was joking! No, like I said, it’s a huge honour and it’s a privilege to lead the boys.”
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