These are your rugby headlines on Sunday, May 19.
Flanagan ‘very depressed’ after collapse
Dragons coach Dai Flanagan said he was “very depressed” after his side’s indiscipline cost them dearly in their defeat to Ospreys.
Toby Booth’s side kept their play-off hopes alive with a hard-fought 26-13 win at Swansea as they dominated at set-pieces and Morgan Morris put in another excellent performance at number eight. But although the visitors started strongly with a physical display in defence, they were let down by a lack of discipline.
Aaron Wainwright was sent to the sin bin at the end of the first half as the Dragons’ penalty count mounted, while scrum-half Dane Blacker joined him moments later as he knocked the ball out of Justin Tipuric’s hands. With Flanagan’s squad reduced to 13 men, the Ospreys struck, scoring three of their four tries before Wainwright and Blacker returned to the action.
After the whistle the coach could not hide his frustration as the defeat confirmed they would finish bottom of all Welsh sides in the URC this year.
“There were two parts of the game where we were completely dominated, but what doesn’t help is when that frustration spills over into phase play defense and attacking the ball,” he said. “Sometimes you have to take your medicine and say: ‘We won’t do that because there is a clearly dominant team, let’s be cleaner everywhere’.
“We weren’t and that fed them, we went down to 13 men and there was a huge momentum swing. For 26 minutes we were good, we were disciplined and they were frustrated. It came to a sticking point where they realized they had us in areas and they went to them.
“That’s where the rest of our game has to be clean,” Flanagan added. “The critical moment, let’s not hide, was the yellow card. We got Aaron Wainwright back within seconds and got back to 15 to 15 at 7-6. Then for some unknown reason we decided to collapse.
“I can’t believe the result because I’m very depressed after losing 26-13 when we could have got Sean Lonsdale and Sio Tomkinson over the line but it wasn’t a great performance from us.”
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All Blacks legend dies
New Zealand rugby legend Sid Going has died at the age of 80.
Nicknamed ‘Super Sid’, the scrum-half played 86 games for the All Blacks, including 29 Tests. Considered one of the best of his generation to wear the nine jersey, he also captained the side five times and scored ten Test tries, including a famous brace against France in 1968.
He died on Friday, leaving New Zealand rugby in mourning when his death was announced on Saturday morning.
During his career, Going enjoyed many famous battles with Welsh legend Gareth Edwards when the All Blacks faced Wales and the British & Irish Lions. Edwards has previously admitted that the All Black was “without doubt the best scrumhalf I played against”, adding that he was a “great competitor, so dangerous, a match winner”.
In a statement, New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson said: “It is incredibly sad to hear of Sid’s passing. He was a dynamic player and one of the greatest halfbacks in All Blacks history.
“He took immense pride in wearing the All Blacks jersey and representing New Zealand’s Māori, something which endeared him immensely to the fans. We send our condolences and aroha to his family and loved ones.”
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson added: “Sid was a special player and man in our game. He lit up the field with his skill and energy. He lit up people’s hearts – that was his trademark.”
Hathaway shines again
Gloucester star Josh Hathaway put in another impressive performance as his side defeated Newcastle Falcons 54-14 in their Premiership final.
The full-back, who has represented both England and Wales at U20 level, has emerged as a potential defender for the Welsh side that will tour Australia this summer thanks to several classy performances for the Cherry & Whites.
Hathaway was back in good form at Kingsholm on Saturday afternoon, setting up Chris Harris for a stunning try before later getting on the scoresheet himself.
After suffering a 90-0 humiliation at the hands of Northampton last weekend, Gloucester put that result firmly behind them, with Zach Mercer, Charlie Atkinson, Ollie Thorley, Seb Blake, Jonny May and Alex Hearle all also scoring tries.
However, it was not enough for George Skivington’s side to statistically avoid their worst ever Premiership season, but they finished better off than Newcastle, who ended the season without a single win to their name.
Fear of Tuilagi injury
By PA Sports Staff
Alex Sanderson says Sale will give Manu Tuilagi every opportunity to prove his fitness for their Gallagher Premiership play-off trip to Bath, despite an ominous hamstring injury in their 20-10 win over Saracens.
The powerful centreman limped off after just 17 minutes and there are fears the attack will be serious enough to rule him out for the rest of the season. That would also end Tuilagi’s Sale career, with a move to French club Bayonne on the cards, but Sanderson is determined to give the former England center the chance to start at the Rec on June 1.
Tuilagi’s injury was the only blemish on an otherwise excellent afternoon for Sale, who jumped to third place on the final day of the season thanks to a fifth straight win inspired by the efforts of Tom Roebuck and Rob Du Preez.
“Reaching the play-offs hasn’t really sunk in yet. From where we were after Six Nations to getting into the top four is a huge effort from the boys. They’ve got their hands on it,” boss Sanderson said. “We should definitely have Manu examined. He definitely pulled his hamstring, we just don’t know how bad.
“He’s a fast healer, we know that and we have two weeks to put Humpty Dumpty back together and we’ll give him as long as we can.”