Today's rugby news as Sherratt officially starts job and Ireland suffer major blow ahead of Wales clash

Yahoo

16-02-2025

Here are your rugby morning headlines for Sunday, February 16.
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt will report for duty today as he meets with staff after replacing Warren Gatland last week.
Gatland walked away from the Wales job on Tuesday after losing 14 Test matches in a row, with Cardiff head coach Sherratt announced as his successor for the remainder of the Six Nations.
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With no Six Nations rugby this weekend, Sherratt remained focused on his duties with Cardiff, but now, as attention turns to the third round of the tournament, Sherratt will switch his focus from club to country.
The players are set return to camp on Monday, with the six Welsh-based players - as well as those plying their trade in England and France - all back to prepare for the clash with Ireland.
However, Sherratt will meet up with the staff today to plot the week building up to next Saturday's meeting with Simon Easterby's side, having travelled back from Galway following Cardiff's defeat to Connacht.
"It's been a bit busier than usual," said Sherratt in Galway about the last week. "I didn't realise how popular I was.
"Not popular for Valentine's, but popular for tickets. it's been a very different week. I've enjoyed it so far.
"Obviously fully focused on tonight and then into Welsh camp tomorrow to see how we can go there."
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Ireland captain Caelan Doris is set to miss next weekend's clash with Wales in Cardiff.
Reports in Ireland suggest the Leinster No. 8 has already been ruled out internally, with the focus now on making sure he is fit for the clash with France in round four.
Despite Ireland's head of athletic performance Aled Walters saying the reason he sat out training last week was just a precaution, the Sunday Independent report that the knee injury he picked up against Scotland will keep him out of next Saturday's trip to Cardiff.
Should Doris miss out, it will remarkably be the first time in 43 matches that Ireland have not been able to call on him. He has started 41 of the last 42 matches, coming off the bench in a World Cup warm-up game against Samoa, playing across the back-row.
The last time he wasn't part of Ireland's matchday 23 was in 2021. Jack Conan is likely to start at No. 8 in his place, with Peter O'Mahony the probable choice to replace him as captain.
Prop Tadhg Furlong is also unlikely to feature against Wales as he returns from a hamstring injury, but Mack Hansen and Joe McCarthy are expected to be available.
Cardiff wing Harri Millard suffered an immediate blow on his return from injury, after being forced off minutes into Cardiff's clash with Connacht on Saturday night.
Cardiff coach Sherratt had spoken about the importance of welcoming back Millard, who has been out since December with a knee injury, ahead of kick-off.
"Harri Millard in particular has worked really hard to come back, as well as Liam Belcher and Ben Donnell," said Sherratt pre-match.
"Three really important players for us. Three players who maybe don't get a lot of airtime, but they glue our squad together and make a difference."
However, just three minutes into his return, Millard was forced off for a HIA in Galway - with the versatile back not returning.
Cardiff also lost his replacement, Jacob Beetham, in the second-half - with the one-cap Wales international limping off during the 24-19 defeat.
By PA Sport Staff
Ulster were punished for woeful indiscipline during the second half as they suffered a 34-19 United Rugby Championship defeat against Benetton at Stadio di Monigo.
The visitors had three players – David McCann, Nick Timoney and Stewart Moore – yellow-carded in a damaging 20-minute spell, while they also saw a try disallowed following foul play by prop Tom O'Toole.
Benetton fought back from a 19-10 deficit to score 24 unanswered points, and Ulster could have few complaints about the outcome.
Scrum-half Nathan Doak gave them a flying start through a third-minute try that he also converted, and Mike Lowry then claimed an interception score – again converted by Doak – after former Bath back Matt Gallagher touched down for Benetton.
Tomas Albornoz converted and kicked a penalty, before Jacob Stockdale pounced for Ulster's third try, but Benetton responded just before the interval when Ignacio Mendy crossed and Albornoz again converted.
Ulster then lost their way through a flurry of sin-binnings either side of an Albornoz penalty, and Benetton secured victory through replacement prop Mirco Spagnolo's 65th-minute touchdown before Alessandro Izekor added a bonus-point try and Albornoz slotted two more conversions.