England duo in for semi
FORMER Wasps winger Sailosi Tagicakibau has formally announced his retirement from rugby 12 months after leaving the Ricoh.
The popular veteran Samoan international was forced to abruptly return to the Southern Hemisphere prior to last season following an illness in his family.
Since then he has settled in Sydney, and played for Warringah Rats, who will shortly face Norths in New South Wales’ historic Shute Shield final.
Tagicakibau has tweeted: “I thought I’d make it official, so with amazing memories, tired legs and excitement I’m announcing my retirement from professional rugby.
“I’ve found a home and started settling into the real world, so the timing is right to stay still and be closer to family.
“I’m blessed to have had such a long career to be proud of, and owe it all to family, especially my parents.”
Tagicakibau, who turns 35 in November, like his brother Michael, spent most of his club career in England.
He played 157 games over ten seasons at London Irish, then 34 more after joining Wasps in 2014.
The powerful winger was capped 21 times by Samoa, for whom he appeared in three World Cups. ENGLAND Women’s head coach Simon Middleton has made two changes to the team for today’s World Cup semifinal against France in Belfast.
Worcester Valkyries wing Lydia Thompson returns to action, while there is also a start for Harlequins centre Rachael Burford, who partners Emily Scarratt in midfield.
Middleton has otherwise retained the side that concluded England’s pool campaign with a 47-26 victory over the United States.
Elsewhere, England flanker Marlie Packer is set to win her 50th cap, packing down alongside back-row colleagues Alex Matthews and Sarah Hunter, with full-back Danielle Waterman making her fourth successive tournament start.
France saw off host nation Ireland in their last game. AFTER six weeks of lifting tractor tyres and running up hills in Kenilworth’s Abbey Fields, Wasps this week return to the Ricoh for the first time since May for pre-season warm-up action against Connacht.
In a series of articles, we look ahead to what fans can expect from the reshaped squad. Today’s focus is on Wasps’ centre pairing.
Following a full hand of Six Nations and British Lions test appearances, there can by now be few remaining doubters regarding Daly’s prodigious talent.
That said, the debate about his best position goes on since Eddie Jones and Warren Gatland used Wasps’ No.13 exclusively as a winger.
Regardless of their thoughts, when Dai hands out the starting shirts to face Sale on September 2, there seems little doubt where the 24-year-old will appear, or that he will be one of the first names on the team sheet assuming he has adequately completed a pre-season which began some weeks after the majority of the squad.
The early summer will-he, won’t-he debate which surrounded the former Bath centre’s mooted return to rugby league seems to have subsided, and we now wait to see when he is fully fit following the ruptured Achilles suffered in late February. The original prognosis suggested the six-times-capped England No.12 would miss six months, which takes us to the brink of the new Premiership campaign.
And even then, those hoping Eastmond’s fast feet and clever distribution will play a prominent role in Wasps’ season will be left looking nervously over their shoulders, since at least one national newspaper has suggested Warrington Wolves will immediately come calling once the 28-year-old has proven match fitness. This is a vital season for the towering figure of Armitage, who would have hoped to make more of an impact at 1st XV level following his move from London Welsh 12 months ago.
The younger brother of internationals Delon and Steffon was restricted to cameo appearances in the AngloWelsh Cup and A League, some of which involved stints on the wing.
On a more upbeat note, he did manage to catch the eye in the A League team’s excellent late-season run, so must ensure he takes any chances to impress early in this new campaign. It can’t be easy being understudy to the highperforming, ultra-consistent Elliot Daly, who to boot also appears physically indestructible.
And to make matters worse for the likeable Irishman, he now also has South African international Juan de Jongh to factor into his calculations.
Like back-rower Alex Rieder, every time I see Macken play he leaves a positive impression. And like Rieder, he also has two internationals between him and a starting shirt. Twelve months ago, the thought that Gopperth (inset left) would be included in this piece as a centre would have been an unlikely one, but with Kurtley Beale and Kyle Eastmond suffering more than their fair share of injuries, that was exactly how he spent most of last season.
Premiership player-of-the-year Gopperth was simply sensational in the No.12 shirt, where his presence alongside Danny Cipriani gave Wasps a twin-distribution axis, a second tactical kicker in a left-right combination, a solid defender and a man whose turn of foot startled us all, while he also continued to knock over his goals.
But will he stay there? I always sensed Dai was concerned about having both his fly-halves on the pitch simultaneously from an injury perspective, especially when one of them had to get involved with a lot more contact as a centre. In this respect, perhaps the signing of Lovobalavu rather than a fly-half is a pointer?
The Fijian has appeared in three World Cups, and two good judges who watch a lot more French rugby than most of us rate the No.12 highly.
Speculation suggests Toulon were not entirely happy in losing Lovobalavu to Bayonne, albeit five years ago, which further strengthens his credentials.
And let’s not forget that the last experienced Southern Hemisphere star to land at Wasps on the back of a spell with a struggling French club – a certain G.Smith – didn’t work out too badly.
The arrival of the 19-times-capped Springbok from the Stormers is an interesting development, as he is far from guaranteed a starting berth when everyone is available. Nonetheless, he adds plenty of quality and depth to the squad, and assuming Daly will miss large swathes of club action with England, he also has an important role to play. Alapati Leuia (Bristol), Nick de Luca (retired) Jacob Umaga (19) played at Hinck-