Uruguay not happy as Wales will be staying at home this summer
WALES have been criticised for pulling out of their South American tour this summer.
On Monday, it was announced that Wales would face Canada and Argentina in Cardiff this summer, after coronavirus put paid to their plan to take on Uruguay in Montevideo on July 3.
Wayne Pivac’s men will now host Canada on that date in Cardiff, before taking on the Pumas in back-to-back fixtures on the next two weekends.
“These tests replace the scheduled summer tour to Argentina which has had to be cancelled due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty around travel restrictions,” the WRU said in a statement.
“It is disappointing not to have the opportunity to tour Argentina, especially on the back of our 2020 tour to New Zealand being cancelled, but in the current climate it is completely understandable,” said Pivac.
“What is important is we have games and as we have said all along, this summer is a huge opportunity for us. We are delighted and proud to have 10 players selected for the British and Irish Lions, it is reward for all their hard work and we wish them all the best this summer.”
But the news has not gone down well in Uruguay.
South American Rugby President Sebastian Pineyrua has hit out at Wales for pulling out of the tour, leaving Uruguay without a game.
Posting on Twitter, he said: “Uruguay work more than one year for that game on 3 July. Lions could tour, but not Wales. Difficult explain reasons to players that are in bubble since March without a problem?”
The post was retweeted by Agustin Pichot, former Pumas’ scrumhalf and last year’s World Rugby chairman candidate.
■ HARLEQUINS coach and Wales legend Adam Jones has sung the praises of Quins star Marcus Smith.
Smith was the architect of their dramatic 48-46 win overs Wasps as the weekend - a match which also saw Mike Brown see red for a “highly reckless” incident involving opposition hooker Tommy Taylor.
But it was Smith who stole the headlines away from controversy with a blistering performance summed up by a 28-point haul.
Twenty-two-year-old Smith has yet to be capped by Eddie Jones but the Quins coach says he must now be in contention for international honours with England.
Indeed, if an injury is picked up, Jones has backed Smith to make the Lions plane.
“Looking at him last year, it was a question of whether managing a game was his strong point. We always knew he runs the ball and takes it to the line well, but he’s an all-round player now,” Adam Jones said.
“He’s a great goal-kicker, his line kicking is outstanding and his game management is outstanding.
“He’s got to be on the England tour. He’s got to be the future. He’s a young kid but is growing all the time.
“He was chatted about with the Lions squad, so (Lions coach) Warren Gatland has obviously seen something special in him as well. He was brilliant against Wasps.
“It’s a pleasure having an outside-half like that. I’ve got to be honest, if he was Welsh he would have 50 caps by now. He’s very much of the Welsh outside-half ilk. Hopefully he gets picked in the summer and I’m sure he’ll do a grand job.”
■ SOUTH Africa will host Georgia in two Test matches ahead of the Lions’ arrival this summer.
The Boks haven’t played a Test since their World Cup final win in 2019.
It is a significant boost for the hosts, who will use the games as vital preparation before Gatland’s charges arrive on their shores.
Coronavirus has hit South Africa particularly badly, with domestic action also limited.
But news of the games will be a tonic for head coach Jacques Nienaber, with the ties set to take place on the weekends of July 2-3 and 9-10, with the exact venues and dates to be announced shortly.
“Jacques, his coaching staff and management have been working around the clock to get the team as well prepared as possible, and the Georgia series is a much-needed opportunity after such a long and unforeseen interruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic,” Springbok director of rugby Rassie Erasmus said.