May wants wins, not tries Whitelock backs Tuipulotu to shine
WORLD Rugby chief Brett Gosper flagged concerns over a report yesterday that private equity firm CVC Capital Partners is on the brink of paying more than $350million for a stake in the Six Nations.
Britain’s The Times newspaper reported that CVC has agreed in principle to buy a 15% share in the commercial arm of the Six Nations.
According to the report, the Six Nations unions have decided to pool their business into one commercial entity, meaning CVC will also have a share of their mid and end-of-year internationals.
World Rugby chief executive Gosper said that while he did not know enough about the deal to make a final judgment on whether it was “good or bad” for the game, he had his reservations.
“We would want to make sure that, for the right reasons, our influence wasn’t usurped,” he said. “The areas that would concern you is that certain calls might be made in the commercialisation of the sport that we might not think are in the interests of the sport.” | Reuters ENGLAND wing Jonny May is willing to have zero in the tries column next to his name if it gets his team closer to a second World Cup triumph in Japan.
May has scored 24 tries in 47 Tests, including six in seven games this year to emerge as a contender to lead the scoring charts but the 29-year-old said it would be perilous to focus only on five-pointers.
“For a wing a try is the cherry on top of the cake. I couldn’t care less if I don’t score a try in the tournament ... we just need to win every game,” May told British media in Japan.
“It’s a terrible trap to fall into, going into a game wanting to score a try ... I go into a game focusing on my defence, my kick-chase, my high ball.
“Those are the things I’m guaranteed to get in a game.
“If the opportunity comes to score a try, that’s my role in that moment ... but to go into games thinking about wanting to do that? That is not how Test match rugby works.”
England, the 2003 champions, face Tonga in their pool C opener on Sunday before games against the United States, Argentina and France.
Tonga were smashed 92-7 by the champion All Blacks in a recent warmup in Hamilton, New Zealand.
However, lock Maro Itoje said England could ill-afford to underestimate the physical challenge posed by the Pacific islanders, pointing to his teammates Mako and Billy Vunipola, who have Tongan roots.
“I’ve seen what those two have done to people. It can be dangerous if you allow it to be,” Itoje said.
“We know how physical they are and how much Tonga as a country loves rugby. They’ll definitely be up for it.” NEW Zealand’s Sam Whitelock is excited by the rise of fellow lock Patrick Tuipulotu and backed the 26-year-old to provide able cover for the injured Brodie Retallick during the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Retallick is likely to miss the pool stage of the tournament as he recovers from a dislocated shoulder sustained in the draw with the Springboks on July 27, but Whitelock expects Tuipulotu to handle the pressure when he makes his World Cup debut.
“He’s definitely taken a step to where he potentially can go as a player and that’s very, very exciting for him individually but also for us a team,” Whitelock told the All Blacks website.
Tuipulotu, one of four locks selected by coach Steve Hansen in the All Black squad, missed out on the World Cup in 2015 because of a hip issue that required surgery.
Starting in place of suspended lock Scott Barrett, he played arguably his best game for the national side when they defeated Australia 36-0 to retain the Bledisloe Cup last month.
“It’s awesome to see growth in a player,” said Whitelock, who will feature in his third World Cup.
“He’s probably lost a little bit of weight too, which has meant he’s a little bit more mobile but he’s still keeping that great strength he does have.”
New Zealand are in Pool B and begin their title defence against the Boks on Saturday, with matches against Canada, Namibia and Italy to follow.