Today's rugby news as Wales star puts snub behind him and Cheika tells Gatland he's got just the man
These are your rugby headlines on Monday, January 6.
Wales star puts snub behind him
Leicester Tigers prop Nicky Smith says his ambitions of playing for Wales are alive and well after being brought back into the international fold at the autumn.
Even before he moved to Welford Road from the Ospreys last summer, Smith was considered to be one of the best scrummaging looseheads in the business, but was repeatedly left out of Wales squads. After pulling up trees in the Premiership with his new side and causing headaches for opponents with his prowess at scrum-time, however, he was welcomed back by Gatland for the Autumn Nations Series.
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Now, the 30-year-old is looking to push for silverware with the Tigers - who currently sit in fourth in the Premiership - and is eyeing another inclusion in the Welsh squad for the upcoming Six Nations.
“I have loved every moment," Smith told the Rugby Paper as he reflected on his move across the border. "It was my first big move. But it will feel better if we get two trophies!
“One of the reasons I came here was to be at a club challenging for honours and to help me continue develop as a player, and maintain my ambition to play for Wales."
On the Six Nations, he added: "This is the time you try and put your hand up for selection. We are a young team in transition right now.
"It’s been tough of course but we will only get better with time and experience. If I do well in a successful Tigers team I know I will have the chance to be picked.”
Cheika tells Gatland he's got just the man
Leicester Tigers boss Michael Cheika says back row Olly Cracknell is Test-level quality after the Welsh-qualified star continued his fine recent form against Exeter at the weekend.
The 30-year-old has been outstanding for the Premiership side in recent weeks and impressed once again on Saturday as he crossed for a try against the Chiefs. While he was born and raised in Leeds, Cracknell is qualified for England and Wales, with his grandfather hailing from Llanelli.
The former RGC 1404, Cardiff RFC and Ospreys forward previously made six appearances for Wales U20s and was called up to the senior international squad in 2017, only to go unused and never called up again.
While Aaron Wainwright and Taulupe Faletau are likely to be the No. 8s named in Gatland's Six Nations squad in a week's time, Cracknell has certainly given the coach - and England boss Steve Borthwick - something to think about, with Wallabies legend David Campese saying Wales could "do worse" than taking a look at him.
Now, Campese's compatriot Cheika has said that his powerhouse forward would "definitely perform" at Test level and claimed he is "one of the best back-rowers in England right now".
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching him,” he said. “He’s an intelligent guy and thinks about the game well. He’s a bloody good player, carrying well for us and being physical. He’s stoic and quiet but he’s becoming invaluable.
"He’s probably one of the best back-rowers in England right now," Cheika added. "He might not have the flash and the glitter but he’s doing the job, for sure.
“I don’t think he’s got the ‘potential’ [for Test rugby] – he’s there. If they played him at that level then he would definitely perform, because he’s got the mentality and the temperament.”
Northampton seal last-gasp win over Bath
By PA Sport Staff
Fin Smith knocked over a last-minute penalty as Northampton beat league leaders Bath 35-34 in a pulsating game of nine tries.
It was Bath's fifth consecutive loss at Franklin's Gardens, but they showed remarkable resilience to recover from being 19 points down to lead with three minutes to go and outscore their opponents by five tries to four.
Joe Cokanasiga scored two tries with Orlando Bailey, Will Stuart and Max Ojomoh also on the scoresheet as Finn Russell converted three and adding a penalty. George Hendy, Fraser Dingwall, James Ramm and Josh Kemeny scored Saints' tries, with Smith kicking three conversions and three penalties.
England wing Ollie Sleightholme withdrew from Saints' bench with a hamstring problem, but soon overcame the setback to take the lead after only 80 seconds. Hendy secured the kick-off to secure an attacking platform before he and Rory Hutchinson combined neatly down the right flank to create a try for Kemeny.
Bath soon suffered two further blows in quick succession. Flanker Guy Pepper was forced to leave the field with a leg injury before creative play from half-backs Smith and Alex Mitchell set up a walk-in for Dingwall.
Saints' explosive start continued with a third try before 13 minutes had elapsed as Ramm powered through the visitors' defence on a 50-metre run to the line. Bath needed a quick response and they got one when skilful passing from their backs provided Cokanasiga to round Hendy and score.
Aided by a number of penalties in their favour, Bath built up their first sustained period of pressure and were rewarded when Bailey brushed aside some weak defending for his side's second score.
A sixth match try came before the half-hour with Hendy collecting Smith's chip ahead for Saints' bonus-point before Will Muir departed with a leg injury which forced flanker Josh Bayliss to play on the wing as Bath had selected only one back on the bench. Just before the interval, the hosts lost the impressive Hendy with an injured shoulder, but they still led 26-12 at half-time.
Six minutes after the restart, Bath were right back in contention when Stuart crashed over from close-range, but Smith was on target with a penalty to keep the visitors temporarily at arms length. However, Ojomoh scored Bath's bonus-point try to reward a strong burst from Ollie Lawrence to close the visitors within three points going into the final quarter.
Bath then lost a badly-shaken Jaco Coetzee, but they still took the lead for the first time when Miles Reid charged down a kick from Hutchinson for Cokanasiga to gather and outpace the defence. Russell missed the conversion as did Smith with a penalty, but the young outside-half put Saints back in front with 10 minutes remaining with a 40-metre kick.
Smith then missed with a penalty from inside his own half before Alex Mitchell was sin binned for a high tackle on Lawrence with Russell knocking over the kick, but Smith had the final say when Sam Underhill offended.
