With all the different teams playing across the world doing media each day, it can be hard to keep on top of a lot of the stories coming out.
Rugby is filled with them across all levels of the game and whilst most are covered through some form of media, there are others that might have slipped off the radar as the Rugby Championship and Wallabies dominate discussions.
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One Percenters returns and looks at everything you might have missed from the past fortnight of Rugby.
Tom Wright has the support of legendary Wallaby Glen Ella as he prepares to face the daunting South Africa challenge.
Fullback remains a position firmly up for grabs in many pundits and fans' eyes, with Jordan Petaia and Andrew Kellaway set to return from injury.
However, according to Eddie Jones, Wright has a major endorsement from the Wallabies great, with Jones eager to see how the Brumby handles the pressure.
“Glen Ella is over here as a Classic Wallaby and he commented how much potential Tom has at fullback,” Jones said.
“He’s got good pace, power, a good kicking game. He’s a good communicator and his job is to make sure that the kicks that we receive from South Africa that we return with interest other via running or kicking.”
In the modern game, there has never been a time when stats have been more prosperous and more available to clubs, coaches and fans.
As data continues to develop, look at some of the more exciting and unique stats heading into the first round of the Rugby Championship, courtesy of Opta.
- The Wallabies are looking for back-to-back wins outside of Australia for the first time since the 2019 World Cup
- To do so, they need to stop the Springboks' maul, which has contributed 37 of their tries since 2022, 24 more than the Wallabies
- The Springboks’ record at home against the Wallabies has been well spoken about. It’s built on their defence, only conceding over 20 points once in their last seven wins over the Australians.
- Marika Koroibete is key to the Wallabies’ hopes. He is a good luck charm of sorts when he crosses the line against the Springboks, unbeaten in every game that he’s scored in against the South Africans.
- As for the All Blacks, they have conceded on average just eight points per game across their last five Tests against Argentina
- They are undefeated against Argentina in Argentina, only trailing at half-time twice.
- However, the Pumas have built a solid record at home, winning three of their last five Tests on home. Although they’ve not won back-to-back Tests at home since 2016
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones will be hoping for a better result on his return to Pretoria than his last visit.
Jones, who was then Reds coach, suffered a 92-3 thumping at the hands of the Bulls in 2006. It would lead to his axing, eventually joining the Springboks set-up.
With a heavy Bulls contingency in the Springbok squad, it wasn't long before the match was brought up,
“Oh, I remember every trip to Pretoria. I can remember sitting on an Esky there mate (in 2006),” Jones laughed when reminded of the game by South African media.
“I also remember the first team meeting I had with the Springboks in 2007. Jake (White, Springboks coach) asked me to get up and talk to the boys and as I got up, Jean de Villiers played the Bulls song.
“So that was quite funny.”
Wales coach Warren Gatland has revealed the strange way he is preparing his side to face the pressure of September's World Cup.
The squad visited an army-style fitness camp in the Welsh village of Taff’s Well, opting for more of a psychological challenge rather than physical.
“They did some stuff where we had them put in hoods, having water tipped over them when they weren’t expecting it. Babies crying, things going off, and it wasn’t a full day," Gatland explained (via NZ Herald)
"We went there in the morning and finished about 1pm. The boys had a bit of lunch, we put some beers on – some had a beer and stayed there for about an hour and enjoyed each other’s company and had some laughs, had some photos with the guys, presented them with a jersey, it was a really good company that was a little bit different.
"It was different and made them think about things from a different perspective, in terms of being in stressful situations, being in a game where you don’t expect things and how do you react to that. You make a mistake, you come under a huge amount of pressure, how do you get your composure back? … Trying to relate to those situations. Yeah we’ve been working hard but every day is not brutal, I can promise you that.”
The U20 World Championships are underway and there has been a plethora of major upsets, headlined by Italy's upset of South Africa.
It's clear to see why they were so motivated after video emerged of Italian captain David Odiase delivering a passionate speech before their tournament opener against Argentina.
It's enough to make anyone want to run through a brick wall.
