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British and Irish Lions Dan Biggar and Louis Rees-Zammit are set to lead timely Wales reinforcements as another punishing Autumn Nations Series encounter looms large.
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The Six Nations champions have little time to dust themselves down before World Cup holders South Africa arrive in Cardiff next Saturday.
A 54-16 defeat against New Zealand – the All Blacks scored 26 unanswered points during a ruthless final quarter – was Wales’ 32nd successive loss in the fixture since 1953.
It was also the most points they have conceded to any opponent for 14 years, with England racking up 62 against them during a 2007 World Cup warm-up mismatch.
Northampton fly-half Biggar and Gloucester wing Rees-Zammit were among seven players unavailable to face New Zealand because the game took place outside World Rugby’s autumn international window.
Along with the likes of Saracens centre Nick Tompkins and Wasps flanker Thomas Young, they will now join the squad for Springboks preparations, while Wales head coach Wayne Pivac awaits fitness updates on several other players.
The casualty count ran into double figures ahead of facing New Zealand, and that list increased when captain Alun Wyn Jones and flanker Ross Moriarty both went off before half-time due to shoulder issues.
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Initial assessments point to Moriarty’s injury being considerably more serious than the skipper’s, with Jones set to win his 150th Wales cap if he is declared fit for South Africa, while Liam Williams, Ken Owens, Ellis Jenkins and Taulupe Faletau are among those on Pivac’s check-up radar.
“It was a good experience for some guys who hadn’t played at this level for a while,” Pivac said, reflecting on the All Blacks game.
One take claims that by the end Wales were "not even trying particularly hard." #AutumnNationsSeries https://t.co/nuo8FM9ez5
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 31, 2021
“Now, we’ve got players coming back in, and we will settle on a squad early next week for South Africa.
“We will get them in and assess them on Monday and see who is fit to go.”
Recalling the All Blacks’ devastating late try blitz, Pivac added: “Clearly, the last 20 minutes showed the difference between fitness levels.
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Wayne Pivac gives a positive update on Alun Wyn Jones after #WALvNZL ? pic.twitter.com/kxde8HgXGE
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 31, 2021
“You are talking about a side that has been playing international rugby on the road for a couple of months.
“That was the conversation Ian Foster (New Zealand head coach) and I had afterwards. We fell off a cliff.
“Some boys have only had a handful of club games. We’ve got some work to do in that area. It won’t come overnight, but we will work hard before the next opponent.”
Wales’ undoubted highlight was the performance of 21-year-old Dragons flanker Taine Basham, who excelled on his first Test match start and gained a glowing review from Pivac.
“Taine Basham was our man-of-the-match,” Pivac said. “He is a young guy whose confidence will go through the roof, and he is now an extra player we have at this level.”
For his part, Basham looked like a Test match natural just four games into his international career.
“I just play my game. Nothing changes for me, I don’t think,” said the Dragons academy product, who emerged through grassroots Welsh clubs Talywain, Bedwas and Cross Keys.
“I go into the game with the same attitude. Even if I wasn’t playing an international, I just go into every game giving it my all.
“Obviously, the seven jersey in Wales is always competitive. For me, I just play my game, and I play with quality players.
“We just need to bring it next week and go up another level. I think we have got another gear in us to go up again, so I am looking forward to it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments