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Wales lose Owens barely 30 minutes after picking him in their XV
Depleted Wales’ difficult build-up to their Autumn Nations Series opener against New Zealand has shown no sign of abating after another key player was ruled out. Barely 30 minutes after the team was officially announced for Saturday’s clash, Wales head coach Wayne Pivac revealed that British and Irish Lions forward Ken Owens had failed a fitness test. Sidelined by a back problem that will require a scan, Owens has now been replaced in the starting line-up by his fellow Scarlets hooker Ryan Elias, with uncapped Cardiff player Kirby Myhill providing bench cover.
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With the Principality Stadium encounter falling outside World Rugby’s autumn international window, Wales are without England-based players like Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau and Louis Rees-Zammit because they have not been released by their clubs.
A number of key Wales personnel are absent through injuries, with Lions such as Owens, George North, Josh Navidi and Justin Tipuric all out, while centre Willis Halaholo is isolating after testing positive for coronavirus and Liam Williams is recovering from appendix surgery. The total list of absentees runs comfortably into double figures, providing a challenging scenario as Wales face an opponent they last beat in 1953, losing all 31 subsequent Tests against them, including 16 at home.
About the loss of Owens after Wales had picked their team, Pivac said: “It’s a big blow to lose any player that you have initially selected. We have selected a certain side and trained a certain way. It is a disruption, but it’s a massive chance for Ryan. Ken has got a back problem. We rested him from training on Tuesday and we asked him to do a couple of things this morning. We checked him again just after lunch and the decision was made that he won’t be right and we won’t risk him.”
On a plus side for Pivac, Gareth Anscombe will make his first Wales appearance for more than two years and there is a full international debut for 21-year-old Dragons flanker Taine Basham. Ospreys fly-half Anscombe, who was born in New Zealand and qualifies for Wales via his mother, suffered a major knee injury during Wales’ World Cup warm-up game against England in August 2019.
Wayne Pivac has selected his Wales team to face the All Blacks this weekend…#Wales #AutumnNationSeries #WALvNZRhttps://t.co/yNwlJHzQVw
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 28, 2021
Anscombe, who has won 27 caps, returned to action last month and has started three Ospreys matches in the United Rugby Championship. On the bench, Cardiff’s former Bath fly-half Rhys Priestland is called up after an absence of four years. “In terms of Gareth and Rhys, the two 10s we have, we think Gareth starting and Rhys finishing is the way we want to go for this match,” Pivac added.
“Clearly, Gareth has been out of the game for a long time. We just think Gareth coming back from an injury, the full-match warm-up and then straight into the match starting is the best way to do it. For two years we have been down to play New Zealand, but haven’t been able to do so, so there is a feeling of excitement and let us loose.”
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Asked about Wales being written off ahead of Saturday’s encounter, Pivac continued: “We see it in sport all the time. I could rattle off upsets here – James ‘Buster’ Douglas and Mike Tyson. Every now and then, you get a massive upset, but we are not looking at it like that, we are focusing on the game we put out there.
“The guys I am talking to in camp the last few days, the opponent they would pick to play is New Zealand. It has been a difficult build-up, but challenges bring out the best of people and that hopefully will happen on the weekend.”
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones, who has also played in twelve Tests for the British and Irish Lions, wins his 149th Wales cap on Saturday to overtake former New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw’s total for one country. Pivac added: “The biggest thing I would say about Al is the sacrifice that he makes and the professionalism he brings to each training session.
“He is the ultimate professional. He is such a great role model for others in the group. It’s fantastic he is going to go one more than Richie McCaw, but typically for Al, it’s not about him, but the team coming together and having a great performance.”
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Not since August 2019 has Gareth Anscombe worn the Wales jersey #Wales #AutumnNationSeries #WALvNZR
https://t.co/Akk0ArtQMA— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 27, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
12 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 Go to comments“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.
25 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
5 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.
10 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments