These are some of the stories making the rugby headlines on Sunday, October 23.
Pivac raving about Costelow talent
Wales coach Wayne Pivac can't wait to unleash rookie fly-half Sam Costelow for Wales this autumn.
The Scarlets youngster is one of a number of uncapped players Pivac has chosen in his squad for the November games against New Zealand, Argentina, Georgia and Australia.
Costelow has leapfrogged Callum Sheedy, Rhys Patchell, Jarrod Evans and Sam Davies in the pecking order after being named as one of Pivac's three fly-halves in the squad. The others are Gareth Anscombe and veteran Rhys Priestland.
With Anscombe still fighting his way back from injury, there is even a chance Costelow could play in the opener with New Zealand and look to take his stellar form with the Scarlets onto the international stage.
Pivac says the fact that the 21-year-old can play No.10 and full-back with equal aplomb is a huge plus in his selection.
“He listens, he learns, and I think the ceiling for him is quite high. Those are the things we look at," Pivac said of Costelow.
“He’s not the complete package. For the Scarlets he has big moments in games, and then there’s some average moments. That’s what young players give you.
“He has a big future in the game, so we are giving him that opportunity.
"Let’s not go and say he’s the next 10 who is going to play 100 Test matches. What we are saying is defensively he is fantastic. We’ve got a number of 10s who are sitting in the bunch there, and we want two to accelerate and to have three ready to go for this World Cup and 2027.”
Pivac continued: “We’ve got other players as well. I spoke to a couple of them in Rhys Patchell and Callum Sheedy who we have used in the last few campaigns.
“Patch has had his injury problems. He came to South Africa and trained really well. So he came through that part of it well, which is really intense, with hardly any rugby. Unfortunately, he hasn’t had a run of games and any 10 will tell you put me in the saddle and let me go for it. Continuity is a big thing.
“Young Callum Sheedy is one where the 60-cap rule is hurting him at the moment because he’s still a very young player with a lot to give, but with the full-back issue we’ve got, having to have someone on the bench who can cover full-back and 10, that rules Callum out."
Priestland puts down his own NZ marker to Pivac
Veteran fly-half Rhys Priestland put down his own marker to Wayne Pivac to start the upcoming clash with New Zealand.
With Dan Biggar ruled out and continued doubts over Gareth Anscombe, who is nursing a rib injury, it could be a straight shootout between Priestland and Sam Costelow for the No.10 jersey in the autumn's glamour game.
Priestland was the star of the show as Cardiff stunned URC defending champions Stormers 30-24 at the Arms Park on Saturday night.
The 35-year-old kicked 20 points and set up tries for Theo Cabango and Jason Harries with clever kicks as Cardiff edged to victory.
The score was 24-24 heading into the final quarter, but Priestland won the day with two more penalties, taking his total to the game to six, to get Cardiff over the line.
Moriarty with point to prove
Ross Moriarty today gets an early opportunity to make a point to Wayne Pivac after his shock Wales omission.
The Lions back-rower was a notable absentee when Pivac named his squad for the four upcoming autumn Tests.
And according to Dragons forwards coach Mefin Davies, Moriarty is one of a number of players out to make his mark in the Welsh derby showdown with the Ospreys at Rodney Parade.
Hookers Bradley Roberts and Elliot Dee were also overlooked by Wales and Davies has backed them to keep performing and be ready if a Wales opportunity should arise in the coming weeks.
"That's also the great thing about these derbies so soon after Wales selection. There are those players who are on a high and those who are out to prove a point," said Davies.
He says Moriarty has been in prime form, "performing well over a run of games."
Of the hookers, Davies continued: "We would have hoped one, if not each of them, would have got in the squad because they are fighting for a position and playing well. The important thing is that they are game-ready for any opportunity that may still come."
Roberts starts against the Ospreys with Dee ready to come on from the bench.
Justin Tipuric will ease his way back for the Ospreys after he was named on the bench for the clash, having returned after a troublesome rib injury.
Named in Wales’ squad for the autumn Tests, Tipuric needs rugby.
Dragons: Jordan Williams; Rio Dyer, Steff Hughes, Jack Dixon, Jared Rosser; JJ Hanrahan, Gonzalo Bertranou; Rhodri Jones, Bradley Roberts, Lloyd Fairbrother, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands (capt), Aaron Wainwright, Harrison Keddie, Ross Moriarty.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Aki Seiuli, Chris Coleman, Joe Davies, Sean Lonsdale, Rhodri Williams, Sam Davies, Max Clark.
Ospreys : Max Nagy; George North, Owen Watkin, Michael Collins, Luke Morgan; Jack Walsh, Rhys Webb (capt); Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Ethan Roots, Jac Morgan, Morgan Morris.
Replacements : Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Tom Botha, Rhys Davies, Dan Lydiate, Justin Tipuric, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Joe Hawkins.
Farrell England autumn worry
England kingpin Owen Farrell has become a major autumn injury doubt after going off injured during Saracens' 22-20 Gallagher Premiership win over Exeter at Sandy Park.
Farrell took a knee to his head, leaving England boss Eddie Jones with an anxious wait over his star man ahead of the November campaign opener with Argentina on November 6. England also meet Japan, New Zealand and world champions South Africa on back-to-back weekends.
Saracens rugby director Mark McCall said of Farrell: “He is with the doctors. But obviously, he went off for an HIA (head injury assessment) and normal procedure is a 12-day stand down, but hopefully it will allow him enough time to play in the first Tests.”
England meet up on Monday when they head to Jersey for an autumn training camp, but Farrell is a major doubt to make the trip.
“I guess it will depend if he is feeling okay. I am sure Eddie would be keen to get him there," said McCall.”
Luke Cowan-Dickie and Courtney Lawes are also England doubts because of injury.
Wales Women to face New Zealand
Wales Women have progressed to the quarter-final stage of the World Cup where they come up against New Zealand once again.
A win over Scotland and a losing bonus point in the defeat to Australia was enough to see Ioan Cunningham' charges progress to the last eight.
But it will be a daunting task facing them, having already been humbled by the Black Ferns 12-56 earlier in the tournament.
England's statement 75-0 win over South Africa booked Wales' place in the knockouts, which their match against the Kiwis taking place next Saturday.
Quarter-final draw: New Zealand (1) v Wales (8), France (4) v Italy (5), Canada (2) v USA (7), England (3) v Australia (6).
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