Here are your rugby morning headlines for Monday, October 24.
Pivac surveys the wreckage
Wales coach Wayne Pivac is today surveying the damage done to his squad on a potentially hugely costly weekend.
Members of the autumn Wales squad will report for duty today, with many now carrying injuries and concerns just two weeks out from facing the All Blacks. Wales were already without the likes of Liam Williams and Dan Biggar, but have now seen a host of other frontline players suffer injuries.
George North and Dewi Lake became the latest major doubts on Sunday, while it's emerged Josh Adams is unlikely to be ready to face the All Blacks on November 5 and Alex Cuthbert is also a doubt.
North limped out of the derby match against the Dragons with a knee injury and Lake appeared to suffer a nasty shoulder bang that "doesn't look good," according to coach Toby Booth.
It followed the news on Friday night that Leigh Halfpenny had pulled out of the Scarlets team with a slight hamstring issue. Taulupe Faletau was also left out by Cardiff with a calf problem, and Gareth Anscombe has still not recovered from a rib injury.
Dragons boss hails overlooked Wales duo
Dragons coach Dai Flanagan has heaped praise on overlooked Wales duo Aaron Wainwright and Ross Moriarty after the pair helped the Gwent side to a dramatic derby victory over the Ospreys.
Read more: Wales handed fresh double injury blow as Dewi Lake and George North become new Pivac worries
Both back-rowers were to the fore during the 32-25 win at Rodney Parade, with Wainwright scoring the Dragons' first try. The colossal performances came just days after both were surprisingly left out of Wayne Pivac's Wales squad for the upcoming autumn campaign.
“We were all disappointed for Moriarty and Wainwright but there is no better place to stand up and be counted than in a derby and they were both superb in what they specialise in,” said Flanagan.
“Moriarty is physical and hits things while Wainwright is elusive and a strong ball carrier; we saw that against the Ospreys.
“Aaron was superb and has had to bide his time here because Sean Lonsdale has been really impressive with the lineout defence.
“Aaron is so explosive and when you have Jack Dixon, Steff Hughes, JJ Hanrahan at full-back, having him on their shoulder holds defenders.”
Wales star suffered from depression
Back row Sioned Harries says she suffered from depression during her three-year spell outside the Wales squad.
The 32-year-old has started all of Wales' games so far in New Zealand, as Wales prepare to face the hosts in the quarter-final. It's been a stark turnaround for the No. 8, who wasn't picked between 2019 and 2022 before current coach Ioan Cunningham offered her a recall.
"I went through a period of depression when I was dropped from the squad," Harries told the BBC.
"A lot of it was to do with just identity and a lack of support, more than anything."
Springbok sent home
Springbok winger Sbu Nkosi has reportedly been sent home early from the Bulls’ United Rugby Championship tour of Europe for breaking team protocols.
According to South African newspaper Rapport, Nkosi was told by director of rugby Jake White to return to Mzansi after the 16-cap wing missed a team meeting in Ireland.
The 26-year-old was reportedly late in rejoining the team, having had permission to visit a friend the day before. Nkosi was not selected for the Bulls' victory over Benetton on Friday, with White offering no explanation for his omission when naming the side.
It is understood Nkosi has since apologised for his actions.
Former All Black: 'If they lose against Scotland, I'm okay with that'
Ex-All Black Mils Muliaina says he would field the strongest possible team against Japan but not against Scotland during their autumn tour.
Muliaina was debating how the All Blacks should introduce new players to the side on Sky Sports NZ's The Breakdown when he said he would be unbothered by the All Blacks potentially losing to Scotland for the first time in history.
“This isn’t a Rugby World cup practice run,” Muiliaina stated. “What we’ve got to get out of it is, there’s two things; get momentum, which is what we want, we want to be winning games. But, also introduce guys.
“So when do we introduce guys? I don’t think it’s the first game against Japan, because of the layoff that the guys have had.
“I think it’s the Scottish test. I think you go in there (to Japan) and you say ‘well let’s put our best team available.’
“(Stephen) Perofeta probably gets in there because you know, Barrett’s out. It’s a great way to introduce someone into that.
“You lead into the Welsh test and you’re humming.
“Ok, the Scottish test you might want to say ‘well Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, do we bring him off the bench? Do we introduce another couple of other guys?’
“Because then there’s a short turnaround before… I think that England game has got to be the one that they win.
“Japan, let’s get a lead on after a five-week break, then you go into Wales and you’re really humming, maybe pull a few guys out and test a few guys against Scotland, if they lose in Scotland, mate, I’m ok with that.
Responding in disbelief, Former All Black Jeff Wilson interjected: “Stop it, you are not ok with us losing to Scotland!”
“I will be ok with that," replied Muliaina, "if they come away with the English test and they’re really humming, I think they’ll go into 2024 really confident.”
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