Here are your rugby evening headlines for Friday, 18 November
Tipuric and Lewis miss Wales' captain's run
Wales captain Justin Tipuric and prop Dillon Lewis were both absent from the captain's run ahead of the autumn clash with Georgia.
Just like Louis Rees-Zammit last week, neither player was present at the Principality Stadium for the final team training session before matchday. However, like Rees-Zammit ahead of the clash with Argentina, it's understood Wales are expecting both to be fit with the measure described as precautionary.
Exeter Chiefs back-row Christ Tshiunza, who had not been named in the matchday 23, took part in training in place of Tipuric.
Earlier in the week, Tipuric had admitted he's not been the most vocal leader this autumn, but has instead tried to let his actions on the pitch do the talking as skipper. He took over the job after Dan Biggar was ruled out of the autumn campaign.
“It’s going ok," he said. "There is a lot of help around here.
"That’s the main thing, there is so much help and experience in this team, it makes life a lot easier. There are a lot of boys there to make sure we get over the line.
“I am quite quiet (before games). When you need to say the right thing, you try and say it. Most of the time it’s trying to lead by example I guess and trying to do things right in that way for the team."
Wales prop balancing baby and Wales duty
Wales prop Gareth Thomas has spoken about balancing being a new dad with being on Wales duty.
The Ospreys loose-head welcomed a new baby into the family last week, days before starting in the win over Argentina.
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The 29-year-old admitted it's been a busy week, but, with Georgia coming to Cardiff this weekend, he insists he's managed to avoid the sleepless nights that often come with parenting.
"Very busy the last week or so," said Thomas. "It's been a hell of a journey but an enjoyable one.
"It's really exciting. My wife has been doing all the night shifts so I've had enough sleep for Saturday.
"It was a bit of a strange week. A week I've never experienced in my life. Up all night on the Tuesday, baby comes on Wednesday morning and back in training on the Thursday morning like nothing happened.
"It was a good week and to beat Argentina on that week topped it off nicely.
"I've been going back and forth. To be fair to my wife and her parents, they've been staying in the house with the baby and I've been lucky to have that sleep."
Carter expecting 'extra edge' between England and All Blacks
Former All Black fly-half Dan Carter is expecting there to be "extra edge" as New Zealand face England for the first time since that World Cup semi-final defeat in 2019.
Eddie Jones' side dismantled the All Blacks that day, but are heading to Twickenham on the back of a six-game winning streak - having put a tricky start to 2022 behind them.
And Carter believes the game could live up to the hype, with New Zealand out for revenge.
“It’s been too long between games and that’s why I think this game is going to be an absolute cracker. That scarcity brings extra excitement,” Carter told the PA news agency.
“There’s also the extra excitement after what happened in 2019 when England completely outplayed the All Blacks. That hurt and will have hurt a lot of the players who are involved that day.
“When you have a defeat like that, the one thing you want to do is play against that opposition again, but we haven’t been able to do that for so long.
“Knowing some of the players who were involved in that game, there will be some some personal motivation going on there.
“There are players who have been a part of successful World Cups for New Zealand in 2011 and 2015, so being part of a losing World Cup team really does hurt. They will have have an extra edge for this game.”
England international heads to Japan
Former Wasps captain Joe Launchbury is to join Toyota Verblitz for the upcoming Japan League One season.
The 31-year-old lock, who won 70 caps for England, spent over a decade with Wasps before the club went into administration last month.
He is reportedly set to join Harlequins next summer but has agreed a short term deal with Toyota from December to May.
Having played in Japan at the 2019 World Cup, Launchbury said: "To have the chance to sign for a great club like Toyota is something I am very excited about."
"My family and I are looking forward to experiencing Japan again and I am personally looking forward to testing myself in the league and helping Toyota Verblitz have a good year."
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