Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby evening headlines for Friday, October 29.
Hardy: Wales ready for All Blacks test
Kieran Hardy says Wales are prepared for the threat of New Zealand as Wayne Pivac's side attempt to end 69 years of hurt next weekend.
Wales haven't beaten the All Blacks since 1953, a losing streak that now sits at 32 games. Despite a shaky start to this summer, New Zealand are still well-placed to extend that winning run for at least another year when the two sides meet in Cardiff next week.
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The scrum-half says that talk of making history hasn't been mentioned too much in camp. However, having had a first Test win over the Springboks on South African soil this summer, another piece of history wouldn't go amiss for Wales.
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"It would be great to be a part of that," said Hardy. "We made a bit of history in the summer, winning in South Africa for the first time.
"Nothing really changes for us. We are here to build week on week, get the performances and the results we are after."
The challenges posed by the All Blacks will differ to those offered up by South Africa, but Hardy believes Wales are prepared for what Ian Foster's side will throw at them.
"The way they play the game is completely different. You have to expect anything from them. They're not afraid to take risks and play a bit more of an expansive game than the Boks maybe did in the summer. We'll be prepared for that and we've got to be switched on at all times."
Having reached a world ranking nadir with six defeats in eight matches earlier this year, New Zealand appeared to turn something of a corner with three straight victories. That could be four by the time they arrive in Wales as they face Japan this Saturday.
And scrum-half Hardy, who has yet to face the All Blacks in his Test career, is expecting the resurgent New Zealand who finished the Rugby Championship, rather than the struggling side that began the campaign.
"I think they looked a bit more like themselves towards the end of the Rugby Championship and the way they wanted to play the game," said Hardy. "It's always a test playing against the best team in the world.
"It'll be a big challenge for us. We've had a good week's prep and hopefully we can do the same next week."
Dyer backed to wow Wales
Angus O’Brien has backed his Dragons teammate Rio Dyer to shine on the international stage after the winger's recent call-up to Wayne Pivac's Wales squad.
O'Brien, who's set to start at full-back against the URC's bottom side Zebre on Saturday, first took notice of the flying winger when the then teenager was still in the Dragons academy.
Pivac clearly sees plenty of potential in the 22-year-old, who once again caught the eye with two tries against the Ospreys last weekend.
“Rio is reaping his just rewards, scoring some great tries and rightfully earning himself a Wales call up,” O’Brien said.
“I’ve been really impressed with him since coming back. He was in the academy when I was first here, but he has come a long way and he has worked hard.
“He’s so exciting on the ball, I definitely think he will thrive in that Welsh shirt.”
Ireland chief drops Lions hint over Farrell
Ireland's performance director David Nucifora says he'd be 'ecstatic' if Andy Farrell was chosen to lead the British and Irish Lions.
Farrell has extended his contract with the IRFU until 2025, meaning he would potentially be available to lead the Lions into the tour of Australia that year.
His extension was announced shortly after the historic Test series win over the All Blacks, and there is clearly plenty of excitement over what could be achieved over the coming years.
And were Farrell to get the nod to lead the sport's most famous touring team, Nucifora is in no doubt that it would be hugely beneficial to the Irish game.
"We've done it in such a way to have another couple of years of continuity," Nucifora told reporters during a recent Q and A when asked about Farrell's contract length.
"It does tie in with a Lions year and we'd be ecstatic if Andy was the Lions coach, we think that that would be fantastic. If he gets offered that job and chooses to take it, we'd be fully supportive of him because for us that's part of the growth of the game here."
Peel hoping for Tuipulotu boost
Scarlets boss Dwayne Peel says he is hoping Carwyn Tuipulotu will be fit for their upcoming South African double-header next month.
After taking on the Stormers on November 25, the Lions then await Peel's side on December 4.
Tuipulotu is yet to make an appearance this season, but is seemingly closing in on a return to full first team action.
"He's trained this week," Peel said, ahead of Friday's home clash with Leinster. "I'm hoping he'll be back available for our South Africa trip. Whether he plays a club game or two before that, ideally that's what would happen.
"He's not far away, it'd be good to get him back. He's a player who at the end of last year really stepped up for us, he's a big ball carrier, big man. He's one we've missed, definitely."
England to wear names on shirts this autumn
England will have names on their shirts during the upcoming Autumn Nations Series fixtures.
Stars Ellis Genge, Jack Nowell and Marcus Smith all posed with their new shirts at a recent training camp in Jersey, where England are preparing for the upcoming quartet of games.
They begin their campaign against Argentina on November 5, before then taking on Japan on November 12, followed by New Zealand and South Africa over the next two weekends.
Bill Sweeney, RFU Chief Executive Officer said: “We hope this will lead the way for us to consider names on shirts to further promote our world class England international players participating in other international tournaments across the men’s and women’s game."
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