SCOTT IN AS WALES TAKE ANOTHER HIT
WALES have called Scott Williams into their squad for the Autumn Nations Series after centre Willis Halaholo tested positive for Covid.
Halaholo is now isolating and it is another hammer blow for the Welsh ahead of Saturday’s Test match against the All Blacks in Cardiff.
Fly-halves Dan Biggar and Callum Sheedy, wing Louis Rees-Zammit, centre Nick Tompkins and back rows Taulupe Faletau and Thomas Young are among those unavailable because they play in England and the game is outside World Rugby’s international window.
And they have been hammered with injuries to Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric, George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Lydiate.
Williams, 31, won the last of his 58 caps before the 2019 World Cup and will be part of a new-look Wales midfield with Gareth Anscombe and Rhys Priestland vying for the No.10 shirt.
Anscombe, born in Auckland, has not been capped since suffering an horrific knee injury against England in 2019.
The fly-half, 30, played his first game for the Ospreys last month.
And skipper Alun Wyn Jones says Anscombe is revved up for another bash at international rugby after his gruesome injury.
Jones said: “When someone comes back from adversity and you can see their energy growing , their confidence growing, they have a smile back on their face – that is really important to a squad.
“To see the fight and bite he has, holding people to account in training is when you know someone has their foot back in the door and is ready to have a crack.
“Gareth would probably say he has been through a few dark periods, coming close to a return and having a setback here and there.
“Coming back in, he still has the fight and desire and if anything it is probably more so because he has had that time out of the team.”
Wales’ new faces are up against it, facing a Kiwi side who have been together for months.
Jones, 36, said: “They know more players are going to come into the squad so it is an opportunity to put their hands up – and there is no bigger game.”