Could this Wales XV finally crack the Kiwis?
WALES have been searching for a win over New Zealand for so long that just months before they last banked one, someone would have turned to his mates, and said: “From what I could see from those flickering black-andwhite pictures from the box in the corner of my great aunt’s living room, Stanley Matthews had one hell of game in the FA Cup final.
“But I’m not sure this TV thing will catch on.”
It is approaching 68 years since Clem Thomas’ famous diagonal kick allowed Ken Jones to score the decisive try at Cardiff Arms Park.
Since that December day in 1953 New Zealand have piled up 31 consecutive wins in the fixture.
But there’s set to be an opportunity for Wayne Pivac to end the run of misery with negotiations being finalised for Wales to face the All Blacks in a
Test at the Principality Stadium on October 30. It is hoped the match will take place in front of fans.
If they are to create history, though, Wales will have to do it the hard way, minus their England-based contingent. Taulupe Faletau, Dan Biggar, Louis Rees-Zammit and Callum Sheedy are all set to be absent as the game is poised to be played outside the autumn international window.
The quartet all featured in the recent Six Nations title-winning campaign but, playing for Gallagher Premiership
clubs, will be unavailable for the eve-of-Halloween Test date against the Kiwis.
It’s a statement of the obvious to say it’ll be difficult to replace Faletau, who’s been playing some of his best rugby and made the short list for the Six Nations player-of-the-tournament award. Aaron Wainwright would appear to be next cab off the rank at No.8, having shadowed Faletau during the Six Nations and enjoyed a fine campaign at regional level with the Dragons.
Others who could come into contention include Ross Moriarty and Ellis Jenkins, potentially with Josh Navidi switching to the middle-ofthe-back-row slot to accommodate either player.
It’s hard to imagine a like-for-like wing replacement is going to be found for Rees-Zammit, with the youngster having electrified the recent Six Nations with his pace and skill, but Pivac does have a potential tried-andtested option.
Leigh Halfpenny, after all, could come in at full-back with Liam Williams moving out wide.
Wales would miss Rees-Zammit’s finishing skill, but Halfpenny has been Scarlet capped 99 times in all Tests and is still regarded as one of the finest readers of play in the world: there are worse players who could fill the void, for sure.
Fly-half could be more of a problem.
Dan Biggar started every game for Wales in the recent Six Nations and Callum Sheedy featured off the bench in each round. Having to do without both would leave the selectors with much thinking to do.
Despite being part of the Six Nations squad, Jarrod Evans didn’t feature once in the campaign and hasn’t played a Test since an outing off the bench against France 14 months ago.
Gareth Anscombe? He could provide an answer if his return goes well from the knee injury that’s kept him
off limits since August 2019. The most recent fitness update from the Ospreys suggested the talented 29-year-old could feature in the Rainbow Cup.
Pivac will hope that proves the case, but much will depend on how smoothly he moves up the gears.
There is another alternative available in the shape of Rhys Priestland, who will be back in Welsh rugby with Cardiff Blues by then.
He may be 34, but he’s been a class act for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership this season, while an early-season burst of form from Sam Davies wouldn’t exactly displease Pivac.
So, the head coach does have potential replacements who could plug the gaps, but let no-one pretend it’s an ideal situation.
The match will attract huge interest at the start of a blockbusting autumn schedule that could see Wales also play with South Africa and Australia and possibly Argentina, according to reports.