PIVAC’S WARNING TO HIS PROP STARS
WAYNE Pivac says Grand Slam props Wyn Jones and Tomos Francis have work to do as he reflects on Wales’ scrummaging problems.
Pivac’s team conceded a succession of penalties at the scrum during last Saturday’s 23-18 defeat to South Africa at the Principality Stadium.
The Kiwi coach has stuck with the same front five for Sunday’s showdown with Fiji, which means Scarlets loosehead Jones is once against restricted to a bench berth.
Cardiff’s Rhys Carre retains the No.1 jersey, packing down alongside Scarlets No.2 Ryan Elias and Ospreys star Francis in the front row.
Asked about Wales’ struggles in the tight against the Springboks, Pivac said: “South Africa are an exceptional scrummaging team.
“They have had good success against the other top nations in the Rugby Championship. But also there’s work to be done on our side. I think we’ve come in undercooked.
“Wyn Jones, coming back from the Lions, knows he has got a bit of work to do to get to the full fitness levels required to play at Test level.
“And you could argue that Tomas Francis has, by his own admission, got some work to do as well.
“With losing Ken Owens in the middle of that, the scrum has been weakened.
“But it’s certainly something that the boys worked hard on this morning and they will be working hard on it for the rest of the week.”
plus two positional switches, for Sunday’s clash.
There’s a first cap in four years for Alex Cuthbert who starts on the right wing and a return after 21 months for flanker Thomas Young, while Josh Adams moves into the centre from the wing.
Scrum-half Kieran Hardy gets his first opportunity of the autumn campaign as he wears No 9, while Liam Williams comes into the side at full-back and Johnny Williams returns at inside centre.
The other positional change from the 23-18 defeat to South Africa sees the versatile Taine Basham step across from the flank to No 8 to replace injured Aaron Wainwright.