Evans in Kiwi fitness race
FLY-HALF Jarrod Evans is a doubt for the Autumn Internationals after damaging his sternum in Cardiff’s win over Connacht last weekend.
He faces a faces a minimum absence of four weeks. Wales’ first match of the series is against New Zealand on October 30.
Wales coach Wayne Pivac is without Dan Biggar and Callum Sheedy to take on the All Blacks as the pair will not be released by their English clubs for the match which is outside World Rugby’s international window.
Scarlets’ Rhys Patchell has not played since October 2020 and is currently sidelined by a calf problem.
Evans came on for Rhys Priestland before picking up his problem in an aerial challenge.
Priestland and Dragons No.10 Sam Davies will likely be in contention for the All Blacks game, along with Gareth Anscombe, below, who played his first competitive game since August 2019 for Ospreys against Dragons on Sunday after recovering from a serious knee injury.
Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young said: “We know Jarrod is not going to be available for a number of weeks. It was a sternum injury which looked really nasty and he was in a lot of pain leaving the ground and went straight to hospital. “He has had scans. There is nothing broken there and no damage to any major organs which is always a concern when somebody has a nasty chest injury.
“So it is just bruising which will take time to settle. He is still in a bit of pain, but no lasting damage. You don’t want your best players to be out for any length of time, but at least it’s nothing too serious.”
Meanwhile, Anscombe impressed in his 70-minute display for Ospreys, scoring 12 points and creating the important third try for Luke Morgan to help claim a 27-23 win away at Rodney Parade.