‘I’m going to feel very Welsh. building up to, and looking

WAYNE Pivac is ready send his side into battle against New Zealand at the Principality Stadium tomorrow.

Already stripped of a number of key players, the Wales coach received a further blow when hooker Ken Owens was ruled out just minutes after being named in the starting XV.

Here’s everything the Wales head coach had to say...

Is it a big blow to lose Ken so late?

“IT’S a big blow to lose any player that you’ve initially selected. We’ve selected a certain side and trained a certain way.

“It’s a disruption but it’s a massive chance for Ryan. It’s something he’s going to relish and look forward to.”

What’s the latest with Ken’s injury?

“HE’S got a back problem. We rested him from training Tuesday. We asked him to do a couple of things this morning.

“We checked him again just after lunch and the decision was made that he won’t be right and we won’t risk him. There’s a lot of rugby ahead and it’s only the start of the season.

“Because it’s a back, we’ll get a scan on that to know exactly what is going on and we’ll get him the best treatment possible for that to get him back as quickly as possible.”

16 players unavailable - does that make selection harder or easier?

“WHEN players aren’t available, it makes it easier in some sense as you can’t waste time worrying about it. It’s about what are the combinations to get the job done with the players we have available.

“It’s been a tricky time though. It’s been nine or 10 days together with this group. We’ve pitched it as two weeks focusing on one game of rugby.

“We’ll have reinforcements coming to the squad next week but right now, the 32 players in the squad are all focused on New Zealand.”

Is Gareth Anscombe ready for Test rugby after so long out?

“IN terms of Gareth and Rhys (Priestland), the two 10s we have, we think Gareth starting and Rhys finishing is the way we want to go for this match.

“Clearly Gareth has been out of the game for a long time. They’re both training well. They’re both very keen in being involved in what is a very special occasion.

“They’re both very excited. We just think Gareth coming back from an injury, the full-match warm-up and then straight into the match starting is the best way to do it.”

What’s the latest on Ellis Jenkins?

“ELLIS unfortunately took a bump in the ribs for Cardiff before camp. He’s been training but doing no contact.

“He’s just doing contact for the first time today. That’s ruled him out of selection.”

Another landmark for Alun Wyn Jones - are you planning anything special?

“WHAT do we say about him? Last season, we kept saying a lot about him because he keeps achieving milestones.

“The biggest thing I’d say with Al is the sacrifice that he makes and the professionalism he brings to each training session. Then the recovery protocols he goes through.

“He’s the ultimate professional. He’s such a great role model for others in the group. It’s fantastic he’s going to go one more than Richie McCaw - 149 caps.

“But typically for Al, it’s not about him but the team coming together and having a great performance which we will need to be competitive against a very strong New Zealand side.”

A big test for Taine Basham. Is he ready for such a huge match?

“IT’S a good question and in some positions, we going to find that out during this fixture and after the fixture.

“Seven is an area where we’ve been hit hard with injuries. Taine has been in and around our squad for a while so he’s obviously a player we rate highly.

“He’s a player who is only 21 years of age but he’s got a lot of strengths to his game. Those strengths will be put to the test this weekend. This is going to be a game that will hopefully be a big stepping stone in his career.”

1953 was the last win over the All Blacks, so Wales are firm underdogs. Is that good or bad?

“FROM our point of view, history is history. This group is together for the first time, this coaching group.

“For two years, we’ve been down to play New Zealand but haven’t been able to do so. So there’s a feeling of excitement and ‘let us loose’. 75,000 people, we haven’t done that for a long time.

“So whoever we put on the park, they’re always going to come to the match full of excitement. What we have to do is control that and play with discipline over the 80 minutes.”

How do you feel about being written off?

“WE see it in sport all the time. I could rattle off upsets here. James ‘Buster’ Douglas and Mike Tyson.

“Every now and then, you get a massive upset. We’re not looking at it like that.

“We’re focusing on the game we put out there. We’re going to enjoy the occasion because it’s every Welsh boys’ dream to play against New Zealand in front of 75,000.

“The guys I’m talking to in camp the last few days, the opponent they’d pick to play is New Zealand. It’s a great fixture for our guys and everyone is looking forward to it.

“It’s been a difficult build-up but challenges bring out the best of people and hopefully that will happen on the weekend.”

Is this a proud moment for you coaching Wales against New Zealand?

“I’M going to feel very Welsh this weekend. I can’t get into New Zealand, I can’t get back into that country.

“As far as I’m concerned, I’ve been here seven years building up to and looking forward to playing New Zealand one day. We were due to go there and play them last year.

“So it’s one of excitement because I look at it like our players do. You want to test yourself against the best in the world and I’m no different from the players on that front.”