‘A Test match against the All Blacks... who would turn that down?’
WALES’S clash with New Zealand this autumn has polarised opinion.
Because it is outside World Rugby’s designated window, Wayne Pivac is without three frontline talents in Dan Biggar, Taulupe Faletau and Louis Rees-zammit as they all play at English clubs. No. 2 fly-half Callum Sheedy is also unavailable.
Throw into the mix injuries to star names like George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi, and further doubts over Liam Williams and Ellis Jenkins, and many are wondering if there is any point.
Wales have not tamed the All Blacks since 1953 and now they’re being asked to do it with half a side.
Does it devalue the fixture? Some think so. One national newspaper went as far as calling the game a ‘sham’.
Then there are those who point to the fact that it will bring an estimated £4 million in for the Welsh Rugby Union, which is vital revenue after recent events.
So is it all about the money? Everyone seems to have a view, but do the players care?
“A Test match. You get to play another Test match in a year – how can that be a negative?” said Wales tight-head Tomas Francis.
“It’s another opportunity to represent your country, put on the shirt and give your all. That’s what we play the game for.
“Everyone can say it’s outside the window or whatever, but it’s a chance to play the All Blacks in a packed stadium – you wouldn’t turn that down, would you?
“It’s a great opportunity and what you play the game for. The fact we get to play four Test matches instead of three is great.”
Regardless of whether you see value in the fixture, the popular view is that Wales, with all their absentees, are heading into the match as underdogs. But that is nothing new for this group of players.
Throughout their generation they have regularly been written off, and you needn’t look any further back than the 2021 Six Nations to find an example of them proving popular opinion wrong.
That being said, the size of the challenge ahead of them should not be underestimated.
“We’re comfortable as a nation as we’ve always had that,” said Francis of the underdogs tag. “It’s not something we want, we’re happy to be the favourites as well as a team too.
“It doesn’t affect us what people say in the public, it’s the belief we’ve got in the squad. We’ve had a lot of time since Wayne has come in, the squad has developed, and it’s a great opportunity to go and show that.
“It’s going to be a tough game, it always is against them, but you want to be involved in these tough games, especially with an eye on the World Cup. They’re games we need to play to develop our game to see where we are.
He added: “It’s not what drives us, proving people wrong. What drives us is proving our potential and showing our identity of what we’re trying to be on the pitch. That’s all we can strive for as a group.
“It’s a tight group and whoever takes the pitch will have the backing of the other boys, and the opportunity to represent the shirt and brand as well as we can.”
Up until this summer, Francis himself was consistently unavailable for the out-of-window Test match every autumn as he plied his trade at Exeter Chiefs.
This summer, though, he signed for the Ospreys in order to prolong his international career.
Francis reached the end of his contract with 57 caps to his name, three short of the 60 threshold that players require if they are to sign a new deal outside of Wales and still be eligible to play for their country.
Now that he is available for the ‘fourth’ autumn Test, does it frustrate him that Wales cannot name their strongest side?
“I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating. Those are the rules and we knew
them from the start. It’s exciting for the boys who will get to wear the jersey.
“Some of the boys that usually start might not be there, but what it gives us is an opportunity –playing against the All Blacks is a great game to be involved in.
“If you play in England you sacrifice at least one game in the autumn. That’s a choice you make. For people who play in Wales that’s the carrot, a game to be involved in that you wouldn’t be otherwise.
“It’s frustrating maybe training numbers-wise in the week, and for a non-23, but for the boys who take the field it’s a great opportunity.”
And does he think more will soon follow him in joining a Welsh region?
“It’s for every individual to see what suits them as a player, their families and at their point in their career,” he said. For me it was a good time to move back. The wife is from Cardiff so she was happy to come back, and it meant I got more time in camp, time to develop here, and a change in scenery to develop on that side.
“For me it was a no-brainer. Everyone’s got a different opinion, some boys with 60 caps might come back, others might not.
“Some might have a few caps and it might not make sense to them, but if you haven’t got 60 caps and your contract is up it’s in your hands to make that decision.”
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