SIX NATIONS winners Wales are looking to end a 68-years Blackout against a New Zealand side they haven’t beaten since the year the Queen was coronated.
The All Blacks visit Cardiff after winning the Rugby Championship in what should be an intriguing clash between the Northern and Southern Hemisphere champions – but Wayne Pivac is facing a selection crisis before the match.
It also marks the Wales head coach first match against his home country since taking the job two years ago.
A match against the All Blacks is a tough test at the best of times, but this time around Pivac is missing an incredible 20 players.
As the fixture is taking place outside the World Rugby international window, players based in England have been released to play for their clubs, who have a full round of fixtures today.
That means the likes of Dan Biggar, Louis Rees-Zammit and Taulupe Faletau head a long injury list.
Wales have not beaten New Zealand since 1953, but captain Alun Wyn Joes said the fixture’s one-sided head-to-head stats are not playing on the Dragons’ players’ minds.
“The hoodoo and the record has got to go at some point, but we need a performance.
“Dare I say it, who is the pressure on? Is it us, is it New Zealand? It is going to go sooner or later. We just need to focus on the rugby.
“All that has gone before us is always there, you can’t change that, but it is an opportunity to create history.
“It is not going to be easy and they probably want to continue their history on that side.
“What they have achieved and the individuals who have worn that jersey, you are up against not just a team, but a backlog of quality and players and games – and that is what is coming on Saturday.”
What time does Wales vs New Zealand rugby kick off?
- Wales vs New Zealand takes place on Saturday, October 30 – TODAY.
- The match kicks off at 5.15pm UK time – 5.15am in New Zealand.
- It takes place at the Principality Stadium.
Is Wales vs New Zealand rugby on TV and can I live stream it?
- Wales vs New Zealand is not on TV in the UK.
- However, it is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
- Amazon Prime Video is available for £7.99/month.
Can I watch Wales vs New Zealand rugby for free?
- Yes. First-time subscribers can get a one-month FREE trial of Amazon Prime video.
- Your subscription will then revert to the regular £7.99/month if not cancelled.
Team news
Wales are facing an availability crisis with seven of their English-based players unable to play as the fixture sits outside the official international test window.
That means the likes of star winger Louis Rees-Zammit and Dan Biggar are out.
And with Willis Halaholo out because of Covid, it leaves Wayne Pivac with plenty to be concerned about.
Liam Williams is another major absentee after he had an appendix operation earlier this month.
Gareth Anscombe is back at outside half, two years after a he ruptured knee ligaments.
Alun Wyn Jones is in line for his 149th Wales cap, which will break Richie McCaw’s world record of 148, but if you factor in his 12 Lions test caps, he has long since beaten the mark.
The Wales team to face @AllBlacks this Saturday has been named
— Welsh Rugby Union
FULL STORY
https://t.co/zD2oXgWcMH pic.twitter.com/80ETuMHTND
(@WelshRugbyUnion) October 28, 2021
Beauden Barrett set to become our 11th centurion
— All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 28, 2021
pic.twitter.com/9nZ2CCQYpj
Which players are injured or unavailable for Wales?
Here are most of the players unavailable for Wayne Pivac this weekend.
- Taulupe Faletau – unavailable
- Dan Biggar – unavailable
- Liam Williams – injury
- Louis Rees-Zammit – unavailable
- George North – injury
- Leigh Halfpenny – injury
- Ken Owens – injury
- Josh Navidi – injury
- Nick Tomkins – unavailable
- Elliot Dee – injury
- Jarrod Evans – injury
- Ioan Lloyd – unavailable
- Callum Sheedy – unavailable
- Owen Williams – unavailable and injury
- Dan Lydiate – injury
- James Botham – injury
- James Davies – injury
- Ross Moriarty – injury
- Willis Halaholo – Covid
Latest odds
- Wales 13/1
- Draw 90/1
- New Zealand 1/25
*Odds from Betfair correct as of Friday, October 29
