(Reuters) – Wales coach Wayne Pivac is hopeful of having a number of players back from injury to face New Zealand in Cardiff on Nov. 5 but will be without hooker Dewi Lake for the entire autumn international series.
Pivac named loose-forward Justin Tipuric as his captain in the absence of injured flyhalf Dan Biggar for the internationals next month, which also include clashes against Argentina, Georgia and Australia on successive Saturdays.
“He’s (Lake) out for the entire autumn series unfortunately. He’d done well in South Africa (in July) and we were looking to keep building,” Pivac told reporters on Tuesday. “He’s still a very young man with a massive future.”
But Pivac is hopeful of having a number of players back from injury to meet the All Blacks in the opening game, including influential number eight Taulupe Faletau.
“Him, Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Gareth Anscombe – those guys are all in rehab at the moment. They’re all improving. All of them, at this stage, are in consideration for the All Blacks and will be up and running by Monday.”
Pivac named Tipuric captain but at this stage is unsure where the loose-forward will fill in against the All Blacks.
“Justin can play in all three back row positions. We’ve got multiple options with the group we’ve got,” he said. “We’re already talking around the likely selection for New Zealand and Justin will be in the mix somewhere.
“He has the respect of all the players in the squad. He ticks a lot of boxes and we look at his communication with the referee.”
Tipuric missed all of last season after a shoulder injury sustained in the build-up to the British & Irish Lions series in South Africa.
“He’s done exceptionally well to work hard and get back to this level of the game once being cleared to play. I admire a player who can go through those dark times.
“He’s fortunate that he’s at a stage of his career where he understands these things can happen.”
(Reporting by Nick Said)
