By David Williams
Wales are looking for a new captain after an injured Dan Biggar was left out of the squad on Tuesday for the autumn rugby Tests.
Biggar is in a knee brace after limping off during a game for his Northampton club on October 9. The club said he will be out for weeks.
The fly-half was handed the captaincy this year for the Six Nations when Alun Wyn Jones remained injured, and Biggar continued on the July tour of South Africa.
There’s no shortage of candidates, especially with the return from injury of British and Irish Lions players Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny.
Jones is in the squad but Pivac prefers a guaranteed starter, and the leading candidates are Adam Beard, the vice captain to Biggar, Owens and Tipuric.
Pivac said: “There are a few candidates. For different reasons, we could go in a few different ways.
“We just want to see who comes through club rugby this week and then we’ll name it internally.
“There’ll be a captain for the series, but four Test matches is a big ask these days for anyone to start in all four. So there might be more than one but we’ll have a captain and vice-captain.
“We hadn’t planned on changing the captain. We’ll expect Dan to be playing by the end (of November), but that’s Australia (on Nov. 26) so that rules him out.”
Pivac will decide after this weekend’s round of club rugby.
“There’ll be a captain for the series, but there might be more than one as few players play four tests,” Pivac added.
Wales starts at home with New Zealand on Nov. 5, followed on successive Saturdays by Argentina, Georgia, and the Wallabies.
“For us it’s about finalising the squad today and then we’ll look closely at who’s going to lead the side,’ said Pivac.
‘We have quite a few options with a lot of experience in the squad now. There is probably an opportunity for more than one captain in this series.’
Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer, Dane Blacker, Sam Costelow and Josh Macleod are the five uncapped players who have been included.
Pivac said: “It’s great to have Ken, Justin and Leigh back after long-term injuries.
“They are three great players who have served Wales very well. They are all Lions so quality players.
“We’re excited to have them in the squad for obvious reasons. We have a number of young players in this squad so it will be great for them to rub shoulders with these experienced ones.
“There are a lot of young players we’ve been keeping an eye on for a number of years through the age group system. There is a view of the here and now in this squad but also beyond Rugby World Cup 2023 to the tournament in 2027.
“There are some young guys getting the opportunity to taste the camp environment. They may or may not get game time, but it will be a great experience for them.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac says Rhys Carre needs to work on his conditioning after the Cardiff prop was omitted from the autumn international squad 🏉#BBCRugby
— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) October 18, 2022
“Dane has been playing well at nine for the Scarlets. We know a lot about Gareth Davies. It’s not the end of the road for Gareth, I’ve spoken to him. Sam is another young player at the Scarlets playing well and having come through the age grade system.
“Joe is the same. He captained the Under-20’s so he’s a player for the future. Rio came into camp ahead of the South Africa series to help the squad prepare and performed well. He’s currently playing really well for the Dragons.
“Josh is an interesting one. He’s been selected in a couple of camps before.
“Unfortunately he was injured before coming in playing for the Scarlets.
“Then we actually named him to play in a Six Nations game against Scotland and he ruptured his Achilles in training which was devastating for him.
🏴 WALES | Congratulations to the 4️⃣ Dragons 🐉 selected by @welshrugbyunion for their upcoming Autumn internationals! 🙌
Well done Rhodri Jones, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands & the uncapped Rio Dyer! 👏👏👏#WeAreGwentRugby pic.twitter.com/DvTzy1Xelg
— Dragons RFC (@dragonsrugby) October 18, 2022
“He’s a guy who has been on our radar for some time.”
Wales will play Test matches on four consecutive Saturdays this November and Pivac is relishing the opportunity.
He added: “To have a stadium full of fans and teams like the All Blacks, Argentina, Georgia and Australia coming to town it’s going to be really exciting.’
There is still no place in the Wales squad for the experienced Jonathan Davies.
Wales squad for autumn internationals
Forwards: Rhodri Jones (Dragons), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Dewi Lake (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), Sam Wainwright (Saracens), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Will Rowlands (Dragons), Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Josh MacLeod (Scarlets), Jac Morgan (Ospreys), Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs).
Backs: Dane Blacker (Scarlets), Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys), Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby), Joe Hawkins (Ospreys), George North (Ospreys), Nick Tompkins (Saracens), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys), Rio Dyer (Dragons), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby).
