When Wales meet Italy in Llanelli on Saturday, it will be for the less than cherished title of fifth-place play-off winners of the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup. If that title doesn’t sound too grand then it’s because Wales’ result have not been either, during the fractured year of 2020. The corresponding Six Nations match back in February saw Wales head coach Wayne Pivac begin his reign as Warren Gatland’s successor on a winning note.

Dewi Lake has been tipped as the Wales hooker of the future but only if he improves his throwing in at the line-out. The former Wales Under 20s captain has been in red hot form for the Ospreys recently with his dynamic ball-carrying and raw physicality catching the eye, despite their struggles in the Guinness Pro 14. In the absence of veteran hooker Ken Owens, both Ryan Elias and Elliot Dee have struggled to fully convince for Wales in this autumn’s Nations Cup.

Scott Quinnell believes Wales rediscovered some of their doggedness against England last weekend – but reckons they still lack bite. The former Wales and Lions No.8 was encouraged by aspects of the 24-13 defeat in Llanelli, but argues there is a soft streak running through Wayne Pivac’s team that needs to be hardened up. “Sometimes I look at Wales and I think everybody is just a bit too nice,” said Quinnell.

Wales try-scorer Johnny Williams has told fans not to go nut but stay patient as they rebuild under head coach Wayne Pivac. The Scarlets centre impressed in only his second Test match appearance in the 24-13 defeat to England at Parc y Scarlets.

Wayne Pivac insists Wales are making progress and his players are fully behind him, despite seven defeats in his nine matches in charge. The Wales coach suffered his latest setback with a 24-13 reverse against England at Parc y Scarlets and although it was a much-improved performance by Wales, they were unable to threaten a team currently seven places above them in the world rankings. Pivac, though insists his captain, Alun Wyn Jones, and his players are fully behind him along the bumpy road to transformation from the Warren Gatland era.

Johnny Williams has scored more tries in a white shirt than he has in a red one – but he insists there will be no regrets when he lines up for Wales against England today. The Scarlets centre once touched down in an England jersey, with a red rose on his chest, but he says the heart beating beneath always stirred to the land of his father. Williams – who has beaten testicular cancer to reach rugby’s highest level – insists he is Welsh through and through as he prepares to take on the country of his birth.

Life inside the Wales camp is tough enough at present, with England looming this weekend and a whole load of restrictions in camp due to the pandemic. But Jake Ball has more than most to contend with, as he told Graham Thomas. Big Jake Ball admits he is missing his three kids and he hopes to take out three months of frustration against England on Saturday. That’s how long it is since the 6ft 7in Wales second row last saw his two daughters – Charlotte and Amelia – and son Jackson, due to Covid-19 restrictions and the fact his wife Christie is expecting their fourth child at any moment.

Louis Rees-Zammit is just 19 years old and is facing England in only his second start for Wales tomorrow. But don’t be worried. Because he certainly won’t be, says one man who knows him very well and told Graham Thomas. Louis Rees-Zammit will not be losing any sleep over the prospect of facing Jonny May tomorrow, according to the man who used to be both wings’ boss. In fact, before Wales’ new 19-year-old star goes head-to-head against his Gloucester clubmate, then he will be counting down the hours, says former Gloucester director of rugby, David Humphreys.

Jim Botham insists he will leave the fancy nicknames to England until after Saturday when he has completed the biggest game of his life. The Cardiff Blues forward will earn his second cap for Wales at openside flanker alongside his good friend and clubmate Shane Lewis-Hughes, who will wear No.6. Their opposite numbers for the weekend are Tom Curry and Sam Underhill, who have been given the nickname ‘the Kamikaze Kids’ – a reference to their fearless and destructive impact – but something that doesn’t impress the grandson of Sir Ian, the cricket legend known as, Beefy.

Wayne Pivac has admitted it took him three years to change the Scarlets, but he insists transformation will comes quicker with Wales – and could go into overdrive against England on Saturday. The Wales coach has picked a youthful looking and adventurous team, his hand forced in part because of injuries that have robbed him of Liam Williams, Justin Tipuric, Jonathan Davies, Josh Navidi and Ross Moriarty, plus the struggles for form of George North. But in picking James Botham, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Louis Rees-Zammit and Johnny Williams to start, Pivac is also underlining that the old days of Warren Gatland have gone.

By James Dodd Josh Adams insists Wales have turned a corner and feel in confident mood about facing England on Saturday. The Wales wing believes there is an improved mood in the squad following the win against Georgia last weekend, which ended a sequence of six defeats. It was their first victory since February and […]

Former Dragons boss Bernard Jackman has urged the WRU to follow the IRFU’s lead by pumping more money into the four Welsh regions or see them slip further into the abyss. Three of the four professional sides in Wales are privately owned with the WRU normally providing them with payment for the services of their players.

Ray Prosser, who died earlier this week at the age of 93, was more than just a player and a coach. As Peter Jackson recalls, he was a philosopher, educator and sociologist, when he wasn’t driving a bulldozer for a living. Monday, January 20, 1975 – training night at Pontypool RFC in readiness for the next match: home to Glamorgan Wanderers on Saturday. Graham Price rolls up along with everyone else, unmoved at the praise showering over him since the climactic end to his Test debut in Paris a little more than 48 hours earlier.

Neil Jenkins has predicted fireworks when Wales host England on Saturday, a fiery encounter into which Josh Navidi looks likely to be pitched for his comeback game. Wales kicking coach Jenkins – a veteran of Wales-England clashes going back to 1991 – has admitted he expects the clash to generate a bit more heat than what has so far been a low temperature Autumn Nations Cup. That could be, in part, down to the chilling effect of no crowds and although the Parc Y Scarlets venue will be empty, Jenkins insists the thermometer will rise when the old enemies face off.

By Paul Jones Kyle Sinckler has sent a warning to Wales that England have “plenty left in the tank” for their visit to Parc Y Scarlets this weekend. The age-old enemies clash in unfamiliar circumstances – without fans and in Llanelli – in the next round of the new Autumn Nations Cup on Saturday. But […]

Carys Phillips and Sioned Harries have both been told the door is still open to a Wales return following the arrival of new coaches at the top of the women’s game. Both players have been on the outside of the camp since the departure of Rowland Phillips – father of Carys – as head coach last season, yet both are playing regularly at Worcester Warriors in the Allianz Premier 15s. Neither of them figured when the national team was being run by Geraint Lewis and Chris Horsman in Phillips’ absence.

Pontypool have spoken of their sadness and devastation following the death of “the most influential figure in Pontypool RFC history” – Ray Prosser. The former Pooler prop and coach, who also played for Wales and the British & Irish Lions, has died at the age of 93. Simply known around the rugby world as ‘Pross’, he was one of the biggest names and characters in post-war Welsh rugby history. He won 22 caps for his country and toured New Zealand and Australia with the Lions in 1959.

New Wales Women’s coach Warren Abrahams has echoed the criticism aimed at cricket by claiming that rugby is institutionally racist. The South African became the first black appointment to the senior job with a national team in Welsh or UK rugby last week when he was installed by the Welsh Rugby Union. Abrahams admitted that he has had to clear many obstacles on his way after starting his career in Cape Town, then moving to England and the USA.

By David Williams Wales have got the monkey off their back, but at a painful cost with Justin Tipuric a major doubt to face England next week. Wayne Pivac’s team finally won again after six straight defeats thanks to a workmanlike display from a youthful side who put away rugged Georgia, 18-0, at Parc Y […]

It was always going to be rugby for James Botham, despite growing up in the shadow of Lord Botham – and it was always going to be for Wales, not England. “Jimbo” as he is known to grandfather Ian and dad Liam, was born in Cardiff when Liam was playing for the capital club 22 years ago. This afternoon, he will fulfil his very personal sporting ambition when he pulls on a red jersey to make his debut against Georgia in a fixture that has taken on added significance due to the team’s unwanted losing habit.