SPORTS SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2014 Wales ready for Fiji with one eye on All Blacks CARDIFF: A re-jigged Wales will seek to fly-half Rhys Priestland, who was jeered by “I remember drawing with them a few World Cup in Hamilton, New Zealand, Wales bounce back from another nail-biting defeat parts of the home crowd when he came on as years ago-there was a down dressing room thrashed Fiji 66-0, and the Cornwall-born by Australia against Fiji today, with one eye on a replacement in the loss to Australia. after that game with them drawing in the last Matavesi said the Fijian side could only envy matches against New Zealand and South Priestland replaces Dan Biggar, who suf- minute-and I remember the 2007 game in the amount of time the Welsh had together Africa to follow. Cardiff Blues prop Gethin fered a groin injury against the Wallabies, France,” said the 108-cap forward. “They are ahead of next year’s World Cup in England. Jenkins will captain a Welsh side showing while Liam Williams moves from wing to full- always going to bring an expansive game and “It’s alright for the Welsh boys because they eight changes to the team beaten 33-28 by back instead of Leigh Halfpenny, who went off try and take us on out wide. We know what to have the rest of the autumn and the Six the Wallabies last weekend in another dress with mild concussion during the Australia expect, but we have to concentrate on our Nations to prepare,” he told the Western rehearsal of pool action at next year’s World game. Jenkins is the only surviving member of game and keep doing the things we did well Mail newspaper. “We just have November Cup. Jenkins takes over from Paul James in the the Wales starting line-up from their embar- today (against Australia).” Fiji got their and June, so we have limited preparation. front row, while Scott Baldwin of Ospreys will rassing 38-34 loss to Fiji in the pool phase of November series off to a losing start when People don’t understand how much of a make his first Wales start at hooker. Flanker the 2007 World Cup that saw them crash out. they went down 40-15 to France, but coach struggle it is to get a side together. “Wales Sam Warburton, the regular captain, is being The South Sea Islanders also held Wales to a John McKee has called up Josh Matavesi, who don’t get the visa issues or people coming in rested by coach Warren Gatland ahead of the 16-16 draw on their last visit to Cardiff four plays his club rugby for Welsh regional side on a Wednesday before the Test.” Matavesi November 22 and 29 games against the All years ago and Jenkins says his memories of the Ospreys, at fly-half alongside scrum-half added: “Imagine George North turning up Blacks and Springboks respectively. But there those encounters have only hardened his Nikola Matawalu of in-form Scottish team three days before facing the All Blacks. It are recalls in the backs for fit-again centre resolve ahead of today’s game at the Glasgow. would be unheard of, but we have to get on Scott Williams, scrum-half Mike Phillips and Millennium Stadium. At the teams’ last meeting, at the 2011 with it.”— AFP Carter overcomes doubts ahead of Scotland start EDINBURGH: All Blacks fly-half Dan Carter said he had con- quered his own doubts to regain his place in the New Zealand starting line-up for the world champions’ match against Scotland at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield today. After playing a 30 minutes role in the All Blacks’ 74-6 win against the USA in Chicago on November 1 - the first leg of their tour of the US and Europe-and performing water boy duties in the 24-21 victory against England at Twickenham last week, Carter returns to the No 10 shirt at Murrayfield. It will be the 32-year-old’s first international start since he collected his 100th cap against England at Twickenham on November 16 last year. “There has been a lot of frustration throughout the year,” admitted Carter, who missed the entire 2014 Rugby Championship season after fracturing a bone in his right leg play- ing for the Crusaders in their narrow Super Rugby final defeat to Waratahs in early August. “There have been doubts that have crept in at certain periods but once you get over those and get back to your plan and goals you’re a lot more focused on what has to be done,” added Carter, international rugby union’s record points-scorer. Pressed on the nature of those doubts, Carter said: “Just all sorts of doubts-with your body when you’ve had injuries like I’ve had. That creeps in. “That’s probably the biggest thing - rather than maybe in your darkest time you question whether you’re going to put the jersey on again. But that’s not really a major one. It’s more my body and things like that. “It’s normally straight after an injury and then you soon get out of that hole and move forward. “There’s a lot of excitement about starting this weekend. It’s almost 12 months since I last started for the All Blacks and I’ve talked a lot about what the jersey means to me. “I’m not going to be happy just to get through 60-80 minutes. Every time I put on the black jersey I SURESNES: Australian rugby player Henry Speight, left, talks to his coach Michael Cheika (right) during a training ses- want to be one of the best players out there, if not the best-and sion at Jean Moulin stadium in Suresnes, western suburbs of Paris. Australia will face France in a test match today.— AP that’s what I’m going to be striving to do this weekend.” New Zealand changes That could be bad news for Scotland. Carter was at his master- Paris flop motivating Cheika ful best when the countries last met, inspiring the All Blacks to a 51-12 victory in 2012, equalling their highest points tally at Murrayfield. The Scots have never beaten New Zealand, but an All to make successful return Blacks XV featuring 13 changes from the team that beat England has encouraged Caledonian hopes of a closer scoreline than the PARIS: Australia coach Michael Cheika fail to qualify for the European Cup, finish- connections or friends I’ve visited or spo- 44-13 average that stands in New Zealand’s favor in 11 contests admitted he had a score to settle with the ing 11th and seventh, and lose the 2011 ken to who would definitely be my friend between the countries in the professional era of the game. French capital ahead of his side’s one-off European Challenge Cup final to during this week but won’t be there today In contrast to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, Scotland’s Vern Test match against France today. The Harlequins, 19-18. There were mitigating night because they’ll be cheering for their Cotter has named an unchanged line-up after his team’s 41-31 Wallabies coach, who was only appointed circumstances as Stade were in turmoil home team. “It’s always a good bit of nig- victory against Argentina last week. “We showed last weekend to the role three weeks ago when Ewan and on the brink of financial collapse dur- gle when you’ve been somewhere and that we’re developing an attack than can cause opposition teams McKenzie resigned, used to be in charge ing his reign, only being saved in the 2011 then you come back and go against them. problems,” said Cotter, a New Zealander who was assistant coach of Stade Francais, who are based in Paris. It off season when Thomas Savare bought “The next couple of weeks are going to at the Crusaders in Carter’s early years there. “If we can force the was the one blip on an otherwise hugely out Max Guazzini. But Cheika and Savare be good for me here and in Ireland where I All Blacks into making errors then we can give ourselves a successful coaching career that saw him did not see eye-to-eye and the Australian spent big parts of my life. “Normally the chance.” win the European Cup and Celtic League headed home a year later, fired. Stade de France is the home ground for Hansen has dismissed the suggestion that his team selection with Leinster and land the Super XV title Now he admits that he would take sat- Stade Francais... for three or four games a (which has captain Richie McCaw at blindside flanker for the first with the New South Wales Waratahs- isfaction from gaining a victory on Parisian year, so it’s going to be a different feeling time, third choice fly-half Colin Slade on the wing and Ben Smith where he remains head coach alongside soil, although he insists revenge is not on this year. “I don’t think there are going to switched from the wing to fullback) indicates that the All Blacks his national team duties-earlier this year. his mind. “For sure, you’d be lying if you be many people cheering for us but it’s are treating Scotland lightly. “We’re taking Scotland very serious- But his two-year stay with Stade said otherwise having played and coached just a matter of adapting to that, being in ly,” Hansen insisted.