Richard Hibbard is back in the Wales squad after the resolution of last week’s row with Gloucester over their decision to put the hooker on their bench against Harlequins on Friday night and bring him on with eight minutes to go.
Wales had warned Hibbard, a 2013 Lion, he would be jeopardising his international future if he took his place among the Gloucester replacements, never mind take the field, having been left out of the 23 to face Fiji last weekend because of a foot injury. Hibbard will be considered for Saturday’s match against New Zealand after talks with the Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, when he returned to camp morning.
“Everything has been resolved,” said the Wales attack coach, Rob Howley. “We felt it was imperative early last week that Richard was put in a [protective] boot after the Australia game. We had to release him back to Gloucester once he was not in the 23 for Fiji and they felt he was fine to go on the bench.
“Things can change from a medical perspective from a Monday to a Friday but the information we had was that Richard would not have been fit to go on against Fiji. If we had involved him in the 23, he would probably not have been available for selection against New Zealand. Gloucester promised he would not go on but he did and he presented himself sore this morning. I don’t, though, think he is a concern.”
Wales name their team on Tuesday and hope to be able to field their strongest side, with Leigh Halfpenny, Jonathan Davies, Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb, who all missed the 17-13 victory over Fiji, back in training. Halfpenny was concussed against Australia in the opening autumn international and needs to get through a final test to be considered at full-back.
“We need to see how Jonathan reacts to contact training after his shoulder injury but we hope he will be up and running,” said Howley. “Having everyone available means there are tough calls to make but that is a good problem to have. Experience is important when you are playing the No1 team in the world.”
Halfpenny’s deputy at full-back, Liam Williams, was one of the few players who impressed against Fiji. He is an option on the wing where Alex Cuthbert, despite taking his international try tally to 14 this month, has not been in form.
“Liam’s counter-attacking game, ability to beat the first player and positioning were very good against Fiji,” said Howley. “It is good to have a player like that against a world-class goal-kicker like Leigh, the Lions man of the series in Australia last year. It will be an interesting conversation in selection.
“We can only select three players in the back three and international rugby is about getting your choices right. We will consider all our options.”
The New Zealand head coach, Steve Hansen, who spent two years in charge of Wales from 2002, said on arriving in Cardiff he would pick a full-strength side for the last of the All Blacks’ four tour matches having fielded a virtual reserve team against Scotland on Saturday.
“There is a lot of energy in the squad and a really good feeling,” said the 123-cap hooker Keven Mealamu who won his first against Wales in Cardiff in 2002 when Hansen was in the opposition ranks. “When it comes to the final match of a tour you need a good mind-set and we have that.
“The World Cup is an incentive for everyone. No one wants to be sitting in the stand on Saturday and that is driving us all. We have depth in a number of positions and there is strong competition in the squad. Everyone wants to get an opportunity and those who do on Saturday must take it.
“Wales are always a real challenge for us up front, passionate and proud in front of their supporters. They will be pumped up and we are under no illusions about how important a game this is.”
The match will be refereed by England’s Wayne Barnes, who took charge of New Zealand’s 2007 World Cup quarter-final against France in Cardiff and received death threats after some blamed him for the All Blacks’ defeat.
“That was a long time ago and it is all water under the bridge,” said Mealamu. “I will always remember that game but it has gone. Wayne Barnes does a good job and looks after games well.”
