Here are the latest rugby headlines on the evening of Thursday, October 21.
Elliot Dee looking doubtful for All Blacks Test
Wales hooker Elliot Dee is taking some part in training but is still on a modified plan as he recovers from an injury he suffered last week.
During the Dragons' defeat to the Stormers, Dee was left on the turf with what appeared to be a neck problem after a scrum.
He received lengthy treatment before walking from the field unaided.
The 27-year-old has now linked up with Wales but is yet to take a full part in their preparations to face New Zealand.
“He’s been in and around the squad," said fellow hooker Ken Owens.
“He joined in units this morning [Thursday]. He’s on some sort of limited programme because of what happened last weekend.
“He’s in good spirits. He’s still chewing everyone’s ear off here, so he seems fine.”
South Africa wary of Alun Wyn and Ken Owens
Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber will be wary of Wales' Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens when South Africa head to Cardiff.
Acknowledging his team's clashes against Wales, Scotland and England will be made tougher by the fact Lions tourists will feel like they have unfinished business, the South Africa boss is keen for a first end-of-year tour whitewash since 2013, according to SowetanLive.
He said of Six Nations champions Wales: "They are getting eight British and Irish Lions back.
"They've got massive experience, when you look at their nines and 10s. Of the three 10s in their squad Gareth Anscombe has the least experience and he's got 35 Test caps (sic). The others are closer to 50 and 100. There is massive experience and it will be a challenge.
"I think they've got good game drivers like Ken Owens and Alun Wyn Jones who are well established and are British and Irish Lions."
As for extra motivation for their opponents, he added: "There will be a little bit of spice as they try to rectify what happened in the British and Irish Lions series.
"Teams are going to come for us. We are the team they want to test themselves against. The nature of the beast is teams will come for us regardless."
Read more: Get the latest news, views and analysis from our rugby section
Wales vow to be ruthless
Wayne Pivac's side have declared their intention to be ruthless with the ball this autumn.
Try-scoring sensation Josh Adams spoke to the media on Thursday and recalled his one and only clash against New Zealand, which was the bronze medal match at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
It was a game that a much-changed Wales side lost 40-17 at the end of an exhausting campaign, though they did stretch their opponents at times.
But Adams viewed it as evidence that when they do keep hold of the ball, they can challenge the best in the world.
“It was a while ago, there has been a lot of change since then," he said.
"I think Hallam [Amos] scored a lovely well-worked try, and it just shows - Steve [Jones] was actually the backs coach then, as well - that when we have continuity in our attack, we use the ball in the correct way, we are super-dangerous.
"That is something we are really trying to work on, being as ruthless and as dangerous as we can with the ball - forwards and backs - and just to really put teams under pressure as much as we can with the ball."
The winger was having a remarkable tournament back in 2019 and went into the game against New Zealand level with Shane Williams’ record of tries for Wales at a Rugby World Cup, and one ahead of Springbok Makazole Mapimpi in the top try-scorer standings.
“Honestly, I just wanted to score! It didn’t matter," he laughed.
"It was obvious that I needed one more for the record. Mapimpi was one behind me, and he was on fire as well, so I knew it was important I got a try somewhere, and it came from a pick and go two metres out, but they all count!"
Dan Biggar hits milestone
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar will make his 50th appearance for Northampton Saints on Friday evening when his team face Jonathan Thomas' Worcester Warriors.
Lions Test No. 10 Biggar starts in at half-back for the third consecutive match for Northampton, and now stands on the brink of his 50th outing.
Biggar is in Wayne Pivac's Wales squad but is not with his team-mates at the Vale Resort as there is no obligation on Gallagher Premiership bosses to release Wales players yet for international duty.
Wales' autumn opener is against the All Blacks on Saturday, October 30, but as it is outside the official Test window, Biggar is set to be pulling on his club jersey that same day to face Leicester before linking up with Wales for the remaining three fixtures against South Africa, Australia and Fiji.
Chris Boyd's charges will be looking to build on a strong home record against Worcester in the Gallagher Premiership, having won the last 11 times the sides have met at Franklin’s Gardens in a run stretching back to January 2007.
Win free tickets to watch Wales v New Zealand
You can also enter our competition for free tickets here.
Ex-Wales international brought in to sort out Ireland's problems
Former Wales international Amanda Bennett has been drafted in to find out what went wrong in Ireland Women's attempt to qualify for next year's World Cup in New Zealand.
Bennett, founder of FairPlay, has been appointed by the IRFU as an independent consultant to conduct an independent review, and will be joined by Kevin Bowring and Helen Philips for the eight or nine-week process.
Ireland Women suffered a heartbreaking 20-18 defeat to Scotland in September which ended their World Cup hopes, marking a significant setback just seven years after the Irish beat New Zealand in the pool stages and finished fourth in the 2014 tournament.
It comes amid the announcement that Adam Griggs will step down as Ireland women's head coach in November after four years in charge.
Greg McWilliams will take over following the autumn Test matches against the United States and Japan. Most recently working in the US, he has previously served as an assistant coach to the Irish side at two World Cups.
Griggs, who had notified the IRFU of his intention to stand down when his contract expires, is to continue working for the governing body as provincial talent coach for Leinster.
- To get the latest Welsh rugby news delivered straight to your inbox, you can sign up for our Welsh rugby newsletter.
