Here are some of the stories making the rugby headlines ahead of another busy weekend of autumn Test action.
Shane throws weight behind Alun Wyn
Shane Williams has launched a staunch defence of Alun Wyn Jones and backed him to defy the critics and carry through to the World Cup.
Alun Wyn, 37, finds himself left out by Wales again this week as Wayne Pivac continues to look at younger options for the future.
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The non-selection comes after South Africa legend Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira stated it was time for the Lions skipper to retire, tweeting: "A good dancer knows when to leave the dance floor."
Responding directly to that, Wales record tryscorer Shane countered: "A good dancer doesn't need to leave the dancefloor unless there's a better dancer to replace him."
He told Mirror Sport : "Look, I'm a big fan of Alun Wyn. Is he as sharp and as fresh as he was two or three seasons ago? Probably not, but let's be honest, everyone in Wales wants him involved in the squad because who do we have who's better at the moment? I think it's as plain and simple as that.
"Alun Wyn works his socks off and gives 100 per cent every time. If that rubbed off on half of them, then they'd be some players as well. I just don't believe we have many better second rows in Wales at the moment.
"You've got Adam Beard in there who's a good player. He plays with him at the Ospreys, he's probably learnt a lot from him. We need Adam Beard to be the next Alun Wyn. We've got Will Rowlands as well, who was one of Wales' best players last year.
"However, what else then do we have? Wayne Pivac's probably looking at Alun Wyn thinking, 'What a great player to have in the squad for his experience. But hold on a minute, he's still producing the goods in training and can still put a shift in for Wales'.
"It's a difficult one. I'm sure Alun Wyn would turn around and say, 'Well, look, I will leave this dancefloor, but I want to make sure there's somebody who can do the moonwalk first.' He'll put his mind, body and soul on the line for you. And that's the attitude we want from our Welsh players, so until there's someone better, what can we do?"
Sheedy ecstatic as Britols beat South Africa XV
Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy admits his side's 26-18 win over a strong South African XV at a packed Ashton Gate will live long in his memory and hopes it will be the catalyst for a change in form for the Bears.
South Africa 'A' fielded 12 full internationals in their match-day 23 but were a disjointed outfit and fell to their second defeat on their short tour after losing 28-14 to Munster in Cork last week.
Gabriel Ibitoye and Yann Thomas scored Bristol's tries in front of sell-out crowd of over 26,000 and Wales international Sheedy admits it was an evening he will not forget in a hurry.
He said: "It was a really special night, playing against a national side on your home ground before a huge crowd, compared with playing for Wales and will live with me for a long time.
"We knew we had to force errors from them and test their skills under pressure and we succeeded in forcing them to play deep.
"It was a massive defensive effort from us, especially just before half-time, when the crowd lifted us to win a turnover, when we were under huge pressure and ultimately it proved crucial.
"We know we have a very dangerous back three and fortunately we were able to score tries at the right time."
Bristol came into the game having lost five successive Gallagher Premiership matches to drop into the bottom two of the standings.
Jones beams over Priestland impact
Stephen Jones has spoken in glowing terms about the impact veteran No.10 Rhys Priestland has had in the Wales camp this autumn.
The Cardiff man turns 36 in two months' time and is having something of a second international career after four years away from the Test arena.
Jones, Wayne Pivac's No.2, has been there himself, winning more than 100 caps during a Wales career that spanned 13 years.
Priestland made his Test debut during the 2011 Six Nations and he starts at number 10 against Georgia this weekend.
“I have been impressed with him in terms of how he’s driven the game and managed the game plan," beamed Jones. "He’s a very smart player. He’s been excellent and I can’t speak highly enough of him.
“Put performances aside for one minute, it’s what he’s brought off the pitch as well, how he’s been in the environment, how he’s been with the other players, his standards in training, his role knowledge and how he’s helping to develop players.
“You know if you play certain positions there’ll be questions asked of you. The key is your ability as a person, your mental resilience that you can stay focused with your job and not have distractions. He’s certainly done that.”
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Priestland is among six changes to the side that defeated Argentina last weekend as Wales look to despatch opponents they will meet again at next year's World Cup in France.
Recent encounters either side of a comfortable 2019 World Cup win against Georgia, though, saw Wales triumph 13-6 and 18-0, underlining that the east Europeans can be tough opponents to crack. Georgia also arrive in Cardiff following victory over Italy this year, while they pushed Samoa last weekend before being edged out 20-19 by a try near the end
Gwyn tips Rees-Zammit to 'transform' Wales
Former Wales captain Gwyn Jones believes Wayne Pivac has made the right call to move Louis Rees-Zamitt from the wing and reckons the Gloucester try ace can completely transform the national team's fortunes.
In his must-read column for Wales Online, Gwyn argues Pivac and Jones have yet to put their mark on the creative side of the Welsh game.
But he writes of Rees-Zammit: "He is an exceptional talent who I feel is not in the game enough when he plays on the wing. This is something he can improve upon, but playing at 15 automatically solves that problem.
"His counter-attacking threat could be transformational for Wales. If there are any weaknesses in a kick chase, he has the ability to expose and punish them. These can be momentum changers and break open defences.
"He could become an Israel Folau type player. A constant threat who is always in the game."
READ MORE: Gwyn Jones' column in full is here
Jones ready to throw down haka gauntlet again
Eddie Jones insists England are determined to "light up" Twickenham by gunning for New Zealand on Saturday - and it could start with the haka.
Jones has made three personnel changes for the All Blacks' first visit to London for five years by recalling number eight Billy Vunipola, centre Manu Tuilagi and wing Jack Nowell.
Vunipola and Tuilagi started the rivals' most recent clash at the 2019 World Cup semi-final when England emerged emphatic 19-7 winners having earlier faced the haka with an audacious V-shape formation.
It was a thrilling moment of sporting theatre that preceded one of the great performances in English rugby history and Jones has promised another spectacle.
"We've got a responsibility to light the crowd up. We want to light the crowd up and whether it's during the haka or post the haka, I don't really care," Jones said.
"The fans can be our 24th player. The noise the crowd made against Japan last Saturday was fantastic.
"The players felt the warmth and pride that the crowd brought and now it's our responsibility to light them up."
Under a headline 'England ready to risk a haka backlash', the Mail write that Owen Farrell and his team 'could unleash another defiant response to the haka as a means of igniting home support before they bid to beat New Zealand again.'
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World takes stock of Rassie ban
South Africa Rugby are coming to terms with their director of rugby Rassie Erasmus being banned again.
World Rugby slapped the two match suspension on the controversial Springboks boss in response to a series of social media posts highlighting refereeing issues this autumn.
The sanction prevents Erasmus from taking part in Saturday's clash with Italy this weekend and the climax to the Springboks' European tour against England a week on.
The ban includes engagement with media and social media in regard to match officials and comes a year after he was forced to miss South Africa's defeat at Twickenham for similar reasons.
World Rugby acted after Erasmus published a series of sarcastic tweets during the Autumn Nations Series, airing his grievances over officiating on social media rather than through the established channels.
Erasmus was banned from rugby activity for two months for his behaviour towards officials during the Lions' tour to South Africa in 2021 and was also suspended from matchday involvement until October this year.
The Springboks boss' recent tweets, in which he highlights French transgressions while stating they are lessons for his team, have been condemned by legendary World Cup final referee Nigel Owens.
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Ireland fear Wallaby backlash
Ireland coach Andy Farrell is braced for a backlash from a wounded Wallabies side intent on taking the scalp of the world's top-ranked team.
Australia run out at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday evening seeking to make amends for last weekend's shock humiliation at the hands of Italy.
Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie has made sweeping changes to the team which started a chastening afternoon in Florence, recalling a host of regulars.
Farrell expects the alterations to create a "different vibe" and knows how dangerous the opposition can be due to their agonising one-point loss to Six Nations champions France a fortnight ago, which followed a narrow win in Scotland.
"I'm sure they will be using last week as motivation and putting that together with coming to the Aviva and taking our scalp, I'm sure that fires them up even more," said Farrell.
After Dublin, Australia head to Cardiff to take on Wales in the autumn finale.
Read more:
Lawrence Dallaglio blown away by 'unique and complete' Wales star who must be looked after
Rassie Erasmus banned again after controversial tweets and Pivac identifies Wales problem position
Principality Stadium name to change for Euro 2028 as bid goes in
