Here's your round-up of all the latest rugby headlines for Wednesday, November 2.
Blackett to join Scarlets
Lee Blackett is set to join Scarlets after leaving his role as head coach at crisis club Wasps.
Blackett will team up with the west Wales outfit for at least the rest of the season, after leaving the Premiership club, who entered administration last month.
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Blackett is to become part of Dwayne Peel's coaching staff and replace Dai Flanagan, who joined Dragons in the summer.
He's expected to have responsibility for the Scarlets' attack and could start his new role as early as next week.
Wales hopeful on injured stars
Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys says he's hopeful of seeing several injured stars come back into contention against New Zealand this week.
A host of frontline players arrived in camp carrying injuries ahead of the autumn schedule. Back three players Josh Adams (thumb), Alex Cuthbert (foot) and Leigh Halfpenny (hamstring) are concerns, while centre George North limped out of the Ospreys' recent defeat to the Dragons "bang" on the knee. Taulupe Faletau also withdrew from Cardiff's game against the Stormers with a calf strain, while Gareth Anscombe has been missing for the past few weeks with a rib injury.
However, there seems to be some real positivity that each of them could well be reaching full fitness soon.
Asked about any injury concerns, Humphreys said: "They trained [on Monday], trained [on Tuesday] morning and have just got this afternoon’s [Tuesday] session to get through and see where we are at the end of the day, see how they come through it."
When asked if they would all be fit, he added: "There are positive signs of that, but as I said, they have got to get through this session, which is pretty physical and the true test of where they sit on that. We’ll be ok, but clearly a couple of these boys are key to us."
ANZAC team in talks to take on Lions in 2025
Australia and New Zealand have opened talks over the possibility of forming a combined ANZAC XV to take on the Lions in 2025.
After the last Lions tour to South Africa was hosted behind closed doors due to Covid-19 restrictions, there is a hope that reviving the concept of a trans-Tasman side would help generate significant interest.
Were the idea to get the green light, it would be the first time the two Southern hemisphere giants have joined forces since 1989.
Rugby Australia Chairman Hamish McLennan told Sportsmail : "We've talked to the Kiwis about hosting an ANZAC team against the Lions in 2025 and they're considering the idea.
"I'm in no doubt it would be a belter and we'd sell the MCG out with 100,000 fans.
"The best of the Wallabies and the All Blacks against the Lions would create enormous global coverage."
The news comes despite recent tensions between the Australian and New Zealand unions. McLennan insists relations between the two nations have now been patched up and that an agreement over revenues could be reached.
"All is good with the Kiwi's now, we're friends again and we'd be happy to give them a cut," he said.
Smith downplays talk of replacing Biggar
Fin Smith says he is ready to step up for Northampton but insists he is not Dan Biggar's replacement at fly-half.
The 20-year-old Englishman is strongly tipped to be the future of the Northampton backline, with Biggar exploring a move to French giants Toulon. It was only last year Biggar was seen handing out words of advice to the youngster after Northampton hammered Smith's former club Worcester in a clip that went viral on social media.
"I’ve thought about it and I can’t view it as me replacing Dan,’ Smith told the Daily Mail. "Any replacement for one of the best fly-halves in the world is going to be a slight downgrade! I’ve got to look at it as a massive opportunity. Northampton are looking to the future so hopefully in a few years I can be playing at somewhere near that level and pushing for the heights Dan is at now.
"I need to disassociate from the idea I’m going to be at British and Irish Lions level straight away.
"Everyone has been joking Dan was telling me to come to Northampton when we had that chat. It was him putting his arm around me because he’d seen what a tough night I’d had. I’ve got massive respect for him for helping me like that. When we played Northampton six months later, I got knocked out. He came and sat with me in the doctor’s room after the match. I’ve been joking with him he was using me to look like the good guy!"
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Reece looking forward to LRZ challenge
All Blacks winger Sevu Reece says he's looking forward to the prospect of coming up against Welsh counterpart Louis Rees-Zammit on Saturday.
Reece, who recently extended his contract with the Crusaders, is one of several members of this All Blacks squad itching to get out and in front of a passionate Welsh crowd at the Principality Stadium this weekend.
He admits the chance to take on Rees-Zammit, who's been in red-hot form for Gloucester recently, is one he's particularly relishing.
“You can’t hear your team-mates sometimes (at the Principality Stadium). You can hear the fans chanting and cheering the Welsh boys. It’s really exciting. It’s cool to be part of.”
Speaking specifically on Rees-Zammit, he said: “I have seen some of his highlights here and there. If I get the opportunity this weekend, it will be exciting to come up against another Reece!”
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