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Ben James

Wayne Pivac Q&A: Why I've picked Rio Dyer and resisted putting George North back on the wing for New Zealand

Wayne Pivac has named his Wales team to face New Zealand this weekend, with Dragons winger Rio Dyer handed a debut.

Here's everything the Wales coach had to say afterwards...

How's Rio Dyer feeling ahead of his Wales debut?

“He’s really excited. He’s a young man that’s in form. He’s been playing well with the Dragons.

"He’s been training well so we think it’s a great opportunity for him. We’ll learn a lot and he’ll learn a lot.”

READ MORE: Wales name team to face All Blacks as young winger Rio Dyer handed shock debut

What's the injury latest with Josh Adams and Alex Cuthbert?

“In terms of Josh, it’s probably another week or two. He’ll definitely be right in this campaign. We expect him to get some rugby.

"Same with Alex. If there was a World Cup final, he’d be available. It’s really the amount of training the guys have done, with Alex coming back from a long lay-off since South Africa.

"We’re just getting some more volume in him. We’d like to think Josh will be ready next week. We’ll take that one as it comes."

How do you think Dyer will cope this weekend?

"The senior players are getting around him and supporting him. He’s genuinely excited. He’s a confident young man.

"I don’t think the occasion will get to him. He’s looking forward to testing himself against some of the best players in the world."

Two opensides in the back-row as Justin Tipuric packs down on the blindside - talk us through that change?

"The roof is closed and we’re expecting a very quick game. New Zealand play with a lot of speed and look for quick ruck ball. We’re going to need speed ourselves and I think that back-row gives us that..

You came into camp with injuries to the likes of Gareth Anscombe, George North, Leigh Halfpenny and Taulupe Faletau - is everyone definitely fit?

"We wouldn’t have selected them if they weren’t right. They have trained last week, trained very well this week.

"We had a big, physical session on Tuesday and they came through fine. We’re pleased with where everyone is at."

Get your brilliant 48-page Wales at the World Cup preview special

What do you make of the All Blacks team?

"It’s very strong. It’s an exciting team. There’s a lot of quality throughout. We’re expecting them to play, given the conditions we’ll be in.

"We’ve got to be ready for that. We’ve got to be able to match that speed and slow their ball down at the breakdown. That’ll be a big part of our game."

How important are the returning senior players like Tipuric, Ken Owens and Leigh Halfpenny?

"Hugely so. We missed some experience when we played them this time last year.

"Those guys have shown that in and around the team room and training session. A bit more of voice and it brings confidence to the guys around them."

Given their form, is the time to finally beat New Zealand?

"Certainly the way we’re approaching it. We want to win every game we play now.

"We want to build on the performances in South Africa, where I think we improved in a lot of areas - the set-piece and the forward exchanges. We need to make sure we keep building on that.

"What better side to come up against than New Zealand, who probably haven’t had their best season. When you see the teamsheet, it’s quality. But we’re there to win it."

How did the conversation with Dyer go when you told him he's starting?

"Those are the ones you love having as a coach. It’s when you’re telling someone they’re not involved that you don’t enjoy them. He was very, very excited and happy.

"Obviously, we allowed him to tell some immediate family before it went public. They’re over the moon and are very proud of their son. He’s going to look forward to the next 48 hours and it’ll be great to see him out there."

What would it mean to finally beat the All Blacks?

"We went to South Africa on a bit of a mission and we were lucky enough to create some history there. We’ve talked about that and we’ve really, really worked hard in the last week or so.

"With another 48 hours to go, it’s now about mental preparation and believing we can do it. We’ve got to go out there with that belief and put it out there on the park for 80 minutes."

Have you embraced that history in camp or stayed away from it?

"The boys are very well aware of it because it’s in the media from time to time. It’s one of those records, as a Welshman, you want to break that hoodoo. We’ll do everything we can to do that."

How has Dyer been in training? You previously mentioned he'd impressed when invited to train in the summer.

"At the moment, he’s showing all the qualities to be a very, very good rugby player. He’s come in and it’s like he’s been here a long, long time.

"He’s confident, but not overconfident. He knows what he’s good at and what his work-ons are. He gets about his work really nicely like a good pro. We’ve been very pleased to see that growth in a short space of time."

Was there every a temptation to go for an experienced option like George North on the wing?

"I think we wanted to build on South Africa and not make too many changes. There’d been some changes enforced by injury, obviously.

"George and Nick (Tompkins) in midfield had three Tests there in the summer. Getting closer to the World Cup, we want to try to build some combinations and that’s a combination we’re giving another opportunity to. We think George at 13 can be a powerhouse for us."

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