Wales v New Zealand, Cardiff, November 24
Rees and Davies poised for Wales return
ESPN Staff
November 19, 2012
Wales' Matthew Rees works an opening, Wales v Australia, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, December 3, 2011
© PA Photos
Enlarge

Injury-hit Wales have received a timely boost ahead of their showdown with New Zealand on Saturday with the news that centre Jonathan Davies and hooker Matthew Rees should be fit for the Millennium Stadium clash.

Davies missed the recent defeats to Argentina and Samoa due to a groin injury while Rees is set to return having missed the latter game with a calf problem.

Assistant coach Shaun Edwards said: "Jonathan is key to our defensive system and he is a massive player for us, and we hope he comes through training and plays in the game. You always want your most experienced players available when you are playing against the All Blacks."

Wales were without Rees, Davies, Adam Jones, Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones, Matthew Rees, Josh Turnbull, Rob McCusker and Jonathan Davies going into the Samoa clash and saw Richard Hibbard, Dan Biggar and Ian Evans all pick up injuries in that game.

Ospreys hooker Hibbard is unlikely to feature again this autumn after injuring the AC joint in his shoulder. Fly-half Biggar suffered a similar problem but his injury is considered less severe and it is hoped that with intense treatment he may yet play a part over the remainder of the autumn campaign. Lock Evans took a blow to the knee and his injury will be managed during the early part of the week in an effort to ensure he is available for Saturday.

Blues lock Lou Reed and uncapped Scarlets hooker Kirby Myhill have been called in to train with the squad as injury cover.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

Live Sports

Communication error please reload the page.