Today's rugby news as Wales international picks his XV for Fiji and star issues warning

Here are your rugby headlines for Thursday, November 7

Wales star picks his XV for Fiji

Wales and Lions wing Alex Cuthbert has named his XV for this weekend's clash with Fiji and has opted for a new-look midfield pairing.

The make-up of the back line is the centre of many debates in the pubs and clubs up and down Wales, with Warren Gatland still trying to nail his best combinations behind the pack.

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Fly-half has been a problem position for the Wales head coach, too, but a fully-fit Gareth Anscombe has returned to the squad and looks likely to oust Ben Thomas.

And Cuthbert believes Mason Grady's best position is out on the wing, while he has chosen a centre partnership of Scarlets' Eddie James and Gloucester's Max Llewellyn.

Alex Cuthbert's XV, according to Sportin Wales, for the Fiji game: Winnett; Grady, Llewellyn, James, Dyer; Anscombe, T Williams; G Thomas, Lake, H Thomas; Rowlands, Beard; Plumtree, Morgan, Wainwright.

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Anscombe: Wales wary of Fiji 'firepower'

By Andrew Baldock, PA Rugby Union Correspondent

Gareth Anscombe has underlined the challenge facing Wales when they look to open their Autumn Nations Series campaign with victory over Fiji.

The countries clash for the first time since an epic 2023 World Cup pool game in Bordeaux that Wales won 32-26.

Wales, though, had to make a staggering 253 tackles in the match and withstand a ferocious Fiji fightback from 18 points adrift that included a last-gasp missed opportunity when unmarked centre Semi Radradra spilled possession.

Fiji are consistently dangerous opponents even though they have only beaten Wales once in 14 attempts, and will arrive in Cardiff aiming to pile further misery on Warren Gatland's team.

Wales have lost nine successive Tests since defeating Georgia during the last World Cup and it will be a record-equalling reversal of 10 in a row if Fiji triumph on Sunday.

"They have got so many world-class athletes," said Anscombe, who looks set to start at fly-half for Wales this weekend. "They are not a side that requires too much shape or structure because they have got so much firepower.

"They can beat you one on one and once they are in behind you they are very hard to stop. They are a huge test and probably don't get the credit they deserve.

"It is going to take a massive performance from us to come out on the right side of it. They are a dangerous side and it is going to take a real disciplined performance from us."

Minister urges players to come forward amid WRU sexism claims

Jack Sargeant, the Welsh government minister for sport, has extended an invitation to female rugby players at the heart of sexism allegations surrounding Welsh Rugby Union contract negotiations to discuss their concerns directly with him.

He assured that in order to maintain their confidentiality, the women are not required to liaise through the WRU.

Addressing the Welsh Parliament, he expressed that all Senedd members were "shocked and saddened" by the allegations regarding the pressure exerted on players to sign new contracts. Despite WRU officials stating they will personally apologise to the senior women’s team players, they deny any claims of sexism.

The Labour minister, who had a meeting with WRU officials earlier this week, informed Senedd members of his desire to hear "directly" from the players to fully comprehend their concerns. "I am seeking to do that in a space in which they feel comfortable and protected and those meetings will take place in confidence," he said.

"The players can either do that through the WRU themselves, or directly to me, either themselves, collectively or through their representative bodies, so it’s a safe space where they feel comfortable sharing what they want to share with me so I have the full understanding of what action needs to take place."

Senior WRU officials have confessed to significant shortcomings in the contracts process and acknowledged that it was "absolutely clear" the governing body should apologise to the players.

McKenzie returns for All Blacks' clash with Ireland

By PA Sport Staff

New Zealand have made two injury-enforced changes for Friday evening's Autumn Nations Series clash with Ireland in Dublin.

Fly-half Damian McKenzie and hooker Asafo Aumua come into the starting XV following last weekend's 24-22 victory against England.

Beauden Barrett and Codie Taylor, who started at Twickenham, are ruled out due to concussions.

George Bell and Stephen Perofeta have been added to the All Blacks' bench.

Captain Scott Barrett is one of seven players in the New Zealand starting line-up who began last year's 28-24 World Cup quarter-final win over Ireland.

All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson said: "This is a highly-anticipated match that promises to bring all the intensity and passion that we have come to expect from these two rugby-mad nations, both on and off the field.

"We are really pleased with how the squad has come through this week and our focus has turned quickly to this encounter post-England.

"We have trained well, and the players are fresh and ready to face a fierce challenge from the Ireland team."

New Zealand XV: W Jordan; M Tele'a, R Ioane, J Barrett, C Clarke; D McKenzie, C Ratima; T Williams, A Aumua, T Lomax, S Barrett (captain), T Vaa'i, W Sititi, S Cane, A Savea.

Replacements: G Bell, O Tu'ungafasi, P Tosi, P Tuipulotu, S Finau, C Roigard, A Lienert-Brown, S Perofeta.