Tonight's rugby news as Wales coach will take 'ugly' win and prop moves past selection frustrations

Your rugby evening headlines on Wednesday, November 6.

Wales would take "ugly win" against dangerous Fiji

Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys insists they will take an "ugly win" against Fiji on Sunday.

Warren Gatland's side have lost nine Test matches in a row and defeat at the Principality Stadium on Sunday would see Wales equal the record number of defeats on the bounce, set by Sir Steve Hansen's side in 2002-03. Wales face a Fiji side who they only just beat in a titanic tussle at last year's Rugby World Cup and Humphreys admits his side would take any sort of victory.

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"The win we would take but if we get the processes and everything we try to do on a day-to-day basis right then we've got more chance of getting over the line and getting that win," said the former Wales hooker. "The thing we can't do is focus on an outcome, you just can't do that because this game is about minute-by-minute, second-by-second.

"The only thing we can actually control is that process and if we end up with a great process and getting an ugly win we'll take that. We'd probably just take an ugly win."

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Fiji suffered a 57-17 hiding at the hands of Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend but are boosted by the return of 11 English and French based players. World class talents such as Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova and Jiuta Wainiqolo are expected to figure for the Pacific Islanders on Sunday.

And Humphreys is extremely respectful of the dangers posed by Fiji. "They are incredibly dangerous," he said.

"They come down the short side and you think there's nothing on it's like a four v four or a four v three and they'll get someone free. Once they get behind you they are so difficult to stop. We did a lot of work on them in the World Cup.

"That first game you were like at any point they can go and score but at any point they can make a mistake. It's about us.. what are we, what are our principles and what do we do?

"The first port of call is us. If we get that right we'll be ok but if we get over anxious about what they could bring then you are going away from what it is you need to do to win. It's that balance for us.

"We have a huge amount of respect for them. In the World Cup we got away from them and got a couple of scores up but then before you know it if they hit 12 short in that last play he's going in under the sticks.

"It's a really tough one for us."

Wales prop Smith reveals lifts the lid on frustrating few seasons

Nicky Smith has revealed his frustrations at getting left out of the Wales squad in recent seasons but now he is back in the international fold he is confident of making an impact.

The 30-year-old had been one of the best scrummaging looseheads in the United Rugby Championship during his time at the Ospreys but was repeatedly left out of Wales squads. But having moved to Leicester Tigers , Smith finds himself back in the Wales fold after a frustrating few years.

"I found I had a lot of my caps in my younger days but I feel like I'm playing better rugby now," Smith told the BBC's Scrum V podcast. "The caps have dried up a bit.

"I think that's been the frustrating bit for me. I feel like I'm playing my best rugby and getting better over these last few years but the caps are drying up.

"At the beginning when I was a young pup I seemed to get cap after cap but it didn't feel like I was playing very well. That's mentally been a bit of a challenge.

"It then got to a point where it is what it is. All I can do is perform for my club and hopefully if I get an opportunity for Wales I can take it, if I can't it is what it is."

Smith is widely considered to be one of the best scrummaging props around but he admits he has been working hard on other areas of his game.

"For me it's just trying to be more consistent and trying to be more consistent. I'll always pride myself on the set-piece, that's come from the Ospreys.

"I was lucky with the academy coaches I had, Mefin Davies, and then when I first stepped into senior rugby it was Duncan Jones who looked after me. They both said you scrum first and worry about the rest later.

"I think the game has evolved. Of course there's still the basics, you've got to scrum as a prop and you hit your rucks.

"They are your gold medal stuff but you've also got to offer yourself around the park. I do my best to get my hands on the ball and if there's a physical contest in the tackle or carry then I'll always try to put my best foot forward.

"I think it's just getting more involved and getting in the game more for me but still pride on my set-piece and ruck work.

Ireland dealt major blow

Ireland have suffered a major blow ahead of Friday's eagerly anticipated Test match with New Zealand, with world class tighthead Tadhg Furlong ruled out through injury.

Furlong is replaced in the starting XV but Connacht prop Finlay Bealham and the All Blacks will fancy their chances of dominating Ireland at scrum time. Head coach Andy Farrell has made some big calls in the backline with Mack Hansen returning to the team in place of Calvin Nash while Garry Ringrose has got the nod over Robbie Henshaw in midfield.

Farrell has gone with a massive pack which includes Joe McCarthy, James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier and Caelan Doris. Jamison Gibson-Park, who missed their summer tour of South Africa, comes back in at scrum-half to partner outside-half Jack Crowley.

“I am really pleased with the effort of the squad across the week’s training camp in Portugal. Since assembling at the IRFU high performance centre last week, the players have brought real application to training and it’s great to see a number of players back from injury, which is testament to their diligence and the superb work of the medical team,” Farrell said.

“It’s a hugely exciting four weeks ahead in Aviva Stadium and we know we’ll need to perform at a high level to beat a top-class New Zealand side. The challenge doesn’t come much bigger or better than New Zealand at a packed Aviva Stadium on a Friday night under lights with a home crowd roaring us on.”

Ireland: Hugo Keenan; Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Finlay Bealham; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (captain).

Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson, Peter O’Mahony, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley, Jamie Osborne.

Borthwick happy with England culture

Steve Borthwick insists he is happy with the culture within the England squad following damning comments made by former scrum-half Danny Care about the previous regime under Eddie Jones.

In his autobiography Care slammed the culture created by former England and Australia coach Jones. "Remember what it felt like when someone was being bullied at school and you were just glad it wasn´t you?" wrote Care, who is now retired from international rugby.

"That was the vibe." But current England boss Borthwick insists he has created a strong culture where the players are empowered.

"There are plenty of times where we have ideas and we discuss them," he said. "It's almost on a daily basis.

"Ill be chatting with players and bouncing ideas around and then things get moulded, adapted and improved. The players are the ones on the pitch who know the game better than anyone else.

"The best players are the best coaches and luckily we have some great, great minds in this group. In this autumn we´ve had a notable step forward in terms of the players speaking in team meetings, sharing their opinions. I´m trying to create an environment that is right for this group at this time."