Tonight's rugby news as Wales duo get 'kick up the backside' and English giants tie down rising Welsh star

Your evening rugby headlines on Wednesday, November 13.

Wales pair given 'kick up the backside' after missing out on selection

Warren Gatland hopes the omission of Rio Dyer and Taine Plumtree from the squad to face Australia will act as a 'kick up the backside' for both players.

Despite starting every Test for Wales last season Dyer lost his place in the starting XV to Mason Grady against Fiji and now Tom Rogers for Sunday's clash with the Wallabies. Gatland insists the Dragons wing can bounce back but believes Rogers deserves an opportunity following his impressive early season form for the Scarlets.

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"So Tom's trained exceptionally well in the last few weeks," said Gatland. "We've been really impressed with him.

"We think he's played well for the Scarlets. He was one of the players that we spoke about for the first game.

"What we've been really happy with him in terms of not just single efforts, he's been double and triple efforts, getting up off the ground, getting back and working hard. He's been good in the air, he's finished tries and for Rio, it's probably been a little bit mixed.

"Excellent during the World Cup, he probably wasn't on top of his game as much in the Six Nations, good on the summer tour, and probably his form hasn't been where he would have liked it for the Dragons in the last few weeks. We're not giving up on him, it's probably a little bit of a reminder and a kick up the backside that you've got to continue to work hard and improve and keep fighting for your place.

"It just doesn't come easy. Other people will have got that opportunity. But I said, for us, if I go back to the World Cup stuff, he's probably the most improved player in Wales over that 12-month period.

"So he’s got to make sure he continues to do that. I’ve got a lot of time for him as an individual, as a person, and as a player. I was really pleased with the way he trained this morning and the response that he's had to that disappointment."

Gatland has also dropped backrower Plumtree from the squad with James Botham taking his place on the blindside and Christ Tshiunza on the bench.

Gatland said: "For Taine Plumtree it's probably a little bit the same message but not in the same way.

"I'm sure he'll be really disappointed. We see him as an outstanding player for the future.

"Probably for him, the message is we know he's going to be good. There were probably a few errors around his game last week that need to be tidied up. And Jim Botham gets that opportunity. He's trained exceptionally well and we think that's the right mix for this weekend."

Rising Wales star commits to Bath

Wales U20s centre Louie Hennessey has put pen to paper on a new long-term contract with Bath.

The 20-year-old is one of Wales' brightest prospects and has been compared to All Blacks great Sonny Bill Williams because of his out of the back door offloads. There was talk in some quarters Hennessey might return to Wales but despite not getting much game time for Bath in the Gallagher Premiership this season he has opted to remain in the West Country.

“I’m happy to be extending my time here at Bath Rugby,” he said. “I’ve loved every minute since I joined and I’m excited to see what the future holds for me individually and collectively as a group.”

Hennessey, who also qualifies for England, will remain eligible for Wales selection despite the 25-cap law because there is a loophole for uncapped players. “I am very happy that Louie is continuing his journey with Bath Rugby," said Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan.

“He is an exceptional talent and his hunger to improve is an attribute Louie possesses, which I love in a player.”

Ireland star to break record

Cian Healy is set to move alongside Brian O’Driscoll as Ireland’s most-capped international after being named among the replacements for Friday’s clash with Argentina.

Leinster prop Healy, who made his debut against Australia in November 2009, will win his 133rd Test cap, if he comes off the bench at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Centre Robbie Henshaw has been selected ahead of Bundee Aki in the only change to Andy Farrell’s starting XV following last week’s 23-13 loss to New Zealand.

Uncapped Leinster pair Thomas Clarkson and Sam Prendergast are in line to make international debuts from the bench.

Former Ireland Under-20 prop Clarkson, 24, was originally selected for the autumn campaign as a training panellist but has been given an opportunity in the absence of Tadhg Furlong and Tom O’Toole.

Fly-half Prendergast is preferred to provincial team-mate Ciaran Frawley and will provide back-up for number 10 Jack Crowley. The 21-year-old was an unused member of Farrell’s squad for the summer tour to South Africa.

Forward Ryan Baird and scrum-half Craig Casey have also been added to a rejigged bench.

Iain Henderson and Conor Murray join O’Toole, Aki and Frawley in dropping out of the match-day 23.

Head coach Farrell said: “There has been a sharp focus in training this week and the squad are determined to get back to winning ways in front of a vocal home crowd.

“Friday will be a special night at Aviva Stadium for more reasons than one. For Tom and Sam, their promotion to the match-day squad for the first time is testament to their form, talent and application over the last number of weeks and we congratulate them on their selection.

“For Cian, on the other end of the career spectrum, it will be an incredible moment for him, his family and friends to reach Brian O’Driscoll’s 133-cap landmark.

“We’ll pay tribute to Cian again, but he is a legend of the game in Ireland and his influence amongst his team-mates, past and present, transcends his many successes on the field.

“It promises to be a special night.”

Ireland team: H Keenan (Leinster); M Hansen (Connacht), G Ringrose (Leinster), R Henshaw (Leinster), J Lowe (Leinster); J Crowley (Munster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), R Kelleher (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), J McCarthy (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), J van der Flier (Leinster), C Doris (Leinster, capt).

Replacements: R Herring (Ulster), C Healy (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster), R Baird (Leinster), P O’Mahony (Munster), C Casey (Munster), S Prendergast (Leinster), J Osborne (Leinster).

England players not talking to coach on gardening leave

England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth has revealed he is not sure how involved Felix Jones is and admits none of Steve Borthwick's backroom team has had any contact with him.

Former Ireland international Jones was appointed England defence coach in 2024 but is currently serving out a 12-month notice period after announcing his resignation. Since then Borthwick has brought in Joe El-Abd from French club Oyonnax to shore up the defence this autumn.

England face South Africa this Saturday and despite Jones having been a part of the Springboks' Rugby World Cup winning coaching team neither Borthwick or his assistants have sought out the 37-year-old for advice. “I’ve not spoken to him,” Wigglesworth said.

“I don’t know [if he has been delivering analysis]. He’s behind the scenes, it’s not for me [to say]. For the analysis guys and other people…he was obviously defence and that side of it, so…

“I’m sure [his knowledge of South Africa] has been tapped into but their coaches have [also] changed since he was there. They’re playing a slightly different style.”

England centre Henry Slade was also adamant the players have had no contact with Jones. “We don’t have any contact with Felix,” said Slade.

“I’m not sure if the coaches do or not. We’ve been working with Joe and our defensive leaders, trying to set the defence and the team up to defend as well as possible.

“Obviously things have not quite gone as well and when not everyone is on the same page – some people flying, some people not – it looks a bit ragged. The thing with the blitz is you have to fully commit, go all in, and be together.

"Then it becomes strong.”