These are the rugby stories making headlines on the evening of Thursday, October 30.Dillon Lewis (second right) says he’s desperate to get back in the Wales squad (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)

These are your headlines on the evening of Thursday, October 30.

Lewis ‘desperate’ for Wales recall

Dillon Lewis says he hasn’t retired from Test rugby and he is “desperate” to make it back into the Wales squad.

Lewis last played for Wales during the 2024 Six Nations and he says he has no desire to hang up his international boots just yet. In fact, it is quite the opposite, as he tells tonight’s Scrum V.

“I have not retired yet,” said Lewis.

“I am desperate to get back in the Welsh squad and that was a big factor in coming home to play in Wales.

“I am as hungry as ever and hopefully after the injury, I can get some games under my belt and put my hand back up.”

Lewis now faces a period on the sidelines after tearing his calf against the Ospreys at Rodney Parade last weekend.

“I have had scans and it feels like it will be a while out at the moment,” Lewis added, who joined the Dragons from Harlequins in the summer.

“I have to see the specialist and we will see.”

Williams backs duo to shine

Former Wales international Lloyd Williams has praised the form of recalled Callum Sheedy – and believes Cardiff team-mate Alex Mann can be a hit for club and country for years to come.

Both Sheedy and Mann were named in Steve Tandy’s Wales squad for the upcoming autumn internationals, with the former back in the reckoning after a three-year absence.

The fly-half’s performances have been key to Cardiff’s impressive start to the URC campaign and they have been rewarded with international recognition, something Williams feels is fully deserved.

“I think Callum Sheedy has been at the heart of everything that’s been good about Cardiff at the start of this season,” he told SportIn Wales.

“His short kicking game is one of the best out there and I think a lot of the good that’s come of it has been through him.

“Getting back in Welsh squad, it’s well documented that that was a big target for him and I’m really happy for him that he’s done that.

“Great to see Alex Mann again, back in the squad, he’s a great player and such a promising player for Cardiff and for Wales over the next five, six years – maybe even longer.

“He’s such a young guy so to see boys like that, that I was fortunate enough to see come through the academy, to be now kicking on to the national stages, it’s great for them and great for me as well.”

Wallabies name team for England

PA staff

Taniela Tupou will make his first appearance for Australia in over a month after being restored to the front row for Saturday’s match against England at Allianz Stadium.

Tupou, the giant tighthead prop dubbed ‘Tongan Thor’, last appeared for the Wallabies in their 33-24 defeat by New Zealand at Eden Park on September 27.

Australia captain Harry Wilson is recalled to the starting XV after being picked on the bench for last Saturday’s 19-14 victory over Japan in Tokyo and is joined in the back row by Rob Valetini.

Jake Gordon and Tane Edmed are paired together at half-back for a third successive Test and they will marshal a backline that includes the centre combination of Hunter Paisami and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

“The group travelled well to London earlier in the week and have had a couple of training (sessions) ahead of this weekend’s Test,” head coach Joe Schmidt said.

“The coaches have tried to balance this year’s tough schedule in terms of Test matches and travel, so it was great to freshen a few players up last weekend and we hope that allows the group to be really competitive on Saturday.”

Doris returns for All Blacks clash

By Edward Elliot, PA

Ireland captain Caelan Doris is poised to make his return from a six-month injury lay-off as a replacement in Saturday’s showdown with New Zealand in Chicago.

Leinster back-rower Doris has not played since suffering a shoulder issue during his province’s defeat by Northampton in the Investec Champions Cup semi-finals on May 3.

The 27-year-old, who underwent surgery and missed the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia, has been in full training following Ireland’s arrival in the United States last week.

With Doris on the bench, Jack Conan will start at number eight to make his first appearance since the Lions series, while hooker Dan Sheehan will skipper the side at Soldier Field.

Uncapped Leinster prop Paddy McCarthy – the 22-year-old younger brother of injured lock Joe McCarthy – is also among the replacements.

Head coach Andy Farrell is set to take charge of the team for the first in almost a year following his sabbatical with the Lions.

Jack Crowley has been selected ahead of Sam Prendergast at fly-half, while Tommy O’Brien and Jamie Osborne will start at right wing and full-back respectively after injuries ruled out Mack Hansen and Hugo Keenan.

O’Brien, 27, made his international debut during the summer, scoring two tries in the 34-5 win over Georgia before repeating the feat a week later in a 106-7 rout of Portugal.

Following the retirement of Peter O’Mahony, Ryan Baird starts at blindside flanker, joining Conan and Josh van der Flier in the back row.

Stand-in skipper Sheehan will pack down between props Andrew Porter and Tadhg Furlong, ahead of James Ryan and Tadhg Beirne in the second row.

Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park will partner Crowley, with Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose in midfield and James Lowe on the left wing.

Hooker Ronan Kelleher, prop Finlay Bealham, lock Iain Henderson, scrum-half Craig Casey and centre Bundee Aki join Doris, Prendergast and Test newcomer McCarthy on the bench.

Ireland memorably recorded a first victory over the All Blacks – winning 40-29 – when the sides previously met in Chicago, in 2016.

They have beaten New Zealand a further four times since then, including a historic 2-1 tour success in 2022, but were defeated in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup and last November in Dublin.

Head coach Farrell said: “The clashes with New Zealand over the years have been fantastic occasions and we’re expecting more of the same on Saturday.

“The historic nature of this game is something we are embracing and there’s great excitement in the squad, not least for Paddy McCarthy who is set to make his international debut this weekend.

“Paddy has made a great start to the season and his selection is testament to his impressive form.”

Following the autumn opener, Ireland host Japan, Australia and world champions South Africa on the following three Saturdays at the Aviva Stadium.

Ireland team: J Osborne (Leinster); T O’Brien (Leinster), G Ringrose (Leinster), S McCloskey (Ulster), J Lowe (Leinster); J Crowley (Munster), J Gibson-Park (Leinster); A Porter (Leinster), D Sheehan (Leinster, capt), T Furlong (Leinster), J Ryan (Leinster), T Beirne (Munster), R Baird (Leinster), J van der Flier (Leinster), J Conan (Leinster).

Replacements: R Kelleher (Leinster), P McCarthy (Leinster), F Bealham (Connacht), I Henderson (Ulster), C Doris (Leinster), C Casey (Munster), S Prendergast (Leinster), B Aki (Connacht).

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