![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1_JS385938558.jpg\")
(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)<\/p>\nThe latest rugby news stories from Wales and beyond today(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)<\/p>\n
These are your morning headlines on Tuesday, November 4<\/p>\n
Uncapped Wales star tipped to start<\/p>\n
James Hook believes OIly Cracknell will start for Wales <\/a>against Argentina this weekend and feels Dan Edwards has done enough to be handed the keys to the number 10 jersey.<\/p>\n Leicester’s Cracknell was called into the Wales squad last week following the injury to Taulupe Faletau. He’s uncapped at Test level but has been involved in the Wales set-up before and Hook hopes his time has come this autumn.<\/p>\n As for Edwards, Hook says the Ospreys<\/a> man’s performances in Japan last summer will give him the advantage over Callum Sheedy and Jarrod Evans.<\/p>\n Picking his team for Scrum V, Hook said: “It’s probably between Nicky Smith, Gareth Thomas, loosehead prop. Nicky Smith, I think Dewi Lake, Archie Griffin probably tighthead prop.<\/p>\n “Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard (second rows). Back row like is Jac (Morgan), obviously captain. (Aaron) Wainwright and I do think Cracknell will come in and I would like to see him. If you are going to bring him in the squad why not play him?<\/p>\n “I’ve got Tomos Williams (at scrum-half), I think Dan Edwards will play at 10. I know they were impressed with him in the summer against Japan, particularly that final Test. So I think he deserves the keys to start at 10.<\/p>\n “Do they go with Joe Hawkins at 12 and then Max Llewellyn at 13? I think I would, just looking at the options we’ve got, I know we’ve got (Nick) Tompkins there as well but I’d like to see, Joe Hawkins offers a bit of everything. I think he’s a 12 and not a 10.<\/p>\n “I know he’s been talked about as a 10. He’s a player who can carry the ball, he can distribute, he’s got a bit of a kicking game, so he could be another option for Dan Edwards at 10 and then Max Llewellyn has got that directness at 13 which we need against every team we play this autumn.<\/p>\n “I’d go (Blair) Murray at 15, if he (Louis Rees-Zammit) is fit he obviously goes in and then you got Josh Adams, who’s hit a bit of form as well. Obviously he’s got that experience, I would pick him but if Rees-Zammit isn’t fit I’d probably go Tom Rogers then because I think he’s been excellent for Wales every opportunity he’s had.<\/p>\n “So we’re pretty blessed for the back three.”<\/p>\n England poaching Wales’ best talent<\/p>\n Former Wales outside-half Elinor Snowsill has warned England are trying to poach Wales’ best young women’s talent.<\/p>\n Snowsill, who now works at one of the Welsh Rugby Union’s leading player development centres and coaches the national U-18s side, revealed her frustration at the “head-hunting” from across the bridge that is targeting what she calls a “golden generation” of young players starting to come through.<\/p>\n She says there are multiple young players currently considering ditching Wales for England following approaches to follow in the footsteps of Meg Jones and Lucy Packer – two Welsh-born players who play for England.<\/p>\n “It feels wrong,” Snowsill told the BBC<\/a>.<\/p>\n “In the past couple of months some of our most talented players at age grade are being approached by England and asked to go over there instead.<\/p>\n “I find it very frustrating as they’ve come up through Welsh systems and pathways.<\/p>\n “You’ve seen the RFU [Rugby Football Union] invest heavily in their top side in the Red Roses. In contrast Wales and Scotland have invested heavily in their pathways in the last couple of years,” she said.<\/p>\n “They [England] are so dominant right now, they’ve got so many players playing.<\/p>\n “There’s a couple [of Welsh players] that are saying this is actually what I want to do.<\/p>\n “They watched Wales come out in the early stages of the World Cup and not perform and then watched England lift a trophy and the buzz around that.”<\/p>\n Barrett brothers to miss Scotland clash<\/p>\n New Zealand have confirmed Scott Barrett and brother Jordie will miss the clash with Scotland this weekend through injury.<\/p>\n Both left the field at Soldier Field in Chicago last weekend with knocks during the 26-13 win over Ireland.<\/p>\n Head coach Scott Robertson has now given an update on the pair, and it’s not positive news.<\/p>\n Lock Barrett suffered a laceration on his leg in the third minute and had to leave the field, while his centre brother went for a scan on Monday on his ankle and knee.<\/p>\n \u201cJordie got a scan today, so we\u2019ll find out a little bit more this afternoon,\u201d Robertson said at the squad\u2019s new base in Edinburgh. \u201cHe got hip-dropped and landed on, and it got a bit awkward there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAs good as the cut\u2019s healing, well, he [Scott Barrett] won\u2019t be available for this weekend. Once we get the scan [for Jordie], we\u2019ll see\u2026both of them won\u2019t be available for this weekend,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Steward a doubt for Fiji<\/p>\n By Duncan Bech, PA Rugby Union Correspondent<\/p>\n Freddie Steward has emerged as a doubt for Saturday\u2019s clash with Fiji at Allianz Stadium in what could be a significant test of England\u2019s full-back resources.<\/p>\n Steward suffered a hand injury in the closing stages of the 25-7 victory over Australia that launched the autumn and, while he was able to finish the match, his ability to train this week has been impacted.<\/p>\n He sat out Monday\u2019s session and will also miss practice on Tuesday, leaving him with a race against time to prove his fitness for Thursday\u2019s team announcement.<\/p>\n If Leicester\u2019s 24-year-old aerial master is ruled out, England will be forced to turn to their fourth choice in the position by selecting one of several fringe options.<\/p>\n With George Furbank and Elliot Daly unavailable because of calf problems and a fractured forearm respectively, Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck would compete for the number 15 jersey.<\/p>\n Each of the three bring a different skill set to the position, while Freeman and Roebuck were in action against Australia, but neither are front-line full-backs for club or country.<\/p>\n Another decision facing Steve Borthwick is whether to use the visit of the autumn\u2019s weakest opposition to Twickenham as an opportunity to give Ben Earl time at inside centre.<\/p>\n Borthwick intends presenting Earl, a back row by trade, with his first start in the midfield in one of this month\u2019s four Tests, having previously moved him there during matches.<\/p>\n It is part of a drive to increase positional flexibility ahead of the 2027 World Cup. Henry Pollock being given time on the wing is another experiment under consideration.<\/p>\n Earl, who was named player of the match against the Wallabies, insists he is ready to make the switch if needed.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a massive strength of our squad and hopefully it is a strength of myself,\u201d the Saracens number eight said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have got a lot of boys now who could do a good job anywhere. Henry could do a very good job on the wing, Ted Hill when he was involved was very, very fast as well.<\/p>\n \u201cA good game as a 12 or a 13 and a good game as a back row \u2013 it\u2019s scary how aligned they are. The best 12s, best sevens, best eights \u2013 they almost all have the same skill set. It is going to become the norm.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I was ever to play 12, Steve would just want me to be myself and bring what I can bring.<\/p>\n \u201cThe moment you start losing a bit of your self-identity and start trying to shoehorn yourself into a different role, you lose what you bring.<\/p>\n \u201cEngland\u2019s big thing for the last couple of years and for as long I have been involved is bring your super strength, bring what you can do and see where that gets you.\u201d<\/p>\n Saracens\u2019 19-year-old sensation Noah Caluori has been named in an initial 30-man England \u2018A\u2019 squad for Saturday\u2019s clash against a New Zealand XV at the Recreation Ground.<\/p>\n Caluori\u2019s debut season has begun with a bang after he scored six tries in four Gallagher Prem appearances, resulting in a call-up by Borthwick last week to help preparations for Australia.<\/p>\n Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our<\/strong> free daily newsletter here<\/strong><\/a> and our <\/strong>WhatsApp channel here<\/strong><\/a> for all the breaking news.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can also follow us on social media on our <\/strong>X account<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> Instagram<\/strong><\/a> and<\/strong> TikTok.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n For more exclusive stories and in-depth analysis, you can <\/strong>sign up for the Inside Welsh Rugby substack newsletter here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"Steve](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_JS386420631-1.jpg\")
Steve Tandy casts an eye over his Wales squad<\/p>\n