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nations-championship
Aaron Wainwright is a doubt for Wales’ Nations Championship clash New Zealand after an injury against Japan.
Leicester back rower Wainwright has been wearing a protective boot since Saturday’s 28-21 win over the Brave Blossoms and did not practice on Tuesday.
“He’s walking around in a boot right now, but it’s more of a precaution,” he said Wales assistant coach Dan Lydiate.
“The medical staff are assessing him and working as quickly as possible to turn him around.
“I don’t know if it will be available this week, but they are doing everything they can to make sure it is.”
The 29-year-old, who played 71 games, has been a key player for Wales since Steve Tandy took over in 2025.
Wainwright made some customary attacking runs in Wales’ autumn opener, replicating the form he produced at Gallagher Prem since leaving the Dragons this summer.
Lydiate said: “I don’t know how many Test caps he has now but he is such a leader in terms of his ability to carry the ball.
“We’ve been lucky that Aaron has been quite robust for many years, given the position he plays.
“You want your best players on the pitch and a quality player like Aaron is a loss when he’s not available for us, but it gives someone else another chance.
“You never know – we might find the next Aaron Wainwright.”
Tandy’s fourth win in 13 Tests proved a struggle as Wales had to withstand late pressure to deny Japan scored to leave Cardiff with a potential draw.
Wales face a far more serious challenge on Saturday against All black peoplewho have won the last 34 meetings between the two nations – a streak stretching back 73 years.
New Zealand have scored over 50 points in their last three matches.
Lydiate said: “We have no illusions about how difficult it will be.
“They are a well-trained team and they might not give you many chances, but when they do we have to take them.
“It’s the same when we’re defending. It’s fine to try to defend 15 or 20 phases once, but you don’t want to do it every set because it takes so much out of you.
“We’re going to need a performance that we all aspire to, not necessarily a perfect performance.”
The former Lydiat flank has played New Zealand twice in his 72-game career, losing 37-25 and 34-15 in 2010 and 2014 respectively in matters closer to Cardiff than in recent years.
Asked if Wales had genuine hopes of beating the All Blacks, Lydiate said: “If you go out thinking, ‘As long as we keep it under a certain score’, you’ve already lost.
“You always have the mindset to go out and win, because if you don’t, you’re dead in the water.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve played them twice and I’ve never beaten them. We haven’t beaten them in a long time, but there’s always going to be a first time.”
“The guys who take the field on Saturday will be 100 percent behind to get the result.
“You can’t be conservative. Seize the moment and hopefully take advantage of every chance that comes our way.”
