Rugby: New Wales coach Wayne Pivac snaps up Kiwi duo Willis Halaholo and Johnny McNicholl

Name: ANZ Sports Scene: Bay Oval all set for international test cricket debut
Uploaded: 2019-11-20T12:32:36+13:00
Duration: 539 s
Description: Tauranga's Bay Oval will host it's first ever international test match starting Thursday, Auckland Tuatara are mourning the sudden death of Ryan Costello and we take a look into the troubled Breakers camp

NZ Herald

19 Nov, 2019 05:00 PM3 mins to read

Tauranga's Bay Oval will host it's first ever international test match starting Thursday, Auckland Tuatara are mourning the sudden death of Ryan Costello and we take a look into the troubled Breakers camp

Wayne Pivac has wasted no time doubling the presence of New Zealanders in the Welsh squad.

Naming his first Wales squad to face Warren Gatland's Barbarians in Cardiff next week, Pivac immediately called up Auckland-born Willis Halaholo, who previously played for Southland, Waikato and the Hurricanes, and former Crusaders outside back Johnny McNicholl.

In recent times Wales have welcomed other Kiwis in the form of former Blues and Chiefs playmaker Gareth Anscombe, who qualifies through his mother, and midfielder Hadleigh Parkes.

Halaholo qualified on residency grounds last month having been at the Cardiff Blues since 2016 while McNicholl, who plays for Scarlets, became available for Wales on November 3 after completing the controversial three-year conversion period.

The pair, both 29, will be some of the last players to sneak in under this criterion – often dubbed the project player rule – before it is extended to five-years from 2020.

McNicholl and Halaholo are among five uncapped players joining 22 members of the Welsh World Cup squad who finished fourth in lining up against the Barbarians next weekend.

"I personally know a lot about Johnny and I had Willis in the Auckland age groups when I was coaching there, so I know his background," Pivac said. "They're both exciting attacking players. It's an opportunity for us to get Willis in for a week and have a look at him.

"We spoke to him earlier in the season about parts of his game we like and parts we think he can work on. It will be an interesting week to see how some players step up into a new environment and he's one of those players.

"It is great to get the squad announced and get the ball rolling on our first meet-up and first fixture next week.

"This Barbarians game is a great chance for us as a new squad and management to get together and to set the scene for what we are looking to do. Having this opportunity ahead of tournament rugby in the Six Nations is ideal for us.

"It is also a great chance for some players to really put their hand up and show what they are about and take to the field in front of a big crowd at home."