Mike Ruddock Game Quotations

It is disappointing news for Wales, for the Ospreys and for Gavin himself. My first reaction was that it seemed a very long period of time to be out of the game given the circumstances.

We've got the players, we believe, if they put their game together can do very well in Paris,

Ryan is not looking great for the New Zealand game,

We expected a struggle to get our game together after so little preparation, but didn't expect that,

In terms of the changes, obviously it does create minor difficulties trying to develop new units. But a lot of guys had game time in the autumn, so I'm hoping some of those teething are out of the way and we can really move our game on and play some exciting rugby.

I think he's right. We had very close games against South Africa and New Zealand but both have improved. Daniel Carter was a novice when we played against him and look at him now.

It's in my interest to protect the group as best I can. That's the mindset down in Wales, and all the more so given the injuries we've had. So the players will be withdrawn from games this weekend. That's to give us the best possible chance.

It's an element of the modern game that is under-used, but - as England also showed against Australia - if you've got a formidable set piece you have to use it.

England have stated this is a massive game for them, their biggest since the World Cup final. Perhaps that puts them under a bit more pressure now to deliver.

England are lying in wait for us and we will build towards that game through our performances in the autumn. This is not a team that is breaking up. I think we can improve.

We've had a tendency to hit a couple of flat spots in the games against England and Italy, ... We've got away with it so far, but against a side like France we could be in trouble.