THERE’S NO ALL BLACK HOODOO, SAYS FRANCIS

WALES will not entertain talk of their curse against New Zealand this week, as they aim to be the history boys in Cardiff. The Welsh have not beaten the All Blacks since 1953 and it will be another tall order for them on Saturday, with seven English-based players unavailable — as the Test is outside the international window — plus injuries to George North, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi and fitness doubts over Liam Williams and Ellis Jenkins. But the Six Nations champions are sick of historical statistics. Asked if they had a mental block against New Zealand, prop Tomas Francis said: ‘I don’t think so. People used to say that about

Australia, then we beat them twice in a year (in 2019). I don’t think there’s a hoodoo. ‘It doesn’t affect us what people say. We’ve had a lot of time since Wayne Pivac has come in, the squad has developed, and it’s a great chance to show that.’

RAFFI QUIRKE may fall down England’s scrum-half pecking order, having entered camp with a knee injury. The Sale No 9 should be fit to train by the end of the week, but he will still miss precious time before the Test against Tonga on November 6.