Wales v New Zealand: Cardiff's Rhys Priestland eases Wayne Pivac's fly-half worries

Rhys Priestland made the last of his 50 Wales appearances against New Zealand in 2017 and could face them again at the end of this month

Rhys Priestland has eased some of Wales' fly-half worries before their 30 October encounter with New Zealand.

Cardiff colleague Jarrod Evans is in a fitness race for that game while Dan Biggar and Callum Sheedy are unavailable.

The pair will not be released by their English clubs to face New Zealand because the match is scheduled outside World Rugby's international window.

Priestland has passed head injury protocols to face Ospreys on Saturday.

Evans damaged his sternum after replacing 34-year-old Priestland in Cardiff's 33-21 victory over Connacht last Friday and faces a minimum absence of four weeks.

His injury is among the issues Wales coach Wayne Pivac is wrestling with before they face the All Blacks in Cardiff.

If Evans is ruled out, Priestland, Gareth Anscombe and Sam Davies would appear to be Pivac's options for the All Blacks game before Biggar and Sheedy return to face South Africa on 6 November. Scarlets' Rhys Patchell has not played since October 2020 and is currently sidelined by a calf problem.

Gareth Anscombe played his first competitive game since August 2019 for Ospreys against Dragons on Sunday after recovering from a serious knee injury and again starts for the hosts against Cardiff.

The Ospreys fly-half impressed in his 70-minute display, scoring 12 points and creating the important third try for Luke Morgan.

The Wales coach was watching as Priestland was forced off after a minute with a head injury on his competitive debut following his summer move from Bath.

• Biggar back for Saints against Exiles

• North eyes festive return from injury

• Ospreys coach Booth calls for patience over Anscombe

Evans came on for Priestland before picking up his problem in an aerial challenge.

Cardiff director of rugby Dai Young said: "Rhys has passed his return-to-play protocols throughout the week so we're happy that he's been given the go-ahead to feature."

Young earlier said Evans' diagnosis was more encouraging than expected as the region hope he returns before the end of the opening block of league games on 23 October.

"It is good news on both," said Young.

"We know Jarrod is not going to be available for a number of weeks. It was a sternum injury which looked really nasty and he was in a lot of pain leaving the ground and went straight to hospital.

"He has had scans, there is nothing broken there and no damage to any major organs which is always a concern when somebody has a nasty chest injury.

"So it is just bruising which will take time to settle. He is still in a bit of pain, but no lasting damage, which is the positive. You don't want your best players to be out for any length of time, but at least it's nothing too serious."

When asked how much rugby Evans would miss, Young added: "A lot of it is down to pain management and how long things take to settle. We are definitely looking at a minimum of four weeks and it could be longer.

"You just don't know with these types of injuries. You tend to have a better picture after 10 days. If we get any rugby out of him in this block it will be the later games. I am just pleased he is OK."

Ben Thomas, 22, who won his debut Wales cap against Canada in June, is on Cardiff's bench against Ospreys in Swansea.