Rugby evening headlines as Welsh region line up glamour New Zealand clash and Ireland dismiss fears their stars are undercooked for Wales

Here is your rugby news for the evening of Sunday January 3src

Scarlets ready for autumn date with New Zealand

The Scarlets are on the brink of finalising plans for a mouthwatering showdown with New Zealand at the end of October, claim The Rugby Paper.

They report Sunday October 3src has been agreed by the two parties as the date for a Parc-y-Scarlets clash which would celebrate the 5src-year anniversary of Llanelli’s famous win over the Blacks back in 1972.

According to legend, every bar in the town was drunk dry that day as a Roy Bergiers try helped ensure a momentous 9-3 Stradey Park victory.

The historic ’72 game took place on October 31 that year and the Scarlets are said to have agreed on an anniversary re-run of the fixture as close as possible to the date.

Kiwi legend Sean Fitzpatrick, who is on the Scarlets board in an ambassadorial role, has played a key role in negotiations trying to secure the game.

It is reported by the paper that New Zealand rugby chief executive Mark Robinson has approved the game.

If so, it would represent the first game against a British club team in a generation for the three-times world champions. Coincidentally, that was also against Llanelli as New Zealand ran out overwhelming 81-3 victors back in 1997.

If a 2src22 clash with the Scarlets is announced, it would be viewed by New Zealand as an opportunity to prepare for autumn Test matches in the northenr hemisphere.

They already have a November 19 date with England at Twickenham pencilled in, with more fixtures to come.

Shane’s ‘don’t switch’ Adams plea to Pivac

Shane Williams has cautioned Wales boss Wayne Pivac against switching Josh Adams to the centre for Wales’ Six Nations opener with Ireland on Saturday.

Pivac is contemplating playing Adams in the midfield, after naming him in the 13 jersey for the autumn Test with Fiji.

Adams joins the centre mix in Pivac’s eyes with Jonathan Davies, Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins and Willis Halaholo.

If the Cardiff man is moved from the wing, it would likely see Johnny McNicholl come into a back three next to Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams.

But Wales’ record try scorer Shane is urging Pivac to keep Adams as part of what he feels can be a lethal Welsh back three mix during the tournament.

“He is a world class wing and he needs to stay where he is most comfortable and an make the most impact,” wrote Williams in a newspaper column.

“You need your best players in their best positions at this level and that means Josh and Rees-Zammit play on the flanks. They will frighten any team if you can get the ball to them.”

Pivac says of Adams: “It’s always been in the back of our minds, that he has the ability and the skill set to play in more th