WALES v NEW ZEALAND
Venue: Millennium Satdium, Cardiff Date: 7 November Kick-off: 1715 GMT
Coverage: Live on BBC TWO Wales, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, plus commentary online

New Zealand wing Sitiveni Sivivatu up-ends Australia's Adam Ashley-Cooper

New Zealand will be without Sitiveni Sivivatu and Tony Woodcock for next Saturday's Test against Wales after both were handed one-week bans.

Wing Sivivatu and loose-head prop Woodcock were both cited after the All Blacks' 32-19 Bledisloe Cup win over Australia in Tokyo on Saturday.

Sivivatu committed a dangerous tackle on Adam Ashley-Cooper, for which he was yellow-carded during the game.

Woodcock appeared to strike Wallaby back-row George Smith with his elbow.

Both men are key players for Graham Henry's All Blacks, whose win in Japan ensured the Kiwis have swept Australia 4-0 in their matches this year.

Sivivatu has scored 26 tries in 40 appearances for New Zealand, including his side's opener against the Wallabies in Tokyo's National Stadium.

606: DEBATE I don't think either the Ozzies or ABs are good enough to go home unbeaten this time, but the injury crisis in England especially and Wales in key positions may just save them Sewinrun

But it is the absence of star prop Woodcock that might be felt more by the tourists at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff next Saturday.

Wales coach Warren Gatland is short of choices at tight-head and is expected to ask Lions loose-head Gethin Jenkins to prop on his less favoured side of the scrum.

First-choice Adam Jones is out of Wales' whole autumn Test series with a shoulder injury, Cardiff Blues' John Yapp has been ruled out for most of the season with a torn bicep, while the Scarlets' Rhys Thomas is out until at least December with a toe problem.

Although Jenkins has proved an able emergency tight-head in the past for Wales, Woodcock is capable of dominating even the best players currently plying their trade in the number three shirt.

The New Zealand pair will be free to return for the following week's Test against Italy in Milan.

Games against England and France follow in November, before the All Blacks finish their tour against the Barbarians at Twickenham on 5 December.

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