Players are ready to perform despite all the 'noise', insists Smith

PROP Nicky Smith says the Wales squad will not “bury heads in the sand” over the prospect of a professional club being cut.

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Wales start their autumn series with uncertainty due to the Welsh Rugby Union wanting to go from four regions to three - with Ospreys and Scarlets in the firing line.

“Of course there is a lot of noise but the main thing is that the boys just want to play for Wales,” said Smith, formerly of Ospreys and now at Leicester.

“Whether on the pitch or in training, they just want to put their best foot forward.

“There is no point burying our heads in the sand. It's good that we talk about it off the pitch and then when we are on it we are focused and have got everything off our chests.”

Wales kickoff their campaign under new head coach Steve Tandy against Argentina on Sunday, with further games against Japan, New Zealand and South Africa.