Scarlets centre Joe Roberts will make his Wales debut in a staff exhibiting 15 adjustments for Saturday’s World Cup warm-up conflict towards England at Twickenham.
Roberts, 23, is partnered in midfield by Nick Tompkins, whereas there are additionally begins for the likes of wing Tom Rogers, fly-half Owen Williams, lock Rhys Davies and flanker Tommy Reffell.
Hooker Dewi Lake captains a aspect that sees Taine Plumtree, who traces up at No 8, handed his first Test begin following a powerful efficiency off the bench in Wales’ 20-9 victory over England final weekend.
Wing Josh Adams, who was high try-scorer on the 2019 World Cup in Japan, wins his fiftieth cap.
There are two uncapped gamers among the many replacements, in the meantime, in Scarlets prop Kemsley Mathias and Ospreys centre Keiran Williams.
Experienced Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate makes a primary Test begin since final autumn, whereas it’s greater than two years since Rogers featured in Wales colors.
And Lake has a chance to push his claims as Wales’ attainable World Cup skipper following a powerful management job carried out by flanker Jac Morgan towards England in Cardiff.
Wales head coach Warren Gatland stated: “There is an opportunity for another group of players who weren’t involved last week. There is some great competition within the squad.
“I was pretty pleased with the team performance and the result last week. It wasn’t perfect, but there is a chance now for this group to go out on Saturday and to put down their own marker.
“Like I said, there is some real competition and perhaps a bit of pressure on this group as well. Then we will look potentially what the make-up of the team is the following week against South Africa.”
Hooker Dewi Lake will captain Wales
(PA Archive)
On the captaincy, Gatland added: “I have been really impressed with Dewi. Like Jac, he is well respected in the group, he has got a voice and he has confidence about himself and his own ability.
“We are in a bit of transition, so in the back of my mind I was thinking we are building not only for the next few months but also starting to think about what we need to do with the next cycle of players going forwards towards 2027.”
Gatland additionally had reward for Adams, who has scored 20 tries for Wales and stands equal sixth alongside Sir Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies and Tom Shanklin on his nation’s all-time record.
“I have a huge amount of respect for Josh,” Gatland stated. “I had a chat to him when he came into the squad – I felt he wasn’t as sharp as I’ve seen him in the past, and he agreed with that.
“He has worked hard. He is looking really sharp in training at the moment, so to get to earn his 50th cap is a fantastic achievement.
“He has been through some adversity – he had to leave Wales to go to the Premiership before we could get him back – but he has come through it and he is a really popular member of the group.”
Wales staff to face England on Saturday: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Josh Adams, 13. Joe Roberts, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Tom Rogers, 10. Owen Williams, 9. Tomos Williams; 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Dewi Lake, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Rhys Davies, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Dan Lydiate, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Taine Plumtree
Replacements: 16. Sam Parry, 17. Kemsley Mathias, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Christ Tshiunza, 20. Taine Basham, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Dan Biggar, 23. Keiran Williams
Source: www.impartial.co.uk
