Alun Wyn Jones to break Richie McCaw's appearance record against New Zealand
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Wales Head coach Wayne Pivac has named his side that combines experience and some of the country’s most exciting young talent for the opening game of the Autumn Nations Series against New Zealand at Principality Stadium.
Captain Alun Wyn Jones will lead his side to the field, in front of a capacity crowd for the first time since February 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and in doing so will become the most capped international rugby player [for any country] of all time.
Jones will make his 149th appearance for Wales on Saturday, surpassing Richie McCaw’s record of 148 appearances for New Zealand.
Pivac has named an experienced front row with Scarlets and British & Irish Lions teammates Wyn Jones and Ken Owens joined by Osprey Tomas Francis. It’s an Ospreys second row pairing with Adam Beard lining up alongside captain Jones. The Dragons trio of Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham and Aaron Wainwright get the nod in the back row.
Basham will make his first start for Wales having made his international debut against Canada during the summer, scoring a brace of tries.
Cardiff Rugby’s Tomos Williams and Ospreys’ Gareth Anscombe line up at scrum half and outside half respectively. Scarlets' centre pairing Johnny Williams and Jonathan Davies take their place in midfield with Cardiff wingers Josh Adams and Owen Lane linking up with Scarlets fullback Johnny McNicholl in the back field.
UPDATE: KEN OWENS HAS BEEN RULED THROUGH INJURY WITH RYAN ELIAS NOW STARTING AT HOOKER AND KIRBY MYHILL COMING ONTO THE BENCH.
Wales team to face New Zealand, at Principality Stadium, on Saturday 30th October
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15 Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets)
14 Owen Lane (Cardiff Rugby)
13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
12 Johnny Williams (Scarlets)
11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby)
10 Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys)
9 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby);
1 Wyn Jones (Scarlets)
2 Ryan Elias (Scarlets)
3 Tomas Francis )Ospreys)
4 Adam Beard (Ospreys)
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – Capt)
6 Ross Moriarty (Dragons)
7 Taine Basham (Dragons)
8 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Replacements
16 Kirby Myhill (Cardiff Rugby)
17 Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby)
18 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby)
19 Will Rowlands (Dragons)
20 Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
21 Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
22 Rhys Priestland (Scarlets)
23 Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby)
