Wales name team for first home fixture of the Nations Championship

Head coach Steve Tandy has announced the Wales team to play Japan at Principality Stadium in round four of the Nations Championship on Saturday 7 November, KO 16.40h.

Archie Griffin is named at tighthead prop and Dafydd Jenkins starts in the second row. Both players will make their first appearances in the Nations Championship having missed the first three rounds of the competition due to injury.

Nicky Smith is selected at loosehead prop for his first start of the championship. Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker, joining Smith and Griffin in the front row.

Ben Carter partners Jenkins in the second row, returning to the Wales starting line-up after missing round three due to injury.

In the back row, Alex Mann is named at blindside flanker, with Jac Morgan at openside flanker and Aaron Wainwright at No. 8.

Sam Costelow is selected at fly half and Tomos Williams at scrum half.

Max Llewellyn is named at inside centre with Eddie James at outside centre.

Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams start on the wings. Blair Murray is named at fullback to complete the starting XV.

On the Wales bench Ryan Elias, Rhys Carré and Tomas Francis are the front row replacements. Teddy Williams is covering the second row and James Botham is covering the back row.

Reuben Morgan-Williams and Dan Edwards are the replacement half-backs, while Louie Hennessey is in line to make his first appearance at Principality Stadium after having won his first cap away to Ireland in the Guinness Six Nations earlier in the year.

Tandy said: “There’s lots of competition for position within the squad, which is where we want to be. We’re excited to be to back at home. We want to go out there on Saturday, put our mark on the match and start the next phase in our Nations Championship campaign strongly.”

Wales team to face Japan at Principality Stadium
Saturday 7 November, KO 16.40h. Live on ITV and S4C

15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 19 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears – 43 caps)
13. Eddie James (Scarlets – 11 caps)
12. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 13 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 72 caps)
10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 22 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Saracens – 75 caps)
1. Nicky Smith (Sale Sharks – 66 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Captain, Gloucester Rugby – 34 caps)
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby  – 16 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 31 caps)
5. Ben Carter (Dragons  – 21 caps)
6. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 18 caps)
7. Jac Morgan (Gloucester Rugby – 27 caps)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Leicester Tigers – 70 caps)

Replacements
16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 51 caps)
17. Rhys Carré (Saracens – 31 caps)
18. Tomas Francis (Sale Sharks – 82 caps)
19. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 10 caps)
20. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 24 caps)
21. Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys – 3 caps)
22. Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 13 caps)
23. Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby – 1 cap)