One new cap as Wales name entirely changed XV for England rematch

Warren Gatland has announced a Wales XV to play England this Saturday at Twickenham that is entirely changed from last weekend’s opening Summer Nations Series match. It includes one new cap to start, midfielder Joe Roberts, while there are two more newcomers on the bench in loosehead Kemsley Mathias and Keiran Williams in the backs.

The Welsh defeated the English 20-9 in that first Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture in Cardiff, a match in which Gatland gave debut Wales caps to five players – the starting midfielder Max Llewellyn and props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti, along with Henry Thomas and Taine Plumtree off the bench.

Plumtree has now been promoted from the replacements to start in the back row in London along with fellow replacement Tomos Williams at scrum-half. Christ Tshiunza, who started last weekend, is named on the bench along with Dan Biggar, who was a week-one sub. Those four players are the only ones retained from last weekend’s match day 23.

Roberts will become the 1,192nd men’s player to represent Wales and he will be partnered in the centre by Nick Tompkins. The back line also features a first run for winger Tom Rogers since July 2021.

Gatland said: “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 at what the make-up of the team is the following week against South Africa.”

Dewi Lake, who takes over at hooker from the injured Ryan Elias, has been named as captain this week. “I have been really impressed with Dewi,” continued Gatland. “Like Jac (Morgan, who captained the side last week), he is well-respected in the group. He has got a voice and 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.”

Wales (vs England, Saturday – 5:30)
15. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 84 caps)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 49 caps)
13. Joe Roberts (Scarlets – uncapped)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 27 caps)
11. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 2 caps)
10. Owen Williams (Ospreys – 7 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 46 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 21 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 8 caps, captain)
3. Tomas Francis (Provence – 71 caps)
4. Rhys Davies (Ospreys – 2 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 46 caps)
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons – 69 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 9 caps)
8. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 1 cap)

Replacements:
16. Sam Parry (Ospreys – 5 caps)
17. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – uncapped)
18. Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 50 caps)
19. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 6 caps)
20. Taine Basham (Dragons – 11 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps)
22. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 108 caps)
23. Keiran Williams (Ospreys – uncapped)