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Seven changes, including one new cap, as winless Wales change it up
By Liam Heagney
Warren Gatland has confirmed a Wales team to host Fiji on Sunday with seven alterations from their last Test match 17 weeks ago. The Welsh went down 28-36 to Australia in Melbourne on July 13 and they will go in against the Fijians with four changes to the backs and three to the pack.
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Max Llewellyn, the uncapped Blair Murray, Gareth Anscombe and Tomos Williams are the backline switches, that quartet chosen at the expense of Liam Williams, Owen Watkin, Rio Dyer and the benched Ellis Bevan.
In the pack, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard and Aaron Wainwright are named for the injured skipper Dafydd Jenkins and benched duo Christ Tshiunza and James Botham. Wales are on a nine-match losing streak since they beat Georgia at last year’s Rugby World Cup and a 10th loss would be a record-equalling statistic.
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A WRU statement read: “Blair Murray, selected on the wing, will win his first cap and become the 1,208th men’s international for Wales on Sunday. Captain Dewi Lake is at hooker, Gareth Thomas (loosehead) and Archie Griffin (tighthead) join Lake in the front row.
“Adam Beard and Will Rowlands return to the Wales starting line-up in the second row having missed the summer Tests in Australia. Taine Plumtree is selected at blindside flanker, Tommy Reffell is at openside and Aaron Wainwright completes the back row at No8.
“Tomos Williams starts at scrum-half having missed the summer tour down under due to injury. Gareth Anscombe is named at fly-half, making his first Wales appearance since Rugby World Cup 2023. Ben Thomas is selected at inside centre and Max Llewellyn, who will make his third appearance for Wales this weekend, partners Thomas in the midfield.
“Cameron Winnett is named at full-back to make his eighth consecutive Test start for Wales and Mason Grady completes the starting XV on the wing.
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“There is a six/two split among the Wales replacements. Ryan Elias (hooker), Nicky Smith (loosehead) and Keiron Assiratti (tighthead) are the front row cover, with Christ Tshiunza, James Botham and Jac Morgan the other forward replacements. Ellis Bevan and Sam Costelow are Wales’ replacement backs.”
Gatland said: “We have excellent competition in the squad, so it was a tough selection and there were some close calls but there is a really nice balance for Sunday. We have some experienced players back alongside some exciting youngsters.
“We know how dangerous Fiji can be, so we have got to make sure that we bring physicality and are ruthless on Sunday. We need to be switched on for the full 80 minutes.”
Wales (vs Fiji, Sunday)
15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
14. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 2 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 4 caps)
11. Blair Murray (Scarlets – uncapped / heb gap)
10. Gareth Anscombe (Gloucester Rugby – 37 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 58 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 33 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 15 caps) captain / capten
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 3 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Racing 92 – 33 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 56 caps)
6. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 5 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 20 caps)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 50 caps)
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Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 41 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 46 caps)
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
19. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 12 caps)
20. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)
21. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 15 caps)
22. Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
23. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 15 caps)
