Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Wales trio to make home debuts against Wallabies

Gatland selects Welsh side for Wallabies clash

Owen Williams, Steff Evans and Josh Navidi will make their home debuts for Wales against Australia on Saturday as Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb miss out due to injury.

ADVERTISEMENT

Williams has been named at inside-centre for the clash at Principality Stadium, while wing Evans also gets the nod from the start along with flanker Navidi.

Tipuric and Webb will play no part against the Wallabies in Cardiff due to thigh and knee injuries respectively.

Taulupe Faletau will join inexperienced duo Navidi and Aaron Shingler in the back row, with the injured Sam Warburton also absent for Warren Gatland’s first Test in charge of Wales since resuming his duties following the British and Irish Lions tour.

Uncapped trio Leon Brown, Sam Cross and Owen Watkin have been named among the replacements.

Gatland said: “I’m delighted for Steff Evans, Owen Williams and Josh Navidi that they get their first start at home, the atmosphere will be fantastic and it’s a great opportunity for them.

“It’s going to be a tough first up game, we know that and we need to be up and running.  We have a squad that’s packed with talent and is on form and we are excited to see what they can do.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Owen Williams, Steff Evans, Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (captain), Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Nicky Smith, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, Sam Cross, Aled Davies, Owen Watkin, Hallam Amos.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

A
Another 8 hours ago
Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

"It seems like the idea of Ardie Savea moving to openside flanker is no longer on the table"


Says who? Savea was picked on the open side, with Wallace Sititi at 8, against France. It makes no difference to Savea’s game, whatsoever and allows Sititi to play in his preferred position. It also provides an option to bring in a third loose forward that may provide a better lineout option and a big body to compete with some of the big bodies found in other teams.


It was unfortunate that Finau was injured so early on against France before he had a chance to show how he might combine with Savea and Sititi, and there is still a possibility that Hoskins Sotutu might be effective alongside them too.


Don’t count out viable options.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ What is the future of rugby in 2025? What is the future of rugby in 2025?
Search