Pivac forced into yet more changes before finalising the XV to face All Blacks
having left the camp due to a neck injury, it’s Owens’ Scarlets back-up, Ryan Elias, who starts at hooker.
It will be Elias’ 20th cap and his ninth start, but his biggest game yet.
Having been called into camp due to Dee’s departure, Cardiff’s uncapped Kirby Myhill now moves on to the bench.
3. TOMAS FRANCIS
Moving from Exeter to the Ospreys meant the 57-cap Francis remained eligible for Wales under the WRU 60-cap rule and that’s a big boost because he’s such a valued member of the team.
You often feel his contribution doesn’t receive the credit it is due. It really shouldn’t be underrated, not just in terms of being a scrum cornerstone, but also his work-rate in defence and at the ruck and maul coal-face.
With Leon Brown injured, Dillon Lewis gets the nod as tighthead back-up, which means Willgriff John’s wait for that elusive first cap continues.
4. ADAM BEARD
The Ospreys lock provided the perfect response to those who questioned and criticised his call-up to the Lions tour in place of the injured Alun Wyn Jones.
People should have known better because this is a man who has played a key part in two Six Nations titlewinning campaigns.
He proceeded to more than justify his selection out in selection, delivering his trademark all-arms maul defence and also contributing with ball-in-hand.
Will have a crucial role to play against New Zealand, making the calls at the lineout which he helped sort out last season.
With Jake Ball and Cory Hill both having departed Wales for foreign fields, Will Rowlands now gets his chance on the bench having shown up well since arriving at the Dragons from Wasps.
5. ALUN WYN JONES (CAPT)
Provided further proof over the summer that he is not like other men, showing up in South Africa just three weeks after dislocating his shoulder and going on to lead the Lions into a titanic Test tussle with the Springboks.
He’s now fully fit again and showing no sign of his appetite, hunger or work ethic waning having turned 36 month.
As he wins a remarkable 149th Welsh cap, he will have a big job on his hands as he rallies a depleted team for one of the biggest challenges in sport, but who else would you want for the job.
6. ROSS MORIARTY
With the luckless Josh Navidi having suffered a shoulder dislocation which will keep him out for five months and Dan Lydiate not just back from a serious knee injury, Moriarty is the man to provide the physicality and aggression on the blindside flank.
He is looking in good nick and won’t be holding anything back as he moves within one cap of his half century.
7. TAINE BASHAM
The biggest day of his young life beckons.
With Justin Tipuric, summer starter James Botham and Josh Macleod all crocked, now was the time to test out Wales’ much-vaunted depth on the openside.
Who would get the nod? Well the newly-eligible Thomas Young was out of the equation for this one through playing in England, while Ellis Jenkins isn’t quite over his popped rib cartilage yet.
So opportunity knocks for the 21-year-old Basham, who makes his first start after three bench outings in July.
He comes in on the back of some outstanding performances for the Dragons and will bring real dynamism as he offers the ball carrying and handling Pivac is looking for from his No 7.
8. AARON WAINWRIGHT
Warren Gatland tended to employ Wainwright as a blindside, but Pivac sees him as more of a No 8, with his ability to use his athleticism off the base of the scrum.
So with Taulupe Faletau among the excluded English contingent, it’s a big chance for the 24-year-old to deliver the goods as he wins his 32nd cap in an all-dragons back row.
With Ellis Jenkins not quite ready yet, it’s second row Seb Davies who provides the breakaway cover on the bench.
Davies has appeared in the back row for Wales before, but he is very much re-established as a lock with Cardiff.
Given the limited numbers, it’s somewhat surprising there was no call up for a specialist, such as in-form Ospreys openside Jac Morgan.