‘THERE’LL BE NO BETTER BAPTISM OF FIRE’

WALES SKIPPER DAN LYDIATE’S GIVE-IT-EVERYTHING MESSAGE TO HIS ROOKIE TEAMMATES

WALES stand-in skipper Dan Lydiate has left his rookie team-mates in no doubt about what he expects against Georgia in Cardiff tomorrow.

The 2013 Test Lion leads a side showing 14 personnel changes from last weekend’s 29-21 defeat to Australia, with five players – Owen Watkin, Leon Brown, Adam Beard, Seb Davies and Sam Cross – making their first international starts at the Principality Stadium.

Lydiate admits it is going to be a baptism of fire for Wales’ next generation as they prepare to face a physical Georgia side who will be looking to give their hosts a bloody nose in the Welsh capital.

And his message to the players is a simple one.

“I’ll chuck myself in front of a bus for the team, so if the rest of the boys are the same, then we’ll get on great,” said Lydiate, who will lead his country for a third time in the Test arena.

“I remember what it’s like to have played your first, second and third Test match.

There will be a lot of nerves there, I’m feeling nerves myself, but it’s about channelling those in the right way.

“I’m excited to be here and captaining such a young bunch.

“As a pack, if we do well against a big, heavy Georgian eight it will only stand us in good stead in the future.

“Georgia will be rubbing their hands together, but, to be fair, our boys will be doing the same. There’s no better baptism of fire.”

Lydiate will win his 61st cap tomorrow, while the rest of the Welsh pack have just 32 international appearances to their name.

“We just feel this is an opportunity for some of the youngsters to be exposed at this level and to build for the next two years,” said head coach Warren Gatland.

Wales latest: Pages 42-45