GATLAND SET TO MAKE SHOCK CHANGES AS WALES FACE AUSTRALIA
GARETH Anscombe is set to keep the Wales No.10 10 jersey for Saturday’s clash with Australia at the Principality Stadium.
The Western Mail understands the Cardiff Blues star has been given the nod ahead of the returning Dan Biggar for the biggest game of the autumn series after impressing in the role against Scotland.
Warren Gatland is set to reveal three changes from the side that beat the Scots last time out, but Liam Williams is only expected to be named among the replacements.
England-based Biggar and Williams
Wales (probable):
L Halfpenny; G North, J Davies, H Parkes, J Adams; G Anscombe, G Davies; N Smith, K Owens, T Francis, A Beard, A W Jones (c), D Lydiate, J Tipuric, R Moriarty.
Reps (possible):
L Williams, D Biggar, T Williams, D Lewis, C Hill, E Dee, R Evans, E Jenkins.
were unavailable for the first November Test as the game fell outside of the international window.
Josh Adams is the man who looks likely to start on the left wing, replacing Luke Morgan, who struggled to make an impact on his debut.
The other two changes see Tomas Francis coming in for Dillon Lewis, despite the young Blues tighthead’s strong showing against the Scots and his superior ability at the breakdown, while Adam Beard is also in line to replace Cory Hill alongside Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.
Beard impressed as a replacement last week, continuing the fine form he showed on the summer tour of Argentina.
Fit-again Ellis Jenkins is only expected to be on the bench, with the back row of Dan Lydiate, Ross Moriarty and Justin Tipuric retained to combat the dual threat of Aussie tearaways David Pocock and Michael Hooper.
Elliott Dee, Rob Evans, Tomos Williams and Biggar are all strong contenders to be among the replacements.
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