Gatland rings changes for Tonga clash
RUGBY DRAGONS DEFENCE GURU HEADS FOR EXIT
WALES boss Warren Gatland has made 14 changes from the team that beat Australia for this weekend’s Principality Stadium clash with Tonga.
Amongst the newcomers is Leicester wing Jonah Holmes, who makes his Wales debut at full-back. Squad regulars Liam Williams and Steff Evans are instead chosen on the flanks.
Cardiff Blues openside Ellis Jenkins (pictured) will captain the newlook side, with only Ospreys lock Adam Beard retained from the starting XV which took the field against the Wallabies last Saturday.
Jenkins’ Blues team-mate Seb Davies has been parachuted straight in at number eight, having not made the original autumn squad cut.
There are first Wales starts for forwards Wyn Jones and Aaron Wainwright, while Tomos Williams and Dan Biggar are named at half-back.
They each came on as replacements in the win over the Wallabies and will be looking to put down markers for starting berths against South Africa the following weekend.
Rhys Patchell is chosen on the bench, having recovered fully from concussion, so can be expected to get his first outing of the autumn at some stage of the Tonga game. The headline act, however, is the debut of Leicester’s Holmes. From Stockport, but with Welsh heritage, he was the shock choice of the autumn squad and gets an opportunity to show the try-scoring prowess on the international stage that he has demonstrated for the Tigers at club level. “Saturday is a fantastic opportunity for a number of players,” said Gatland.
“It’s Jonah’s first game which is exciting and Liam (Williams) reaches his 50th which is a great achievement.
“We have spoken about creating depth and for us that is about creating a squad that is full of first-teamers, everyone in the squad capable of starting. The
WALES
15 Jonah Holmes .... (Leicester) 14 Liam Williams ..... (Saracens) 13 Tyler Morgan ....... (Dragons) 12 Owen Watkin ....... (Ospreys) 11 Steff Evans ........... (Scarlets) 10 Dan Biggar. (Northampton) 9 Tomos Williams .......... (Blues) 1 Wyn Jones .............. (Scarlets) 2 Elliot Dee ............... (Dragons) 3 Leon Brown ........... (Dragons) 4 Jake Ball ................. (Scarlets) 5 Adam Beard ........... (Ospreys) 6 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) 8 Seb Davies .................. (Blues) 7 Ellis Jenkins ....... (Blues, capt) Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Cory Hill (Dragons), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Aled Davies (Ospreys), Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Josh Adams (Worcester) players this weekend have to put their hand up for the final match and put pressure on the ones who started last weekend.
“Ellis captains the team for the second time whilst making his first start at home and for Wyn, it is his first start in about nine appearances off the bench.
“It’s important to realise when selecting a team that we look at these things in terms of experience, starts, depth balance and opportunity, and that goes into the mix.”
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