NAVIDI TO LEAD NEW-LOOK WALES AGAINST IRISH
JOSH Navidi is set to captain a radically new-look Welsh team against Ireland on Saturday. The Cardiff Blues back rower will become the 138th man to skipper Wales when he leads them out at the Principality Stadium in their third World Cup warm-up match.
There will also be debuts for uncapped duo Owen Lane and Rhys Carre, while fly-half Jarrod Evans will make his first Test start, according to the Irish Mirror.
Navidi, who will pack down at No 8, looks likely to lead an experimental team showing just a couple of survivors from the side that started the 13-6 victory over England in Cardiff.
Jake Ball is predicted to retain his second row spot, with James Davies getting another chance on the openside flank, providing he receives the all clear after being forced off with
concussion against England.
There would be a first international appearance in more than a year for centre Scott Williams, who was plagued by injury last season, with fellow Osprey Owen Watkin joining him in midfield.
The hope is Samson Lee will be fit to pack down at tight-head prop for his 41st cap following a hamstring issue, while Hallam Amos and Steff Evans are in line for rare recent outings in the back three.
It will be a big day for winger Lane and loosehead prop Carre if they do get to make their Test debuts.
The 21-year-old Lane has had a frustrating experience on the international front so far, with untimely injuries ruling him out of the equation on a couple of occasions.
But now he is fit and firing and with a chance to show the kind of compelling form which has so caught the eye for Cardiff Blues.
As for Carre, also 21, he was the real wildcard selection in the training squad, having only started three senior games for the Blues.
But his potential has been recognised by European champions Saracens signing him up, while Warren Gatland has also clearly noted his ball-carrying clout.
Moreover, selecting him to face Ireland will tie him to Wales, ruling out any possibility of a call-up by England, who he is eligible for through his family.
Jarrod Evans is another young man set for a day to remember this weekend.
It would be a first Test start for the Blues fly-half and a golden opportunity to stake a claim to be Dan Biggar’s back-up at the World Cup.
So far, the free-running 23-yearold has had just the two brief outings off the bench.
As for Navidi, captaining Wales would be deserved recognition for the way he has established himself as a pivotal figure in the set-up.
It’s been a remarkable story for a man who spent four years in the international wilderness after making his Test debut in 2013.
Having shone as a replacement openside on his comeback from injury against England, he will show his versatility by switching to No 8, as Ross Moriarty takes a breather.
This game will be the last opportunity for players to put their hands up for inclusion in the final 31-man World Cup squad for Japan.
That party will be announced this Sunday (September 1), the day after the Cardiff clash with the Irish.
Wales have just returned from a warm weather training camp in Turkey where temperatures got up to 42 degrees C. Now it’s back to the warm-up fixture programme.
It’s expected that Ireland, too, will field something of an experimental mix and match side this weekend.
They will be heading for Wales looking to get back on track after suffering a 57-15 thumping at the hands of England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Wales (possible): Hallam Amos; Owen Lane, Scott Williams, Owen Watkin, Steff Evans; Jarrod Evans, Aled Davies; Rhys Carre, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Jake Ball, Bradley Davies, Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi (capt), James Davies.