Llanelli Star

Macleod finally set for Wales debut

- BEN JAMES Reporter ben.james@walesonlin­e.co.uk

JOSH Macleod is finally set for his Wales debut after being robbed of the chance through injury last year, while Josh Adams and Leigh Halfpenny both return to the side from injury to feature in the matchday 23.

Wayne Pivac has made six changes to the Wales side that beat Argentina as he named his team to face Georgia two days earlier than expected.

There’s also the prospect of debuts off the bench for Scarlets scrum-half Dane Blacker and Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins.

In the back-three, Louis Rees-Zammit retains his place at full-back, with Adams replacing Rio Dyer to start on the wing alongside Alex Cuthbert.

Owen Watkin starts at inside centre ahead of Nick Tompkins, with the Saracens star not involved in the matchday 23. Given he will return to his club side next week, it seems Pivac has opted to partner Watkin with George North to provide them some time together ahead of the final autumn clash with Australia.

Cardiff team-mates Tomos Williams and Rhys Priestland are halfback partners, while Pivac has opted for the same front-row of Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens and Dillon Lewis that started last week.

Once again, there’s no Alun Wyn Jones in the matchday squad as Ben Carter steps into the starting XV to partner Adam Beard following Will Rowlands’ injury.

In the back-row, Jac Morgan is rewarded for his stunning performanc­e off the bench last weekend with a start at blindside, with captain Justin Tipuric retaining his place at openside and Scarlets back-row Macleod packing down at No. 8.

On the bench, Bradley Roberts is set to offer hooker cover instead of Ryan Elias, while the prop replacemen­ts of Rhodri Jones and Sam Wainwright are retained from last week.

Jenkins is set for his Wales debut, having been called into the Wales squad on Monday following the injuries to Rowlands and Dan Lydiate, while Taulupe Faletau drops down from the starting XV after two huge performanc­es to complete the forward cover on the bench.

Uncapped Blacker provides the scrum-half cover on the bench, while Sam Costelow is in line for a second cap – having been thrown onto the bench against New Zealand at the last minute following Halfpenny’s withdrawal from the autumn opener.

The Scarlets full-back is seemingly fit to be named again and will take his place on the bench as he looks to make his first Test appearance since July 2021.

Pivac said: “Josh Macleod’s a player that’s been really unfortunat­e in the past. We’ve wanted to use him on a couple of occasions, so this is very much third time lucky for him.

“He covers the back row. We know a lot about him, I’ve coached him at the Scarlets.

“He brings a lot of energy, he’s very strong over the ball and in tandem with Jac Morgan hopefully that will be a strong part of our game on the weekend.

“We’re looking forward to seeing him go at this level and seeing the physicalit­y that he will bring.”

“The spine of the team is there. It’s very much about the here and now, we’ve got a game to play against Georgia and we have to be successful. But there’s also an eye to the Australia match.

“Georgia are a side that will be not too dissimilar to Argentina in terms of the forward play, they’re very strong up front.

“Traditiona­lly they’ve been good in the set piece, good driving lineout and very physical.

“We need to back up the performanc­e against Argentina, be a lot more clinical with the ball.

“We’ve challenged the boys again and I think a response will be what we’re looking for on the weekend.

“For us it’s about starting well - the last two matches we’ve gifted the opposition points early - so discipline early on is going to be important.” Wales: Louis Rees-Zammit; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Owen Watkin, Josh Adams; Rhys Priestland, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis, Ben Carter, Adam Beard, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric, Josh Macleod. Replacemen­ts: Bradley Roberts, Rhodri Jones, Sam Wainwright, Dafydd Jenkins, Taulupe Faletau, Dane Blacker, Sam Costelow, Leigh Halfpenny.

 ?? BEN EVANS/HUW EVANS AGENCY ?? Scarlets’ Josh Macleod is set to make his Wales debut this weekend.
BEN EVANS/HUW EVANS AGENCY Scarlets’ Josh Macleod is set to make his Wales debut this weekend.

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