Back Leigh Halfpenny will honor his 100th cap and five players their first in Cardiff on Saturday, as Wales manager Warren Gatland decided to face England in a preparation match for the Rugby World Cup. . Halfpenny has had several bad seasons plagued by injuries, but Gatland gives him the opportunity to prove his fitness before the World Cup in France (September 8-28) in a very modified team, Wales having lost Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric, who retired in recent months.
Keiron Assiratti (prop), Corey Domachowski (prop) and Max Llewellyn (centre) will start for the first time, while former England international Henry Thomas and Taine Plumtree are on the bench and could make their first appearance. Thomas, 31, won seven selections with England during the 2013-2014 season, but he is eligible for the Leek XV thanks to his father. He was able to benefit from the same change to World Rugby’s eligibility rule that allowed Jean Kleyn to play for South Africa after representing Ireland.
Flanker Jac Morgan has been named captain and will be lined up on the third row with Christ Tshiunza and Aaron Wainwright at number 8. Dafydd Jenkins and Will Rowlands will form the pair on the second row, while hooker Ryan Elias has rookie stalwarts Assiratti alongside him and Domachowski. Gareth Davies starts at scrum half and Sam Costelow at fly half. George North and Llewellyn form the midfield pair, while Rio Dyer and Louis Rees-Zammit are on the wings.
“There is great competition in the group at all positions and we have selected a team this week with some beginners, because we want to give them the opportunity to see what they can do,” Gatland said in a statement. Press release.
15. Leigh Halfpenny – 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. George North, 12. Max Llewellyn, 11. Rio Dyer – 10. Sam Costelow, 9. Gareth Davies – 1. Corey Domachowski, 2. Ryan Elias, 3. Keiron Assiratti – 4. Dafydd Jenkins, 5. Will Rowlands – 6. Christ Tshiunza, 7. Jac Morgan, 8. Aaron Wainwright
Remplaçants : 16. Elliot Dee, 17. Nicky Smith, 18. Henry Thomas, 19. Ben Carter, 20. Taine Plumtree, 21. Tomos Williams, 22. Dan Biggar, 23. Mason Grady
