Wales first-five Gareth Anscombe has been selected to face the New Zealand, the land of his birth, after returning to the side for the first time in over two years for this weekend's international test in Cardiff.
Gareth Anscombe Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Anscombe, who played for the Blues and the Chiefs, is preferred to Rhys Priestland to start in the number 10 jersey as Wales coach Wayne Pivac juggles his options with the match falling outside the international window and leaving him short of his overseas-based players.
30 year old Anscombe injured knee ligaments in the build-up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup and his long rehabilitation took until the start of this season.
"In terms of the two 10s, we think Gareth starting and Rhys finishing is the way we want to go. They're both training well. They're both excited," Pivac said.
Former Crusader Johnny McNicholl starts at fullback.
Among the forwards, Alun Wyn Jones will become the most capped international rugby player for a single country, surpassing the previous record of 148 appearances held by former All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw.
The lock has 160 caps in all, but 12 of those were with the British & Irish Lions, most recently in South Africa earlier this year.
"What do we say about him? We kept saying stuff about him last season and he's still going," Pivas said.
"He's such a great role model. It's fantastic he'll pass Richie McCaw. But typically for him, it's about the team having a great performance, not him."
Gareth Anscombe Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Loose-forward Taine Basham is handed a first start having made his debut against Canada earlier this year. He is part of a back row that also includes Ross Moriarty and Aaron Wainwright.
"They've been working together for a month. Taine's work-rate has improved and he's improving as an all-round seven. He brings other aspects to the seven game - power and anticipation," Pivac said.
"Ross has a hard edge and defends well. Then you have the athleticism and footwork of Aaron. Hopefully they'll all work together."
Team: 15-Johnny McNicholl, 14-Owen Lane, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Johnny Williams, 11-Josh Adams, 10-Gareth Anscombe, 9-Tomos Williams, 8-Aaron Wainwright, 7-Taine Basham, 6-Ross Moriarty, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4-Adam Beard, 3-Tomas Francis, 2-Ken Owens, 1-Wyn Jones.
Replacements: 16-Ryan Elias, 17-Rhys Carre, 18-Dillon Lewis, 19-Will Rowlands, 20-Seb Davies, 21-Gareth Davies, 22-Rhys Priestland, 23-Ben Thomas.
-Reuters
