Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has named four Dragons in his team for the final test of the 2021 Autumn Nations Series.
Principality Stadium will stage the campaign finale as Wales welcome Australia for the first time since claiming a home victory over the Southern Hemisphere side, in November 2018.
There are starts for Dragons Aaron Wainwright and Taine Basham in the back row, while hooker Elliot Dee returns to the squad alongside lock Ben Carter amongst the replacements.
Dan Biggar, who kicked the winning penalty in that tense 9-6 victory three years ago, remains in the outside half position for Saturday’s clash with Cardiff Rugby’s Tomos Williams returning to the starting scrum half berth.
Winger Josh Adams is named in the starting XV for the final test after pulling out with a calf injury ahead of kick-off last week. He’s joined in the back-three by try-scoring speedster Louis Rees-Zammit and Player of the Match against Fiji, fullback Liam Williams.
Uilisi Halaholo and Nick Tompkins, both late replacements to the bench and starting line-up respectively last weekend, get the nod as the centre partnership.
Hooker Ryan Elias remains the only constant in the front row with props Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis returning to the starting line up. Elias is one of only three players to start all four of Wales’ Autumn Nations Series tests, alongside Adam Beard and Taine Basham.
Seb Davies gets his first start of the campaign as he partners Adam Beard in the second row. Ellis Jenkins will lead the side from the blindside flank with Taine Basham returning to the openside as Aaron Wainwright returns to the number 8 position, having missed out on last weekend’s test due to injury.
“It’s been a tough campaign but one where we’ve exposed more players to this level of rugby, which all bodes well for the future. With the injuries we’ve faced, we have had to adapt and those are opportunities that some of the players have taken very well,” said Pivac as he reflected on the Autumn Nations Series so far.
Looking ahead to the final game of the campaign he went on to say; “Australia have been on the road for a while now, the series they had down South and a couple of losses in the last couple of games. They’ll be hurting from that and they’ll want to finish their tour on a high note, as we’d like to finish our campaign on a high note. It bodes well for a pretty interesting fixture.
“Dave Rennie brings a physical approach to the game and we certainly expect that from the Australians but we have to be able to match that and impose ourselves on the game. It’s going to be an enthralling encounter I think and a great way to finish a series. We’re really looking forward to Saturday.
“This week I’d encourage [the crowd] to be even louder, and noisier, and back the boys. They’ve worked really hard so to have that 16th man, if you like, really pushing and driving the team on, we’d really, really appreciate that.”
Wales team to face Australia, at Principality Stadium, on Saturday 20th November 2021;
15 Liam Williams (Scarlets)
14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby)
13 Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
12 Uilisi Halaholo (Cardiff Rugby)
11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby)
10 Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints)
9 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby);
1 Wyn Jones (Scarlets)
2 Ryan Elias (Scarlets)
3 Tomas Francis (Ospreys)
4 Adam Beard (Ospreys)
5 Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby)
6 Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Rugby - captain)
7 Taine Basham (Dragons)
8 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Replacements;
16 Elliot Dee (Dragons)
17 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys)
18 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby)
19 Ben Carter (Dragons)
20 Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs)
21 Gareth Davies (Scarlets)
22 Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby)
23 Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets)
