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Wales Team to Face New Zealand

Head coach Steve Tandy has named the Wales team to face New Zealand on Saturday 22 November in their third Quilter Nations Series match this November at Principality Stadium (KO 3.10pm GMT. Live on TNT Sports, discovery+ and S4C).

Harri Deaves will become the 1,217th men’s international when he starts for Wales at openside flanker on Saturday.

Alongside Deaves in the back row Alex Mann is named at blindside flanker and Aaron Wainwright is selected at No. 8.

Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker. Joining him in the front row this weekend are Rhys Carré at loosehead prop and Keiron Assiratti at tighthead prop.

There are two changes to the Wales back line. Joe Hawkins is selected at inside centre and will feature for Wales for the first time since the 2023 Guinness Six Nations. Tom Rogers returns on the wing.

Among the replacements hooker Brodie Coghlan would join Deaves in making his Wales debut on Saturday with an appearance from the bench, while loosehead prop Gareth Thomas is in line to make his first appearance for Wales this campaign.

Tandy said: “We obviously want to improve the performance from Japan. I thought we had some outstanding moments against Argentina [in week one]. We felt we would have liked to have improved more last weekend. It was obviously good to get the win, but we want to improve our own performance against a world-class opposition on Saturday.

“Joe Hawkins is in at 12. We’ve been impressed with his versatility. He can play 10 and 12 and we feel he’s that second pair of hands. He’s trained really well over the last three weeks, so it’s exciting for him to get an opportunity.”

On Deaves making his debut Tandy added: “Harri Deaves making his debut I think is an amazing story. I think his performances for the Ospreys, both sides of the ball, have been outstanding. I love how he plays the game. He’s a smaller rugby player and the way he plays he adds physicality. His speed and aggression are there for everyone to see. It’s an amazing opportunity for Harri and we can’t wait to see him go on Saturday.”

Wales team v New Zealand– Quilter Nations Series | Tîm Cymru v Seland Newydd – Cyfres Hydref Quilter

15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 12 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears – 34 caps)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 10 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 5 caps)
11. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 12 caps)
10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 5 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 66 caps)
1. Rhys Carré (Saracens – 22 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 24 caps) captain
3. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 17 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 25 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Montpellier – 60 caps)
6. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 9 caps)
7. Harri Deaves (Ospreys – uncapped)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 61 caps)

Replacements | Eilyddion

16. Brodie Coghlan (Dragons – uncapped / heb gap)
17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 42 caps)
18. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 10 caps)
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 6 caps)
20. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 9 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 26 caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 13 caps)
23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 42 caps)

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