Five Scarlets have been named in Wales’ squad to take on the All Blacks in round five of the Nations Championship at the Principality Stadium on Saturday (14:10).
Blair Murray, Eddie James and Sam Costelow are again selected in the starting XV, with Ryan Elias and Taine Plumtree among the replacements.
Head coach Steve Tandy has made four changes to his starting XV.
With Aaron Wainwright sidelined with a minor calf injury, Taine Basham is set to make his first appearance for Wales since the 2024 Six Nations at No. 8; James Botham replaces Alex Mann at blindside flanker; Adam Beard gets the nod in the second row, while Gabriel Hamer-Webb is preferred to Josh Adams on the wing.
Among the Wales replacements, Ospreys prop Gareth Thomas and Plumtree are in line to make their first appearances in the competition.
Tandy said: “We’re excited for the opportunity we have against New Zealand. It was good to get the win last Saturday, but some elements of our execution weren’t where we wanted. We have to go up another level this weekend and be more ruthless. We have one of the best teams in the world coming. We want to be better and put in an 80-minute performance.”
Keiron Assiratti has been called up to the wider Wales Nations Championship squad as Tomas Francis will be released following a knee injury sustained in training this week.
Wales team to face New Zealand at Principality Stadium (KO 14.10h. Live on ITV and S4C)
15 Blair Murray (Scarlets – 20 caps); 14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears | Bryste – 44 caps), 13 Eddie James (Scarlets – 12 caps), 12 Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby | Caerloyw – 14 caps), 11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester Tigers | Caerlŷr – 1 cap); 10 Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 23 caps), 9 Tomos Williams (Saracens | Saraseniaid – 76 caps); 1 Nicky Smith (Sale Sharks – 67 caps), 2 Dewi Lake (Gloucester Rugby | Caerloyw – 35 caps) Captain | Capten, 3 Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby | Caerfaddon – 17 caps), 4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs | Caerwysg – 32 caps), 5 Adam Beard (Montpellier – 68 caps), 6 James Botham (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 25 caps), 7 Jac Morgan (Gloucester Rugby | Caerloyw – 28 caps), 8 Taine Basham (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 17 caps)
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 52 caps), 17 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys | Gweilch – 44 caps), 18 Dillon Lewis (Dragons | Dreigiau – 60 caps), 19 Ben Carter (Dragons | Dreigiau – 22 caps), 20 Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 15 caps), 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys | Gweilch – 3 caps), 22 Dan Edwards (Ospreys | Gweilch – 14 caps). 23 Louie Hennessey (Bath Rugby | Caerfaddon – 1 cap)