Taine Plumtree named in Wales starting XV to face Wallabies

Rob LloydNews

Taine Plumtree has been named in the Wales starting XV to face Australia at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday (KO 10.45 BST, 19.45 local time live on Sky Sports).

The Scarlets back-rower is joined in the match-day squad by props Kemsley Mathias and Harri O’Connor and fly-half Sam Costelow, who are all included on the replacements’ bench.

No. 8 Aaron Wainwright will win his 50th international cap six years after making his first Wales appearance as a replacement in the 23-10 win over Argentina in San Juan.

Former Scarlets Academy player Josh Hathaway is selected on the wing to make his senior international debut and become the 1,207th men’s player to represent Wales.

Head coach Warren Gatland said: “We’ve had a good week of preparations here in Sydney and are excited to get out on field on Saturday.

“This first Test is going to be a great challenge for us. Test matches are all about fine margins and we know we need to be accurate, keep our discipline and stay in the fight for the full 80 minutes.

“There’s a lot of talent within the Australia squad and we know they will want to come out firing and put in a performance against us this weekend.”

Wales XV to face Australia | Tîm Cymru i wynebu Awstralia
15. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 90 caps)
14. Josh Hathaway (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – uncapped / heb gap)
13. Owen Watkin (Ospreys / Gweilch – 39 caps)
12. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 12 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dreigiau – 20 caps)
10. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 2 caps)
9. Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 1 cap)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys / Gweilch – 31 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys / Gweilch – 13 caps)
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby / Caerfaddon – 1 cap)
4. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 10 caps)
5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 17 caps)
6. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 3 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 18 caps)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 49 caps)

Replacements / Eilyddion
16. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 3 caps)
17. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 3 caps)
18. Harri O’Connor (Scarlets – 2 caps)
19. Cory Hill (Secom Rugguts – 32 caps)
20. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 11 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys / Gweilch– 21 caps)
22. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 13 caps)
23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 36 caps)