Quartet set to face the Pumas

10/11/2022

Head coach Wayne Pivac has named the Wales senior men’s team to face Argentina in the second round of the Autumn Nations Series - and he includes four players from Dragons RFC in his match day squad.

Wales play Los Pumas under a closed roof at Principality Stadium on Saturday 12 November KO 5.30pm GMT. The match is live on Amazon Prime, with English and Welsh broadcasts available. There are also highlights on S4C.

Captain Justin Tipuric, who marked his return to international rugby last weekend with a try, starts at open-side flanker. Dan Lydiate is selected at blind-side flanker. He makes his first appearance in this Autumn Nations Series having started from that position for all three matches in the July Test series against South Africa. Taulupe Faletau is again named at no. 8.

Dillon Lewis (tight-head prop) will make his 17th start for Wales, joining Gareth Thomas (loose-head prop) and Ken Owens (hooker) in the front row.

Adam Beard and Will Rowlands continue their partnership in the second row. Alex Cuthbert also returns to the Wales starting XV for the first time this autumn taking a position on the wing, with Rio Dyer following up his try-scoring debut against New Zealand with another start in the number 11 jersey. Louis Rees-Zammit completes the back three with his first international appearance at full back.

Gareth Anscombe, who faced the All Blacks at full back following the late withdrawal of Leigh Halfpenny, will revert to fly half this weekend. Tomos Williams is at scrum half. Nick Tompkins and George North partner up for the fifth time in the centres.

Rhodri Jones (loose-head prop) is named among the replacements and in line to win his first cap since the summer of 2021. Sam Wainwright (tight-head prop), who made his senior international debut during the July Test Series in South Africa, also features on the bench.

Ben Carter and Jac Morgan provide the second and back-row cover respectively, with both having last featured for Wales in the 2022 Guinness Six Nations. Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland and Owen Watkin are the replacement backs.

Pivac said: "Last week we had Leigh Halfpenny unavailable at the last minute and we’d trained a certain way so we went with Gareth Anscombe at full back who’s done that before at this level.

"We’re back to Gareth at 10 and we have Louis Rees-Zammit at full back. He’s trained there the entire week. He’s looked good in training and it’s something we’ve explored in the background, so it will be good information going forwards with the Six Nations around the corner and the Rugby World Cup.

"Dillon had done well in South Africa. This is probably the last opportunity to give guys starts and learn as much as we can. Both Dillon and Dan Lydiate have trained well.

"There are some changes among the replacements. There are some niggles that players pick up in games and in training, so some guys have been left out to get themselves 100% right for next week. Some boys we want to have a look at across the competition so in the case of Nicky Smith and Rhodri Jones that’s certainly what we wanted to do the first couple of games.

"We saw last week what Argentina are capable of. They’re a very big team, very strong up front. They have expanded their attacking game and they took an excellent try against England from the set play. They’ve knocked over some big scalps in the last 18 months, New Zealand being one of them.

"They are going to be a big challenge but one we’re looking forward to. After last week’s performance we need a reaction from our team."

Wales senior men’s team to play Argentina in the Autumn Nations Series. Saturday 12 November, KO 5.30pm GMT. Live on Amazon Prime (English and Welsh broadcasts) with highlights on S4C.

15. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 20 caps)

14. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 52 caps)

13. George North (Ospreys – 106 caps)

12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 24 caps)

11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 1 cap)

10. Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 33 caps)

9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 37 caps)

1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 14 caps)

2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 83 caps)

3. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 42 caps)

4. Will Rowlands (Dragons – 22 caps)

5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 38 caps)