Plumtree gets bench role for Wales
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales head coach Warren Gatland has revealed his team to face England in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff.
There are five uncapped players in the matchday 23.
Keiron Assiratti (tighthead prop), Corey Domachowski (loosehead prop) and Max Llewellyn (centre) are all selected in the starting XV for their first Wales caps.
Henry Thomas and Taine Plumtree, named among the replacements, are also in line to make their senior Wales debuts this weekend.
Plumtree is the son of Sharks head coach, John Plumtree.
Leigh Halfpenny is named at fullback and is due to win his 100th Wales cap, having made his senior international debut on the wing against South Africa on November 8, 2008 while a teenager.
Halfpenny was awarded his 50th cap against Ireland in the 2014 Six Nations, becoming the youngest men’s player to do so at the time. George North – who will start at centre on Saturday – broke that record a year later.
Jac Morgan starts at openside flank and is named captain for this fixture – his first time for the senior side after previously captaining Wales at Under-20 level.
Joining Morgan in the back row are Christ Tshiunza (blindside flank) and Aaron Wainwright (No.8).
Dafydd Jenkins and Will Rowlands pair up together in the second row. Rowlands makes his first Wales appearance since injury last year, as does Ryan Elias who returns to the starting line-up at hooker.
Gareth Davies starts at scrumhalf with Scarlets’ teammate Sam Costelow at flyhalf. Rio Dyer and Louis Rees-Zammit complete the starting line-up on the wings.
Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Ben Carter join Henry Thomas and Plumtree as the forward cover among the replacements.
Rounding out the matchday 23, covering the Wales backline, are Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar and Mason Grady.
Gatland said: “I’ve been really pleased with the players’ effort and commitment in Turkey, Switzerland and the mini camps in Wales prior, but now it’s about putting what we’ve been training into practice.
“We’re excited to get out on the pitch this Saturday – it’s always so special playing at home in front of our amazing fans.
“There is some great competition among the squad in all positions and we’ve selected a team this week with a few debutants, because we want to give them the opportunity to see what they can do. There’s a lot to play for over the next three matches and everyone is still in contention to make that final squad for France.
On the captaincy Gatland added: “We’ve named Jac as captain for this match and it is a great honour for him to be leading his country.
“We’ll be looking at probably having a different captain for each of the matches as we give as many as possible in the squad an opportunity to impress, but also mindful about potential combinations as we get closer to naming the World Cup squad.
On Leigh Halfpenny’s milestone Gatland said: “I’d like to make a special mention for Leigh Halfpenny who will win his 100th cap for Wales on Saturday.
“Reaching this milestone is an incredible achievement and testament to the player and person Leigh is. I know it will be a very special day for him and all his family.
“There are some tickets still available this weekend and we’d encourage as many fans as possible to come down to celebrate Leigh’s achievement with us and see the new players making their Wales debuts.”
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 George North, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan (captain), 6 Christ Tshiunza, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Corey Domachowski.
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Ben Carter, 20 Taine Plumtree, 21 Tomos Williams, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Mason Grady.
Date: Saturday, August 5
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 17.30 (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Rugby Australia)
Assistant referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland); Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
