Wales bring in two rookies

SQUAD UPDATE: Uncapped forwards Dewi Lake and Taine Basham have been called into Wales’  Six Nations squad ahead of Saturday’s match against Ireland.

Ospreys hooker Lake and Dragons back-row forward Basham have now been formally added to head coach Wayne Pivac’s group. The WRU added that no players have been released from the squad.

It is Lake’s first senior call-up, but fellow 20-year-old Basham was a Wales squad member for a non-cap fixture against the Barbarians in November.

*Also read: Update on Williams injury not promising

Pivac originally selected 38 players for the Six Nations, which Wales began with a 42-0 victory over Italy last weekend. Cardiff Blues wing Owen Lane, though, was released last month after suffering a hamstring injury.

Lane’s Blues colleague Josh Navidi, who remains part of the squad, is currently sidelined because of hamstring trouble, while Saracens back Liam Williams has not yet recovered from an ankle injury that ended his World Cup in semi-final week.

But Dragons hooker Elliot Dee, Ospreys centre Owen Watkin and Scarlets scrumhalf Gareth Davies are all expected to be in the selection mix for Saturday’s appointment with Ireland in Dublin after resuming full training following injuries.

Press Association

“It means the world to me…”

In an excerpt from #GwladGwlad episode 2, Nick Tompkins and Johnny McNicholl describe the feeling of winning their first Wales cap.

Full episode ▶ https://t.co/gRXOKPLmV4 pic.twitter.com/PY6H4Aosek

ADVERTISEMENT

— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 5, 2020