Gatland makes some 'tough selection calls'

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales coach Warren Gatland has named his team to face Fiji in the opening match of the year-end series at Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

Blair Murray, selected on the wing, will win his first cap and become the 1,208th men’s international for Wales on Sunday.

Captain Dewi Lake is at hooker, Gareth Thomas (loosehead prop) and Archie Griffin (tighthead prop) join Lake in the front row.

Adam Beard and Will Rowlands return to the Wales starting line-up in the second row having missed the mid-year Tests in Australia.

Taine Plumtree is selected at blindside flank, Tommy Reffell is at openside and Aaron Wainwright completes the back row at No.8.

Tomos Williams starts at scrumhalf, having missed the mid-year tour down under due to injury.

Gareth Anscombe is named at flyhalf, making his first Wales appearance since the World Cup last year.

Ben Thomas is selected at inside centre and Max Llewellyn, who will make his third appearance for Wales this weekend, partners Thomas in the midfield.

Cameron Winnett is named at fullback to make his eighth consecutive Test start for Wales and Mason Grady completes the starting XV on the wing.

There is a six-two split among the Wales replacements.

Ryan Elias (hooker), Nicky Smith (loosehead prop) and Keiron Assiratti (tighthead prop) are the front row cover, with Christ Tshiunza, James Botham and Jac Morgan the other forward replacements.

Ellis Bevan and Sam Costelow are Wales’ replacement backs.

“We have excellent competition in the squad,” Gatland said, adding: “It was a tough selection and there were some close calls, but I think there’s a really nice balance for Sunday.

“We have some experienced players back alongside some exciting youngsters.

“We know how dangerous Fiji can be, so we’ve got to make sure that we bring physicality and are ruthless.

“We need to be switched on for the full 80 minutes.

“After four matches away from home, we cannot wait to get back out in front of a home crowd at Millennium Stadium.

“It’s going to be a fantastic occasion and we’re looking forward to getting our year-end series campaign underway.”

Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 James Botham, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Sam Costelow.

Date: Sunday, November 10
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 13.40 (13.40 GMT; ; 01.40 Fiji time, Monday, November 11)
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (France), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)