Francis on bench for Wales

By Mark Stevens
16/11/17

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis has been named in the Welsh squad to face Georgia at Principality Stadium on Saturday in the second match of the 2017 Under Armour Series (2.30pm).

Francis drops down to the bench in one of 14 personnel changes Warren Gatland has made from the clash against Australia last weekend. Liam Williams is the sole representative from the opening Under Armour Series encounter. Williams switches to full back in a new-look back three alongside Alex Cuthbert and Hallam Amos.

Dan Lydiate will captain Wales for a third time and packs down in the back-row alongside Ospreys team-mate Sam Cross and Cardiff Blues No.8 Seb Davies.

"We felt this week was really important to give a number of the squad as much exposure as possible to Test match rugby," said head coach Gatland.

"It is an exciting opportunity for some of the younger guys to take the field and show us what they are capable of. We have got a fair amount of experience to throw into the mix too, both with players who have got a decent number of cap numbers but also players who have been around this environment for a good while too."

"Georgia are coming to Cardiff on the back of a good victory last weekend and they will be looking to show what they can do on this stage and we have to be ready for that."

WALES TEAM TO PLAY GEORGIA

15. Liam Williams (Saracens) (44 Caps)

14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues) (46 Caps)

13. Scott Williams (Scarlets) (48 Caps)

12. Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (1 Cap)

11. Hallam Amos (Dragons) (12 Caps)

10. Rhys Priestland (Bath) (48 Caps)

9. Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (28 Caps);

1. Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (15 Caps)

2. Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues) (5 Caps)

3. Leon Brown (Dragons) (1 Cap)

4. Adam Beard (Ospreys) (1 Cap)

5. Cory Hill (Dragons) (7 Caps)

6. Dan Lydiate (Ospreys, capt) (60 Caps)

7. Sam Cross (Ospreys) (1 Cap)

8. Seb Davies (Blues) (2 Caps)

REPLACEMENTS:

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) (*UNCAPPED)

17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (2 Caps)

18. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (24 Caps)

19. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (4 Caps)

20. Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (67 Caps)

21. Aled Davies (Scarlets) (3 Caps)

22. Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (57 Caps)

23. Owen Williams (Gloucester) (2 Caps)