Tshiunza on bench for All Blacks clash

By Mark Stevens
3/11/22

Exeter Chiefs forward Christ Tshiunza has been named on the bench for Wales ahead of their opening Autumn Nations Series opener against New Zealand at the Principality Stadium on Saturday (3:15pm).

Having won the first of his two Test caps against Fiji this time last year, head coach Wayne Pivac has rewarded the 20-year-old for an impressive start to the season at club level.

Captain Justin Tipuric is selected at blindside flanker, returning to the Wales XV for the first time since the 2021 Guinness Six Nations match against France. He is joined in the starting line up by Ken Owens (hooker) and Leigh Halfpenny (full-back), who will also make their first appearances for Wales in over a year.

Dragons’ winger Rio Dyer will win his first senior international cap on Saturday, becoming the 1,180th Wales men’s international when he takes to the pitch. Louis Rees-Zammit is also named on the wing.

Elsewhere, former Chiefs prop Tomas Francis is set to win his 66th cap for his country at tight-head.

Pivac said: “It’s great having Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny back. They bring a lot of experience and they are big game players. Playing New Zealand doesn’t get much bigger so we’re really looking forward to having them back in the side.

“New Zealand is going to play with speed, we know that. The roof is closed so we’re looking forward to a fast, open game and I think Justin brings that extra bit of speed to the number six jersey. So the combination [of Tipuric, Reffell and Faletau] we think will work well.

“Rio has fitted in really well and really quickly. He’s thriving in this environment. He’s a young man that’s bringing some form with him into camp. He scored some great tries and he’s full of confidence. That means a lot to a young guy playing his first Test match in front of a big crowd. There’s no better way to start your career so we wish him well.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than Wales New Zealand. I remember coming to games prior to getting this role and a full house, the bands and pre-match is just fantastic. We can’t wait for it, the players are looking forward to it and we just want the fans to get in there and be loud and really get behind the boys and be that 16th player that we know they are.”

WALES TEAM TO FACE NEW ZEALAND

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 96 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 19 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 105 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 23 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – uncapped)
10. Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 32 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 36 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 13 caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 82 caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 65 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Dragons – 21 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 37 caps)
6. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys, capt – 85 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 3 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 91 caps)

16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 30 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Ospreys – 41 caps)
18. Dillon Lews (Cardiff Rugby- 41 caps)
19. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 153 caps)
20. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 2 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 14 caps)
22. Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby – 52 caps)
23. Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 33 caps)