Wales have made seven changes to the team that beat Fiji as they prepare to take on Australia in their final match of the Autumn Nations Series.
Ellis Jenkins will once again lead the side, with just three players – Ryan Elias, Adam Beard and Taine Basham – having started all four games.
Jenkins and Basham are joined in the back row by the returning Aaron Wainwright, who slots in at No.8, while Seb Davies gets his first start of the campaign alongside Beard.
Elias has new props either side of him as Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis provide plenty of experience in the Welsh tight five.
There are also changes in the backs where Tomos Williams returns to partner Dan Biggar in the half-backs, while Uilisi Halaholo is rewarded for his impressive cameo off the bench last time out with a start in the centres alongside Nick Tompkins.
Josh Adams, a late withdrawal against Fiji, is back on the wing, with Player of the Match Liam Williams and try-scorer Louis Rees-Zammit joining him in the back three.
Christ Tshiunza, who made his debut off the bench last weekend, continues on the bench, while Ben Carter and Elliot Dee come in among the forwards, with Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland and Johnny McNicholl all on the bench as well.
Wayne Pivac said: “It’s been a tough campaign but one where we’ve exposed more players to this level of rugby, which all bodes well for the future. With the injuries we’ve faced, we have had to adapt and those are opportunities that some of the players have taken very well.
“Australia have been on the road for a while now, the series they had down South and a couple of losses in the last couple of games. They’ll be hurting from that and they’ll want to finish their tour on a high note, as we’d like to finish our campaign on a high note. It bodes well for a pretty interesting fixture.
“Dave Rennie brings a physical approach to the game and we certainly expect that from the Australians but we have to be able to match that and impose ourselves on the game. It’s going to be an enthralling encounter I think and a great way to finish a series. We’re really looking forward to Saturday.
“This week I’d encourage [the crowd] to be even louder, and noisier, and back the boys. They’ve worked really hard so to have that 16th man, if you like, really pushing and driving the team on, we’d really, really appreciate that.”
Wales team to face Australia, at Principality Stadium, on Saturday 20th November 2021
Wales: 15 Liam Williams (Scarlets), 14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby), 13 Nick Tompkins (Saracens), 12 Uilisi Halaholo (Cardiff Rugby), 11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby), 10 Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints), 9 Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby); 1 Wyn Jones (Scarlets), 2 Ryan Elias (Scarlets), 3 Tomas Francis (Ospreys), 4 Adam Beard (Ospreys), 5 Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby), 6 Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Rugby – captain), 7 Taine Basham (Dragons), 8 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)
Replacements: 16 Elliot Dee (Dragons), 17 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), 18 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby), 19 Ben Carter (Dragons), 20 Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs), 21 Gareth Davies (Scarlets), 22 Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby), 23 Johnny McNicholl (Scarlets)
