Deaves Given First Wales Start Against All Blacks

Autumn Nations Series: Wales v New Zealand

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 22 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT

Coverage: Commentary connected BBC Sounds, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and unrecorded matter connected BBC Sport online.

Uncapped Ospreys flanker Harri Deaves will make his first Wales commencement against New Zealand connected Saturday.

Deaves comes into nan backmost statement for injured number 8 Olly Cracknell arsenic 1 of 5 unit changes from nan broadside that defeated Japan 24-23.

Scarlets centre Joe Hawkins will make his first Wales commencement since March 2023 arsenic he replaces Ben Thomas, while helping Tom Rogers comes successful for suspended Josh Adams.

Props Rhys Carre and Keiron Assiratti return to nan starting broadside aft dropping to nan replacements chair against Japan.

Dragons hooker Brodie Coghlan could make his debut aft being included arsenic a replacement alternatively of nan injured Liam Belcher, while Ospreys prop Gareth Thomas is besides named connected nan bench.

New Zealand caput coach Scott Robertson has made 12 unit changes from nan broadside that mislaid 33-19 to England pinch prima names Ardie Savea and Beauden Barrett rested.

Deaves' inclusion intends Tandy has instigated different back-row reshuffle pinch Aaron Wainwright switching backmost to number 8 to switch hamstring unfortunate Cracknell, who was player-of-the-match successful his first Test commencement against Japan.

This will spot Mann reverting to his much acquainted blind-side domiciled to let Deaves to slot successful astatine open-side flanker.

Deaves was called up to nan squad aft nan nonaccomplishment of Ospreys and Wales skipper Jac Morgan to a dislocated enarthrosis suffered successful nan 52-28 conclusion by Argentina.

The 24-year-old from Pontyclun was a roofer during his academy days and has defied nan critics who successful nan past person called him excessively small.

"Harri making his debut is an astonishing story," said Tandy, himself a erstwhile Ospreys open-side flanker.

"His performances for nan Ospreys, some sides of nan ball, person been outstanding. I emotion really he plays nan game.

"He's a smaller rugby subordinate and nan measurement he plays he adds physicality. His velocity and aggression are location for everyone to see.

"It's an astonishing opportunity for Harri and we can't hold to spot him spell connected Saturday."

Deaves is nan only master open-side successful nan squad aft Tandy opted to place Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell, who would not person been disposable for nan Springboks finale connected 29 November which is extracurricular World Rugby's charismatic Test window.

Mann impressed successful nan number 7 garment against Japan, while Wales will proceed to show Wainwright's fittingness aft he came disconnected past weekend.

If nan Dragons number 8 is ruled out, Taine Plumtree would measurement up from nan chair pinch uncapped Ospreys backmost statement Morgan Morse successful statement to beryllium promoted to a replacement role.

Hawkins was capable to resume his world profession aft signing for Scarlets from Exeter for nan 2025-26 season.

He antecedently became ineligible for world action aft choosing to play his nine rugby extracurricular Wales erstwhile he near Ospreys to subordinate Exeter successful 2023, ruling him retired of nan World Cup that year.

The 23-year-old will now nexus up pinch Max Llewellyn successful nan Welsh midfield pinch Cardiff centre Thomas dropping retired of nan match-day squad.

"We've been impressed pinch his versatility," said Tandy.

"He tin play 10 and 12 and we consciousness he's that 2nd brace of hands.

"He's trained good complete nan past 3 weeks, truthful it's breathtaking for him to get an opportunity."

Scarlets helping Rogers is recalled aft missing retired against Japan, pinch Adams suspended for nan adjacent 2 matches against New Zealand and South Africa pursuing his 20-minute reddish paper against Japan.

In New Zealand's last trial of nan year, only skipper Scott Barrett, flanker Simon Parker and Will Jordan, who switches from full-back to wing, support their places from nan squad that were defeated astatine Twickenham.

Savea, half-backs Barrett and Cam Roigard and hooker Codie Taylor are among nan players who are rested, while number 8 Peter Lakai and centre Jordie Barrett are injured.

Damian McKenzie is named astatine fly-half and forms an knowledgeable midfield pinch nan centre business of Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane who person some played 87 internationals.

Robertson says his squad action is not underestimating Wales.

"We person a batch to play for this weekend," said Robertson.

"We want to put connected a capacity that reflects nan effort and pridefulness we person put in

"We do not underestimate nan passion and resoluteness that Wales will bring and we cognize really organised, meticulous and ruthless we request to beryllium successful return."

Wales person not beaten New Zealand since 1953 pinch nan All Blacks winning nan 33 internationals played betwixt nan 2 sides since.

Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, Llewellyn, Hawkins, Rogers; Edwards, T Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Assiratti, D Jenkins, Beard, Mann, Deaves, Wainwright.

Replacements: Coghlan, G Thomas, Griffin, F Thomas, Plumtree, Hardy, J Evans, Tompkins.

New Zealand: Love; Jordan, R Ioane, Lienert-Brown, Clarke; McKenzie, Ratima; T Williams, Taukei'aho, Tosi, S Barrett (capt), Holland, Parker, Kirifi, Sititi.

Replacements: Bell, Newell, Bower, Lord, Lio-Willie, Christie, Fainga'anuku, Reece.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy).