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Wales
23
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New Zealand
55
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The All Blacks will be out to turn around their patchy recent form when they begin their European travels against Wales. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 2:15am (AEDT).
All Blacks coach Ian Foster made 11 changes from the team that scraped a narrow win over Japan last weekend while Wales give a debut to exciting winger Rio Dyer and have a new captain leading the team.
No.9 Aaron Smith is set to become the most capped back in All Blacks history in his 113th Test as he returns to the team. The three Barrett brothers missed the Tokyo game due to the death of their grandmother and have returned, while only one forward from the Japan game – Shannon Frizell – has held his spot.
“Playing Wales on the road always represents an exciting challenge,” said Foster.
“We have a number of players returning to the side and we know we will need to play with a high intensity against this physical Welsh team.”
Dyer, 22, gets his debut ahead of injured Josh Adams while Justin Tipuric gets the captaincy with Dan Biggar sidelined through injury.
Coach Wayne Pivac has welcomed back no.15 Leigh Halfpenny, hooker Ken Owens and flanker Tipuric after long injury absences.
“New Zealand is going to play with speed, we know that,” Pivac said. “The roof is closed so we’re looking forward to a fast, open game and I think Justin [Tipuric] brings that extra bit of speed to the No. 6 jersey. So the combination [of Tipuric, Reffell and Faletau] we think will work well.”
Wales haven’t beaten New Zealand in 69 years and the trend is likely to continue in Cardiff.
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 2:15am (AEDT)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Betting: Japan $4.10 All Blacks $1.25 (odds via PlayUp)
Teams
Wales
Leigh Halfpenny, Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Justin Tipuric (captain), Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Faletau.
Reserves: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Dillon Lews, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland, Owen Watkin.
All Blacks
New Zealand: Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Rieko Ione, Jordie Barrett, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith, Ardie Savea, Dalton Papali’i, Shannon Frizell, Scott Barrett, Sam Whitelock (captain), Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot.
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Tuou Vaa’i, Akira Ioane, Brad Weber, David Havili, Anton Lienert-Brown.
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Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.