Taine Basham will start a match for Wales for the first time in four years. The number eight will replace the injured Aaron Wainwright in the Nations Championship fixture against New Zealand on Saturday at 14:10 GMT at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Wainwright sustained a minor knee injury against Japan and spent the entire week in a protective boot. His availability for the match against Australia remains uncertain. Basham was called up after impressing in games for Cardiff, with his last appearance for Wales coming as a replacement at the 2024 Six Nations against England. His last start in an international match was in 2022 against England, and this will be only the second time he has started a game at number eight.
Coach Steve Tandy has made a total of four changes to the starting XV. James Botham starts in place of Cardiff wing Alex Mann, while Jac Morgan rounds off the back three. Wing Josh Adams has been omitted from the squad despite featuring against Japan. The place goes to Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb, for whom this will be only his second appearance for Wales after starting in the defeat by Scotland at the Six Nations in February. Hamer-Webb is 26 years old and recently scored a hat-trick against Saracens in the Premiership.
Adams, who is 31, recorded only one start for Cardiff before the match against Japan. At lock, Adam Beard comes in for Ben Carter; Beard is 30 years old, will earn his 69th cap, and played for his French club Montpellier last weekend.
Wales are looking for improvement in the lineout after losing six throws on their own line against Japan. Dave Rennie’s side continue their Nations Championship campaign following a 43-21 victory over Scotland in Edinburgh last weekend. Wales have not beaten New Zealand since 1953, and the All Blacks have won the last 34 meetings, scoring more than 50 points in their previous three visits to Cardiff.
Sale prop Tomas Francis has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an injury, and Cardiff tight-head Keiron Assiratti has been called up. Taine Plumtree, Gareth Thomas and Dillon Lewis are named among the replacements, while Rhys Carre is not in the 23-man match squad.
Wales team: Murray; Rees-Zammit, E James, Llewellyn, Hamer-Webb; Costelow, Tomos Williams; N Smith, Lake (captain), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Botham, Morgan, Basham. Replacements: Elias, G Thomas, D Lewis, Carter, Plumtree, Morgan-Williams, Edwards, Hennessey.
