Francis to face All Blacks

By Mark Stevens
23/11/17

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis returns to the Welsh starting line-up against New Zealand at Principality Stadium on Saturday (5:15pm).

The tight-head is promoted back into the ranks having been on the bench for last weekend's narrow win over Georgia.

Francis, who will win his 26th cap against the world champions, is part of an unchanged pack from that which started against Australia in their opening Under Armour Series clash against Australia a fortnight ago.

He will pack down alongside Rob Evans and Ken Owens in the front-row, while the experienced Alun Wyn Jones will skipper the side from the second row.

Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar partner at half-back with Owen Williams lining up alongside Scott Williams in the midfield with the Scarlets centre winning his 50th cap.

The back-three features Leigh Halfpenny at full-back with Hallam Amos and Steff Evans, who have scored three tries between them in the opening two Under Armour Series encounters, on the wings.

"It's great to name an unchanged pack from the Australia match, we were pleased with a lot of aspects of our second half performance in that match so we are looking to build on that on Saturday," said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

"We have a couple of injuries in the backline but we also have players on form starting. Steff Evans and Hallam Amos are both on form and we are excited to see what they can do.

"We have spoken heavily about opportunity this autumn and there is no greater opportunity than lining up against the world champions."

WALES TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND

15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (72 Caps)

14. Hallam Amos (Dragons) (13 Caps)

13. Scott Williams (Scarlets) (49 Caps)

12. Owen Williams (Gloucester) (2 Caps)

11. Steff Evans (Scarlets) (3 Caps)

10. Dan Biggar (Ospreys) (58 Caps)

9. Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (29 Caps);

1. Rob Evans (Scarlets) (18 Caps)

2. Ken Owens (Scarlets) (51 Caps)

3. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (25 Caps)

4. Jake Ball (Scarlets) (27 Caps)

5. Alun Wyn Jones (CAPT) (Ospreys) (111 Caps)

6. Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (11 Caps)

7. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (5 Caps)

8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (68 Caps)

REPLACEMENTS:

16. Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues) (6 Caps)

17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (3 Caps)

18. Leon Brown (Dragons) (2 Caps)

19. Cory Hill (Dragons) (8 Caps)

20. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (51 Caps)

21. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (26 Caps)

22. Rhys Priestland (Bath) (49 Caps)

23. Jamie Roberts (Harlequins) (93 Caps)