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Eight changes for Wales, including a debut for winger Rio Dyer

(Photo by Athena Pictures/Getty Images)

Wayne Pivac has named a Wales team to play the All Blacks on Saturday in Cardiff that sees eight changes – and a debut for winger Rio Dyer – from the 14-30 defeat suffered in their most recent outing against the Springboks. It was July 16 when the Welsh lost their Test-series decider in Cape Town and four months later, Dragons’ back Dyer will now become the 1,180th Wales men’s international when he takes to the pitch.

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Louis Rees-Zammit is also named on the wing in a team captained by Justin Tipuric, who is returning to the Wales XV for the first time since the 2021 Guinness Six Nations match against France. He is joined by Ken Owens (hooker) and Leigh Halfpenny (full-back), who will also make their first appearances for Wales in over a year.

Gareth Anscombe is at fly-half, having worn the No10 jersey in the same fixture last year, and Tomos Williams returns to the starting XV at scrum half. George North and Nick Tompkins partner in the centre for the fourth consecutive match.

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Alongside captain Tipuric in the Wales back row are openside flanker Tommy Reffell and No8 Taulupe Faletau. Gareth Thomas (loosehead) and Tomas Francis (tighthead) are the props while Adam Beard and Will Rowlands combine in the second row for the ninth time.

Pivac said: “It’s great having Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Leigh Halfpenny back. They bring a lot of experience and they are big game players. Playing New Zealand doesn’t get much bigger so we are really looking forward to having them back in the side.

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“New Zealand are going to play with speed, we know that. The roof is closed so we are looking forward to a fast, open game and Justin brings that extra bit of speed to the number six jersey. So the combination (of Tipuric, Reffell and Faletau) we think will work well.

“Rio has fitted in really well and really quickly. He is thriving in this environment. He is a young man who is bringing some form with him into camp. He scored some great tries and is full of confidence. That means a lot to a young guy playing his first Test match in front of a big crowd. There is no better way to start your career so we wish him well.

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“It doesn’t get much bigger than Wales New Zealand. I remember coming to games prior to getting this role and a full house, the bands and pre-match are just fantastic. We can’t wait for it, the players are looking forward to it and we just want the fans to get in there and be loud and really get behind the boys and be that 16th player that we know they are.”

Wales (vs All Blacks, Saturday)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 96 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 19 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 105 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 23 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – uncapped)
10. Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 32 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 36 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 13 caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 82 caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 65 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Dragons – 21 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 37 caps)
6. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 85 caps) captain
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 3 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 91 caps)

Replacements
16. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 30 caps)
17. Nicky Smith (Ospreys – 41 caps)
18. Dillon Lews (Cardiff Rugby- 41 caps)
19. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 153 caps)
20. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 2 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 14 caps)
22. Rhys Priestland (Cardiff Rugby – 52 caps)
23. Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 33 caps)

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Easy_Duzz-it 33 minutes ago
Are the All Blacks doomed to a 70% flatline?

The world never caught up the All Blacks just went backwards . After 2015 they had a plan to build the team around 2 players . Sam Cane and Beauden Barrett , Cane was hailed as the next Mccaw and Barrett the next carter . Unfortunately Cane sustained too many injures and Barrett despite being a great ball runner didn't have a high enough conversion rate or the game management skills to control the team and the game . Then to make matters worst , the selections were so bad year after year the forward pack became shockingly weak .

New Zealand had so much talent wasted betwen 2016 - 2023 . Laumape , elliot dixon , ben tamefuna , pita gus , ben lam , vaea fifita and so many other in form players that never got a look or the time to develop into great All Blacks .


Then you have the dual playmaker system that never worked , but they kept using it . why ? cause some men cant admit when they're wrong . thats the All Blacks between 2016-2023 . wrong coaches with the wrong vision , going in the wrong direction . now it appears the world caught up . but like I said the world never caught up . then you add the obvious flawed referee calls that happen to go against us more often then for us now . the worst of which that never gets called is when the opposition use rush defence but have players offside . this has been going for years , but who cares ? .


anyway its almost 10 and i need to get some shut eye .

Go the might All Blacks !!!!

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