1
Wales, who picked up their first win in Argentina for 14 years, named their side for the second Test in Santa Fe knowing a win could be enough to move them above England in the World Rugby rankings should Eddie Jones’ side slip to defeat in Bloemfontein.
ADVERTISEMENT
Warren Gatland’s side won 23-10 in San Juan and will be looking for a three-game sweep following their win over South Africa in Washington DC.
Wales have made five changes with Cory Hill staying on as captain.
?Team Announcement: Wales make 5 changes for final summer tour test. @coryhill_ remains captain with Ellis Jenkins, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Aled Davies & Owen Watkin all coming into the side to face @lospumas ??????? v ?? pic.twitter.com/q93XhElCl3
— Welsh Rugby Union ??????? (@WelshRugbyUnion) June 14, 2018
In comes Ellis Jenkins, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis into the front row, while Aled Davies is named at scrum half and Owen Watkin is at inside centre alongside Scott Williams.
Jenkins comes into the back-row at blindside flanker to link up with James Davies at openside and Ross Moriarty at No8.
Hill and Beard continue their partnership in the second row whilst it is a new look front row with Ryan Elias and Tomas Francis coming in for their first starts of the tour alongside Rob Evans.
Aled Davies also gets his first start at half-back alongside Rhys Patchell. Watkin comes into the midfield and partners Scott Williams in the centre with Hadleigh Parkes ruled out through injury.
ADVERTISEMENT
Parkes picked up a compound fracture to his finger in the Test against Argentina last weekend and is due to have it assessed again soon. Samson Lee’s tour is also over, the prop has been released from the squad and returned home due to a back injury.
Continue reading below…
The back-three is unchanged from the victory in San Juan last weekend with Hallam Amos at full-back with Josh Adams and George North on the wings.
“We’ve made five changes to the starting line-up as we want to see a few players from the start and give those players a bit more opportunity” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
“Looking at the objectives of this tour, we are right on track, we have won two games from two but more importantly we have exposed players to test match rugby and given more opportunity and that was the aim coming in.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We want to go home three from three but we know the challenge that we are up against this weekend and we also are looking at the bigger picture. We might have picked a slightly different team if it was just about results but it is about more than that it is about building for 2019 and we are on the right track.
“Both Cory (Hill) and Ellis (Jenkins) have been great on tour as co-captains. This week with them both in the side we have just gone for a bit of continuity with Cory doing the job as he did last weekend. Additionally we are asking Ellis to play at six so this allows him to concentrate on that role on Saturday.”
Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Dillon Lewis provide the front-row cover on the bench with Bradley Davies and Josh Turnbull named as the other forwards. Tomos Williams, Gareth Anscombe and Tom Prydie complete the replacements.
WALES TEAM TO FACE ARGENTINA
15. Hallam Amos (17 Caps)
14. Josh Adams (3 Caps)
13. Scott Williams (56 Caps)
12. Owen Watkin (5 Caps) –
11. George North (75 Caps)
10. Rhys Patchell (9 Caps)
9. Aled Davies (10 Caps)
1. Rob Evans (26 Caps)
2. Ryan Elias (4 Caps)
3. Tomas Francis (32 Caps)
4. Adam Beard (3 Caps)
5. Cory Hill (17 Caps) (CAPTAIN)
6. Ellis Jenkins (7 Caps)
7. James Davies (2 Caps)
8. Ross Moriarty (23 Caps)
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee (9 Caps)
17. Nicky Smith (20 Caps)
18. Dillon Lewis (4 Caps)
19. Bradley Davies (62 Caps)
20. Josh Turnbull (9 Caps)
21. Tomos Williams (1 Cap)
22. Gareth Anscombe (17 Caps)
23. Tom Prydie (6 Caps)
In other news: Cheika and Foley look to take 2-0 lead in Ireland series
Comments on RugbyPass
“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
28 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
28 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
28 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
28 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
28 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
28 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
28 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to commentsHaha lads lads lads, that’s how you have a holiday In Majorca
4 Go to commentshit on Lynagh was defo late and card-worthy. The other 2 are bang on OK. Hurts you at Test level if youre timing is off and the nostrils are flared. Jerry C knew when to lean in on one, Finau just needs to keep his discipline and head straight.
7 Go to commentsSlade was exceptional against Gloucester. Not only was he doing the classic Slade stuff of running amazing lines and timing passes to perfection to put his wingers into space, he was kicking goals, flying off the line smashing people and crashing into rucks like a flanker… his hair even looked on point. 😍
1 Go to commentsThat’s really sad, hope everyone involved is ok. At least he had pants on.
4 Go to commentsTo be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
1 Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
7 Go to comments