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Louis Rees-Zammit starts as Wales make 4 changes for defining Japan showdown
By Josh Raisey
Louis Rees-Zammit will start for Wales on Saturday against Japan in what is shaping up to be their defining fixture of their Quilter Nations Series campaign.
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After marking his international return last week against Argentina from the bench, the former NFL player will start this time round against Eddie Jones’ side, replacing Tom Rogers as the only change to the back line.
There are three changes to the pack, with head coach Steve Tandy opting to swap his props around. After starting against the Pumas, loosehead Rhys Carre and tighthead Keiron Assiratti are among the substitutes, with Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin promoted to the starting XV.
The final change in the pack sees Olly Cracknell, who started on the bench last week, join the back-row in place of captain Jac Morgan, who has been ruled out of the autumn campaign with a dislocated shoulder.
Cracknell’s start at No.8 has forced a back-row reshuffle, with Aaron Wainwright moving from the back of the scrum to the blindside, and Alex Mann wearing the No.7 jersey this week after donning the No.6 last week.
In Morgan’s absence, Dewi Lake will captain the side for the crunch fixture of Wales’ autumn with their place in the world rankings, and therefore seeing for the World Cup draw in December, on the line.
Wales, ranked 12th, are likely to hold on to their Band 2 seeding for the World Cup draw should they defeat the Brave Blossoms, ranked 13th, who are just in the Band 3 category. A victory for either side will likely give them a much more favourable draw come December 3.
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Tandy said: “The props started the game really well and played 45 minutes. We were always planning to rotate those round after the six-day turnaround. Then there’s a reshuffle in the back row: Alex Mann goes to seven. We feel he’s got all the qualities to play six or seven. Some of his attacking ability you’ve seen on the weekend and his defensive energy was outstanding. Then bringing Olly Cracknell in at No. 8 and moving Aaron Wainwright to six gives us a really good balance in the back row.
“Louis Rees-Zammit comes in on the wing. He played a good few minutes last weekend and we feel he’s ready to return to the starting line-up.
“I think we’ve definitely seen lots of how we want to play against Argentina. There was lots to be pleased about – our attack I thought was excellent and I saw a lot of physicality – but there’s lots to improve. So that’s what we’ve been focusing on. We’re looking to build on the first performance into this weekend.”
Wales XV
15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 11 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears – 33 caps)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 9 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 15 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 64 caps)
10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 4 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 65 caps)
1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 57 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 23 caps) captain
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 9 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 24 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Montpellier – 59 caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 60 caps)
7. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 8 caps)
8. Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers – 1 cap)
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Replacements
16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
17. Rhys Carré (Saracens – 21 caps)
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 5 caps)
20. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 8 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 26 caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 12 caps)
23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 41 caps)
