Alun Wyn Jones admits Adam Beard hardly looks old enough to grow facial hair worthy of his name, but has backed him to help Wales shave off their long, unwanted losing streak against Australia. Beard will partner the Wales captain in the second row, a selection that even the young Ospreys player this week admitted raised his own eyebrows as well those of plenty of others. But Jones spotted beard’s talent as a fresh-faced teenager and now his teammate is a fresh-faced 22-year-old he thinks he’s ready to beat the Wallabies for a first Welsh win in 14 attempts.

Gareth Anscombe’s keeping of the Wales No.10 shirt was as much about protecting the player’s confidence as it was about beating Australia on Saturday, Warren Gatland has revealed. The Wales coach has stuck with Anscombe at outside-half to take on the Wallabies, even though Biggar was available again after sitting out the game against Scotland because it fell outside the official Test window. Northampton-based Biggar has very much been Gatland’s go-to man in recent seasons and 39 of his last 40 caps have been earned from a starting spot.

Wales have made three changes to their starting XV to face Australia in Cardiff on Saturday. Tomas Francis, Adam Beard and Josh Adams all come into the starting XV from the side that beat Scotland in Wales’ opening Under Armour Series clash.

Rugby Australia boss Raelene Castle has certainly heaped the pressure on Wallaby coach Michael Cheika by suggesting his side’s ‘pass mark’ for this month will be a clean-sweep of their three games in Europe. Having been beaten for the ninth time in their past 12 games by the mighty All Blacks in Yokohama two weekends ago the Aussies landed in London on Saturday night shortly after Wales had polished off Scotland at the Principality Stadium.

Josh Adams has revealed he has yet to decide whether to return to Wales in order to continue his international career. The Worcester Warriors wing was a breakthrough performer for his country last season, making his debut against Scotland in the Six Nations and then holding onto his place for the clash against England. He then won two further caps on tour in the summer victories over Argentina and was a tryscorer in the 30-12 second Test win over the Pumas.

Josh Adams has confessed his initial ejection from the Wales squad this summer brought on the mother of all hangovers. The Worcester Warriors wing was at last month’s Aviva Premiership Awards evening when he learnt that the clubs he plays against each week had decided to boot him off the trip to North America to play South Africa. It was hardly an unpredictable move. Premiership Rugby Limited – the body that represents the English clubs – have long held a collective agreement that they will only release players for international games that fall within the proper Test calendar.

Warren Gatland has told his Wales rookies they can help Wales succeed at next year’s World Cup – even if they don’t make it into the team. The Wales coach admitted the value of last weekend’s 22-20 victory over South Africa – played out in Washington DC between two vastly under-strength sides before a meagre crowd – may not be known until September of next year. That is when Wales will be in Japan for the World Cup, by which stage the missing dozen or so players from the current tour may well be back in the starting line-up.

Warren Gatland plans to act as ruthlessly in blitzing Ireland pair Johnny Sexton and Conor Murray as he has in axing Rhys Patchell and Josh Adams. Patchell and Adams have both paid the price for Wales’ defeat to England at Twickenham by losing their places in the squad that meets Ireland on Saturday. Neither player was able to maintain the standards and influence they showed in the victory over Scotland. Instead, Dan Biggar, Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams all return and Gareth Anscombe goes back to the bench for a game Wales have to win to maintain any hope of winning the Six Nations title.

Wales have named an unchanged starting XV from the side that beat Scotland in their NatWest 6 Nations opener for their game against England at Twickenham on Saturday (KO 16.45). There is just one change amongst the replacements with British & Irish Lion George North returning to wear jersey 23.

Wales have named their side to take on Scotland in their opening NatWest 6 Nations encounter on Saturday with Josh Adams set to make his debut on the wing. The 22-year-old, who has scored 13 tries for Worcester this season, will earn his first cap at Principality Stadium and joins six Scarlets across the back-line.

Josh Adams has earned his chance for a breakthrough role for Wales in the Six Nations, according to his club coach at Worcester. Warriors backs coach Sam Vesty believes 22-year-old Adams – who left the Scarlets after failing to gain a regular starting spot – has knuckled down and deserves to make his debut against Scotland this weekend. The chances of Wales coach Warren Gatland turning to Adams have increased as injuries have undermined other options, with Liam Williams, Hallam Amos and George North all struggling for fitness.

Wales may be 15-1 with the bookies to win the Six Nations, but head coach Warren Gatland believes that is “a great bet”. Gatland’s side kick-off their campaign in Cardiff against Scotland and the British & Irish Lions coach believes it is an ideal way for his side to start – even though the Scots turned over Wales at Murrayfield last season to end a run of nine successive defeats. “They are going to be a massive challenge for us. It is a good game for us to have first up, to get us really focussed for at the start of the Six Nations,” said Gatland.