Justin Tipuric To The Rescue As Wales Bid To Stop The Rot

By David Williams

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has made a solitary change to the team beaten by Scotland for Friday’s Autumn Nations Cup opener against Ireland.

Flanker Justin Tipuric, who missed the Six Nations loss to Scotland 11 days ago because of tonsillitis, replaces James Davies.

Pivac has otherwise kept faith with that starting line-up as Wales head to Dublin on the back of five successive defeats.

The Scottish result condemned Wales to their worst Six Nations campaign for 13 years, and the fall-out was immediate with Byron Hayward departing his role as defence coach.

But Pivac has resisted any temptation for wholesale changes as Wales embark on an Autumn Nations Cup campaign that will also see them tackle England and Georgia, plus a play-off fixture.

 

⫶ Wales name team for #AutumnNationsCup opener ☘️ https://t.co/MD00qCAjus
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⫶ extends world Test record⠀
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⫶ Test half-century for ⠀
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⫶ Cap newydd ar y fainc: ⠀
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#HWFN pic.twitter.com/Glo3nx1jUD

— Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 11, 2020

Switches on the replacements’ bench, though, see uncapped Bristol fly-half Callum Sheedy, hooker Elliot Dee, prop Samson Lee, lock Jake Ball and wing George North among those included.

Cardiff-born Sheedy, 25, was instrumental to Bristol featuring in the Gallagher Premiership play-offs last season, and their European Challenge Cup final triumph.

North, meanwhile, will make his 100th appearance for Wales and the British and Irish Lions if he is involved at the Aviva Stadium.

And captain Alun Wyn Jones reaches 150 Wales and Lions Tests after breaking Richie McCaw’s world record in the Scotland game.

There are further opportunities for the likes of centre Owen Watkin, prop Tomas Francis, who wins his 50th cap, and lock Will Rowlands as Wales look to rediscover a winning formula.

Pivac said: “Friday night is the start of a new international season and a new campaign, and we are looking forward to getting out there and showing what we can do.

“We have got four matches in the Autumn Nations Cup to perform, and we are excited to be kicking the tournament off.”

 

WALES TEAM TO PLAY IRELAND

1. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues (10 Caps)
2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (15 Caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (49 Caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Wasps) (2 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (140 Caps) (CAPT)
6. Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues) (1 Cap)
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (77 Caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (78 Caps)
9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (55 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (85 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (26 Caps)
12. Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (23 Caps)
13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (83 Caps)
14. Liam Williams (Scarlets) (64 Caps)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (91 Caps)

 

REPLACEMENTS:

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) (29 Caps)
17. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (26 Caps)
18. Samson Lee (Scarlets) (42 Caps)
19. Jake Ball (Scarlets) (46 Caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (23 Caps)
21. Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues) (28 Caps)
22. Callum Sheedy (Bristol) (*Uncapped)
23. George North (Ospreys) (96 Caps)