Gareth Anscombe is set to make his first Test start in more than two years after being named at flyhalf in the Wales side to play New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Auckland-born pivot, who played Super Rugby for the Blues and Chiefs between 2012 and 2014, has not featured in a Test match since August 2019 when he suffered major ligament damage in a World Cup warm-up against England.
With Dan Biggar and Callum Sheedy unavailable to face the All Blacks as their English Premiership clubs are not obliged to release the Wales duo for a match taking place outside the designated window for Tests, Anscombe was chosen in the team announced by coach Wayne Pivac on Thursday.
The 30-year-old flyhalf got the nod ahead of Rhys Priestland, who is on the bench.
The scheduling of Saturday’s fixtures means Wales are also without first-choice players in wing Louis Rees-Zammitt and No 8 Taulupe Faletau among seven England-based players.
Wales will also be missing the likes of George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi as they seek a first win over New Zealand since 1953.
Wales – 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Owen Lane, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Johnny Williams, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Wyn Jones.
Subs: 16 Kirby Myhill, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Seb Davies, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Ben Thomas.
Coach: Wayne Pivac (NZL)
© Agence France-Presse
