Wales team to face Tonga in Cardiff

Leicester back Jonah Holmes will make his Test debut in a Wales team showing 14 changes for Saturday's Under Armour Series clash against Tonga.

The Stockport-born player, whose grandparents are Welsh, will line up at full-back in a team that sees Saracens wing Liam Williams win his 50th cap.

Cardiff Blues flanker Ellis Jenkins will captain the side, while there are also starts for the likes of centre Tyler Morgan, scrum-half Tomos Williams, prop Leon Brown, flanker Aaron Wainwright and number eight Seb Davies.

Holmes, 26, played at Wasps, Rosslyn Park, Henley, London Welsh and Yorkshire Carnegie before joining Leicester last year. He has so far scored 10 tries for the Tigers.

He was one of two uncapped players named in Wales' autumn Tests squad, with Ospreys wing Luke Morgan being handed a chance against Scotland 12 days ago.

Only lock Adam Beard is retained from the starting line-up that recorded a first victory over Australia for 10 years last weekend, but Liam Williams apart, experience is provided by the likes of fly-half Dan Biggar and lock Jake Ball.

Biggar featured as a replacement for Leigh Halfpenny against Australia and kicked a 77th-minute penalty that edged Wales home 9-6.

The bench, meanwhile, includes a fit-again Rhys Patchell, plus experienced forwards Rob Evans, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill and Ross Moriarty.

Wales will chase an eighth successive victory against all opponents in Cardiff this weekend, which would equal their longest unbeaten run since the 2004-05 season.

And they are also unbeaten against Tonga, having defeated them eight times.

Reflecting on his selection, Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: "Saturday is a fantastic opportunity for a number of players. It is Jonah's first game, which is exciting, and Liam reaches his 50th, which is a great achievement.

"We have spoken about creating depth, and for us that is all about creating a squad that is full of first-teamers - everyone in the squad capable of starting.

"The boys this weekend have to put their hand up for the final match (against South Africa) and put pressure on the players who started last weekend.

"Ellis captains the team for the second time, while making his first start at home, and for Wyn (Scarlets prop Wyn Jones), it is his first start after nine appearances off the bench.

"It's important to realise when selecting a team that we look at all these things in terms of experience, starts, depth balance and opportunity, and all that goes into the mix."

Wales conclude their autumn series against the Springboks on Saturday week.

Victory over Tonga and South Africa, following earlier successes against Scotland and Australia, would give Wales a first autumn Tests clean sweep of wins.



Wales team to play Tonga

Forwards: 1 Wyn Jones, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Leon Brown, 4 Jake Ball, 5 Adam Beard, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Ellis Jenkins (Captain), 8 Seb Davies

Backs: 9 Tomos Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 11 Steff Evans, 12 Owen Watkin, 13 Tyler Morgan, 14 Liam Williams, 15 Jonah Holmes*

Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Rob Evans, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Cory Hill, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Josh Adams

*Denotes uncapped player

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