Wales have been dealt a blow ahead of the second Test against the Wallabies with star No.8 Aaron Wainwright ruled out with a hamstring injury.
Wainwright, the visitors’ best player in the opening 25-16 loss to Australia in Sydney, is replaced by Taine Plumtree, who moves from flanker.
Winger Josh Hathaway also misses out due to an elbow injury.
James Botham moves into the starting side at No.6 to fill Plumtree’s role at six, with Mackenzie Martin coming in as back-row cover on the bench.
Liam Williams moves to the wing with Cameron Winnett coming in at full-back.
Gareth Thomas has been cleared to start in the front-row – with Wales naming an unchanged front-five from last week.
In a statement coach Warren Gatland said: “This week we’ve been going through our processes, building on what worked well and sharpening the areas that need improvement.
“We expect Australia to go up another level this weekend and we know we need to as well.
“We want to start well and make sure we are disciplined and accurate from the off. Then it’s about keeping in the arm-wrestle for the duration.”
Australia is expected to name their team at midday Thursday.
Wales team
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys / Gweilch – 32 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys / Gweilch – 14 caps) (captain)
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby / Caerfaddon – 2 caps)
4. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 11 caps)
5. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 18 caps)
6. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 12 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 19 caps)
8. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 4 caps)
9. Ellis Bevan (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 2 caps)
10. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 3 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dreigiau – 21 caps)
12. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 13 caps)
13. Owen Watkin (Ospreys / Gweilch – 40 caps)
14. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 91 caps)
15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 6 caps)
16. Evan Lloyd (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 4 caps)
17. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 4 caps)
18. Harri O’Connor (Scarlets – 3 caps)
19. Cory Hill (Secom Rugguts – 33 caps)
20. Mackenzie Martin (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 4 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys / Gweilch – 22 caps)
22. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 14 caps)
23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 37 caps)
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
Warren Gatland is to remain in charge for the 2025 Six Nations following a review into Wales' calamitous rugby slump but he's also been…
Amongst all the hubris from the weekend’s thumping of Wales, seemingly the biggest talking point is whether Samu Kerevi’s 42nd-minute high hit on Welsh…
If Australia gives Wales space, they have the ability to score - and with a strong lineout, Wales has the potential to dampen the Wallabies' party.
Just because the Wallabies beat England and put on a fantastic display across the park, it doesn’t mean that we are suddenly a world-beater…
Winger Makazole Mapimpi has scored a brace of tries as error-strewn South Africa defeated Scotland 32-15 in their Murrayfield Test with the help of…
The Wallabies are preparing to take the next step of their development under Joe Schmidt with a Grand Slam tour of the Northern Hemisphere.…
