Wales will begin their Autumn Nation Series tomorrow afternoon (KO: 13:40). They will take on the Flying Fijians, hoping to end their winless streak and win their first Autumn game in the capital since Argentina in 2022.
You will have to go back to that sunny Autumn afternoon in Nantes when Wales recorded their last Test Match victory.
This came in their final group match against Georgia (43-19), and since then, Warren Gatland’s men have not picked up a win. However, after losing 2-0 down under to Australia in the summer, they come into the encounter on the back of a narrow 36-35 win over Queensland Reds in an uncapped game back in July.
However, Fiji came into the encounter despite a thumping loss over Scotland last weekend having picked up silverware. This came in Higashiosaka, where they picked up the Pacific Nations Cup and put aside Eddie Jones’s Japan 41-17. With all that said and done, can Wales record their first win of 2024?
Team news:
One of the main talking points from Gatland’s team selection on Friday morning was Scarlet’s winger Blair Murray making his debut. This comes after a dominant start to the United Rugby Championship, where the New Zealand-born Murray has scored two tries in six appearances.
Another interesting talking point was Cardiff Rugby’s Ben Thomas being selected at 12 after playing at 10 in Australia. This comes as Gareth Anscombe moves back into the starting ten jersey alongside his Gloucester counterpart Tomos Williams to complete the halfbacks. Joining Thomas in the centre will be Max Llewellyn, who has had a brilliant start to the season for Gloucester Rugby in the English Premiership.
Tommy Reffell gets the starting seven jersey ahead of Wales’s World Cup captain, Jac Morgan, who was named on a 6-2 split bench which includes the likes of Nicky Smith and Sam Costelow. Dewi Lake captain’s his side from hooker, and both Adam Beard and Will Rowlands make up the second row.
Mick Byrne makes a handful of changes to his side, which lost 57-17 in Edinburgh last weekend. Many of their big names who ply their trade in the Top 14 return. Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova, and Waisea Nayacalevu all start in the backline.
Byrne makes no changes to Fiji’s half-backs as both Caleb Muntz and Frank Lomani remain in their starting positions and last weekend’s try scorer Tevita Ikanivere remains as captain.
Pre-Match Thoughts:
Speaking ahead of the encounter at the Captain’s run on a fresh Saturday morning at Principality Stadium, Taine Plumtree said: “I’m excited for it.
“It’s been a long time coming and the season’s been good so far. I’ve been enjoying playing for the Scarlets but now there’s a real job to do tomorrow, so I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into Fiji.
“It’s been tough. We’ve been training really well and we’ve been getting put through some good meters. So like I said, you know, the boys are ready,” he added.
Sunday afternoon will also see Plumtree make his first start in a Wales jersey, he continued: “I mean it’s an unbelievable stadium and being able to get my first start. I’m obviously grateful for that, and I’m just planning on making the most of the opportunity, really.”
“I think Fiji have that DNA in them that they just want to play rugby and that offloading ability and a lot of strong, fast men. So, I mean, if we can contain that and we get our physicality in that contact zone, I think we can try to put them at bay like that.
“It’s a good loose forward trio that I’ve got with me, so I’m stoked for that. And there’s a good bunch of competition in training with Jack and James coming on off the bench. They bring a really good physicality, sort of physical level and good attacking rugby. So, yeah, I’d be excited for that.”
On his fellow housemate Blair Murray’s first start, he added: “I’m stoked for him. He’s got about 30-odd family members from around Wales and England coming tomorrow, so I’m really excited for him to be able to see them and obviously play in front of them and then play in the stadium like this. It wasn’t too long ago where I was in a similar situation just coming from New Zealand.
“He’s really looking forward to it and I’m looking forward to seeing him go out there, “ Plumtree concluded.
Words By Harry Tovey
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