Scott Williams
Scott Williams will captain Wales against Ireland on Saturday, leading a team that contains 4 uncapped players.
The Scarlets centre will become Wales’ 131st captain on his 30th Test appearance and will be joined in the centre by uncapped Tyler Morgan.
Ross Moriarty, a double Under 20 World Cup-winner with England, was 1 of 4 uncapped players selected by Wales to face Ireland in this World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff.
The Gloucester flank, 21, was joined by wing Eli Walker, centre Tyler Morgan and lock Dominic Day in the team announced by head coach Warren Gatland on Tuesday.
The fixture at the Millennium Stadium follows intensive training camps in Switzerland and Qatar and is the 1st of 3 warm-up games building up to Wales’s opening World Cup game against Uruguay on 20 September.
“Saturday is a real opportunity for these players to put their hand up,” said Gatland in a press release issued by the Welsh Rugby Union.
“We have been really impressed over the last few weeks. We have put the players under a lot of pressure, and they have responded really well.
“This is their opportunity to show what they can do on the international stage.
“We have the right blend of youth and experience, and it’s all about grasping the chance at this level.
“It’s going to be a huge occasion – Ireland coming to town, a packed Millennium Stadium and players with everything to play for.”
Moriarty helped England win the Under 20 World Cup in 2013 and 2014, but subsequently decided to follow in the footsteps of his father Paul and uncle Richard by playing for Wales.
There are also 2 uncapped players among the replacements in the shape of New Zealand-born flyhalf Gareth Anscombe and his Cardiff Blues colleague Kristian Dacey.
Wales will play Ireland in a return fixture in Dublin on 29 August before welcoming Italy to the Welsh capital 7 days later.
As well as Uruguay, Gatland’s men have also been drawn alongside England, Australia and Fiji in Pool A at the World Cup.
Gatland will announce his final 31-man squad for the tournament later this month.
Wales: 15 Hallam Amos, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Scott Williams (Captain), 11 Eli Walker, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Ross Moriarty, 5 Dominic Day, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Rob Evans, 17 Kristian Dacey, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 James King, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Matthew Morgan.
Date: Saturday 8 August
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-Off: 15:30 SA Time (14:30 BST, 13:30 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Mathieu Raynal (France)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
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