Wales have handed young Ospreys centre Joe Hawkins a surprise debut against Australia as Wayne Pivac made six changes to the side after the shattering defeat to Georgia.
Hawkins is brought in as one of four changes to Pivac's backline against the Wallabies this weekend. Rio Dyer and Gareth Anscombe return to the starting XV after missing the Georgia match, while Leigh Halfpenny is handed a first Wales start since July 2021.
In the pack, there are just two changes - with Taulupe Faletau starting in his 100th Test cap and former captain Alun Wyn Jones returning to the second-row after not being included in matchday squads against Argentina and Georgia. World rugby's most capped player is still searching for his first win as a starter for Wales in 2022 - having last started against Italy in March's defeat.
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Hawkins is highly rated at the Ospreys and gets his call next to George North in the centre because of an injury to Owen Watkin.
Dyer's return comes at the expense of Josh Adams, who drops to the bench, with Pivac retaining belief in Alex Cuthbert despite his costly yellow card against the Georgians last week.
Anscombe's return to fly-half sees last week's starter Rhys Priestland drop to the bench, while Tomos Williams, like North, is in line to start all four of Wales' autumn matches.
Pivac keeps the starting front-row which functioned well before Georgia's scrum got on top once replacements were made. Jones partners Ospreys team-mate Adam Beard in the second-row after a testing year that has seen him feature during just one of Wales' three victories in 2022.
In the back-row, Faletau is brought in to start at No. 8 for his 100th Test cap - 95 with Wales and five for the Lions - with last week's debutant Josh Macleod dropping to the bench. Once again, Justin Tipuric captains the side.
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With the return of Halfpenny and Jones to the starting XV, it's clear that Pivac is leaning on experience as he aims to once again navigate choppy waters. Halfpenny, North, Owens, Jones, Tipuric and Faletau boast considerably more caps between them than the injury-hit Wallabies side.
Dave Rennie's team have experienced roughly 40 injuries this year, with 11 of their original 36-man autumn squad unavailable. The Wallabies are bidding for a first win over Wales since 2017.
Pivac said: “The whole squad is extremely disappointed with last week’s performance. It’s not the result that anybody wanted. It’s not the result that anyone expected. We’ve gone through a review process. We know what went wrong and what is required to get the result this weekend.
“There’s been an injury to Owen Watkin which gives an opportunity to young Joe Hawkins. He’s obviously very excited. He’s been in camp training for the last month and learning a lot and he’s looked good in training so he gets an opportunity.
“Some players have come back that were not involved last week. Certainly it’s a side we’ve selected to get a result which we’re desperately seeking. They’ve gelled well at the start of the week and we look forward to seeing how we go.
“Clearly this will be a step up – we’re playing an Australian side that will have a lot of changes for probably similar reasons to ourselves over the last month or so with injuries, but what we do know about Australia is that they’re a dangerous side whatever team they put out.
"We’ve seen that with the close games this autumn. So we’re expecting a very tough battle."
What do you make of Pivac's selection? Have your say in our comments section below
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, George North, Joe Hawkins, Rio Dyer; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Jac Morgan, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Rhodri Jones, Tomas Francis, Ben Carter, Josh Macleod, Kieran Hardy, Rhys Priestland, Josh Adams.
Australia: Tom Wright; Jordan Petaia, Len Ikitau, Reece Hodge, Mark Nawaqanitawase; Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon; James Slipper, Folau Fainga'a, Allan Alaalatao, Nick Frost, Cadeyrn Neville, Jed Holloway, Fraser McRieght, Langi Gleeson.
Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Tom Robertson, Sam Talakai, Ned Hanigan, Pete Samu, Tate McDermott, Noah Lolesio, Jock Campbell.
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