Former Ospreys lock Adam Beard is recalled to the Wales second row to face New Zealand, after the lineout let Steve Tandy’s side down against Japan.
The Montpellier forward wins his 69th cap at the Principality Stadium on Saturday (2.10pm), one of four changes to the side that won 28-21 last weekend.
Six lost lineouts against Japan
Wales lost six lineouts in their bonus-point win, and both the coach and the captain admitted afterwards it was a problem.
Dewi Lake admitted there was “no hiding away” from it. Tandy said the All Blacks were “a brilliant line-out defence team themselves”.
Beard comes in alongside Exeter’s Dafydd Jenkins, with Ben Carter dropping to the bench.
Costelow keeps the 10 shirt
Sam Costelow starts at fly-half again, with Ospreys’ Dan Edwards among the replacements, despite calls for Edwards to be handed the shirt.
Former Wales centre Tom Shanklin told BBC Scrum V he would make the switch: “I’d go with Dan Edwards at 10.”
Shanklin pointed to Costelow’s kicking in the Japan win: “There were a couple of opportunities in the Japan game where I thought Sam Costelow ended up kicking the ball away.”
Early in the second half against Japan, Costelow kicked possession away with Blair Murray and Louis Rees-Zammit outside him.
Shanklin said: “I think [Edwards] will be better for Wales’ attack against New Zealand because you are going to need more ball movement.”
He added: “I think Dan is a better option at that and for getting the backline going. He is probably more of a threat with the ball in hand as well and offers a bit more in attack.”
Edwards came off the bench against Japan and kicked the final conversion.
‘We have to go up another level’
Steve Tandy wants a sharper Wales after the Japan win.
He said: “We’re excited for the opportunity we have against New Zealand. It was good to get the win last Saturday, but some elements of our execution weren’t where we wanted.”
He added: “We have to go up another level this weekend and be more ruthless. We have one of the best teams in the world coming.”
He went on: “We want to be better and put in an 80-minute performance.”
Basham back after more than two years
Cardiff’s Taine Basham starts at number eight, his first Wales appearance since the 2024 Six Nations.
He replaces Aaron Wainwright, who picked up a minor calf injury against Japan and has spent the week in a protective boot. Wainwright, Wales’ most effective ball-carrier of late, is battling to be fit for Australia.
Tandy said he was delighted for Basham: “I’m delighted that Taine gets an opportunity this weekend.”
He added: “It’s been a while since his last appearance for Wales but he didn’t give up and has put in a lot of dedication and hard work to get back.”
He went on: “The way he’s been playing for Cardiff has been great, and I’m excited to see him go on Saturday.”
Botham at six, Hamer-Webb on the wing
James Botham moves up from the bench to blindside flanker, with Jac Morgan continuing at openside. Alex Mann drops out of the 23.
Leicester’s Gabriel Hamer-Webb replaces Josh Adams on the wing for his first appearance of the Nations Championship. Adams scored twice against Japan.
Three Ospreys on the bench
For the second week running, there is no current Ospreys player in the starting XV. Edwards and scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams are among the replacements again, and prop Gareth Thomas joins them.
Thomas and Scarlets back-rower Taine Plumtree could both make their first appearances of the competition. Dragons pair Dillon Lewis and Ben Carter complete the forward replacements.
Sale tighthead Tomas Francis has been released from the squad with a knee injury picked up in training this week. Keiron Assiratti has been called up to the wider squad.
72 years without a win against the All Blacks
Wales have not beaten New Zealand since 1953. The All Blacks have won the last 34 meetings and scored more than 50 points on each of their last three visits to Cardiff.
The game is live on ITV and S4C, and Wales host Australia the following Saturday (8.10pm).
Wales: Blair Murray (Scarlets); Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), Eddie James (Scarlets), Max Llewellyn (Gloucester), Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester); Sam Costelow (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Saracens); Nicky Smith (Sale), Dewi Lake (Gloucester, captain), Archie Griffin (Bath), Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter), Adam Beard (Montpellier), James Botham (Cardiff), Jac Morgan (Gloucester), Taine Basham (Cardiff).
Replacements: Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Dillon Lewis (Dragons), Ben Carter (Dragons), Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys), Dan Edwards (Ospreys), Louie Hennessey (Bath).
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