FULL-BACK LEIGH Halfpenny will start his first international Test in 14 months when Wales take on Australia on Saturday.
The goal-kicking Toulon back will line up at 15, Scarlets rival Liam Williams missing out on selection through injury.
In the absence of captain Sam Warburton, loose-head prop Gethin Jenkins will skipper an experienced side despite Taulupe Faletau (injured) and lock Alun Wyn Jones (family bereavement) also sitting out the game at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
It will be the seventh time that Jenkins, Wales’ most capped player of all time, will lead his country, with Wales going on to play Japan, Argentina and South Africa in their November Test schedule.
The experienced starting XV can boast 802 caps between them but there are two uncapped players named amongst the replacements in Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies and Newport Gwent Dragons lock Cory Hill.
Captain Jenkins will pack down alongside Scarlets pair Ken Owens and Samson Lee in the front-row, with Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris linking up in the second row. Ross Moriarty packs down at No 8 and is joined in the back-row back Ospreys duo Dan Lydiate and Justin Tipuric.
Ospreys half-backs Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar start their sixth successive international alongside each other, with five Lions named in the outside backs: Jamie Roberts partners Jonathan Davies in midfields, while Halfpenny makes his first appearance for Wales since September 2015 alongside George North and Alex Cuthbert.
“It’s great to welcome back Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Lydiate and Alex Cuthbert who missed the New Zealand tour plus George North and Gethin Jenkins who left the tour early with injury,” said Wales coach Rob Howley, in charge following Warren Gatland’s secondment to the Lions.
“We have a vast amount of experience in the squad, we’ve trained really well over the last two weeks and are really excited for Saturday.
“With losing Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau and Alun Wyn Jones, we have spoken a lot about the leadership group this week and their importance on the field.”
Howley added: “With the two uncapped players, Sam Davies has played particularly well, he deserves his chance and hopefully will have an influence on the game. Cory comes onto the bench, with Rory (Thornton) having picked up a back spasm, and we are delighted with him and how he has stepped up to this level in training.”
On the bench, Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith and Tomas Francis make up the front-row replacements with uncapped Hill and James King completing the forward contingent. Gareth Davies, Sam Davies and Hallam Amos provide the backline cover.
Wales:
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. Alex Cuthbert
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb
8. Ross Moriaty
7. Justin Tipuric
6. Dan Lydiate
5. Luke Charteris
4. Bradley Davies
3. Samson Lee
2. Ken Owens
1. Gethin Jenkins (capt).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Tomas Francis, Cory Hill, James King, Gareth Davies, Sam Davies, Hallam Amos.
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