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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Wales hand rookie World Cup debut as they name strong side for Georgia clash

Aaron Wainwright has been handed his World Cup debut as Wales named an experienced team to face Georgia on Monday.

The Dragons flanker is handed a start ahead of regional team-mate Ross Moriarty, with Josh Navidi and Justin Tipuric completing the back-row.

Elsewhere, Wyn Jones is handed the starting jersey at loosehead prop ahead of Nicky Smith - with Ken Owens and Tomas Francis the other option.

Captain Alun Wyn Jones will go level with Gethin Jenkins' Welsh record of 129 Welsh caps when he partners Jake Ball in the second-row on Monday.

In the backs, Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar keep their place at half-backs, with the three-quarters line being as expected as well.

Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies start in midfield, while George North, Josh Adams and Liam Williams are in the back-three.

With an average age of 28 years and 331 days, this is the oldest Wales XV ever picked at a World Cup - beating out the team that face Japan in 2007 by 80 days per man.

Wyn Jones during an open training session (Ben Evans/Huw Evans Agency)

The bench is largely as predicted as well.

Aaron Shingler gets the nod as second-row cover with Adam Beard and Cory Hill still recovering, while Moriarty acts as the back-row cover after losing out on a starting place.

Tomos Williams is preferred to Aled Davies as scrum-half cover, while Rhys Patchell is fit after his concussion issues to be the back-up fly-half.

Leigh Halfpenny completes the replacements bench - getting the nod ahead of Owen Watkin.

Wales team to face Georgia: L Williams; North, J Davies, Parkes, Adams; Biggar, G Davies; W Jones, Owens, Francis, AWJ, Ball, Wainwright, Tipuric, Navidi.

Replacements: Dee, Smith, Lewis, Shingler, Moriarty, T Williams, Patchell, Halfpenny.

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