Warren Gatland has made two changes to his side for the second Test against the All Blacks in Wellington on Saturday and moved the full-back Liam Williams to the wing.
Williams, one of the stars of the Welsh performance in the 39-21 first Test defeat in Auckland last weekend, takes over the jersey vacated by the injured George North. The tour replacement Rhys Patchell, usually an outside-half, is given the full-back berth.
Up front, the mid-week captain Luke Charteris is recalled to the second row in place of Bradley Davies, who drops to the bench. Jake Ball is not included in the matchday 23.
Wales lost a number of line-outs at Eden Park and Gatland will be hoping Charteris can solve that problem. “It is important we go out on Saturday with the confidence to play for 80 minutes in what will be another huge Test match,” said Gatland.
“We kept the ball and played well for periods of the first Test and we need to convert that to the full eighty. It will be another huge occasion, in a packed out stadium in Wellington and we are determined to build on our first Test performance.”
The All Blacks, meanwhile, have made two changes to their stating XV for the second Test. Israel Dagg comes in at full-back and Ben Smith moves to the wing to take over from Julian Savea.
Despite scoring his 39th Test try in Auckland, Savea is dropped. Both Dagg and Smith will win their 50th caps, while the fit-again lock Sam Whitelock will pick up his 74th when he returns in the second row alongside Brodie Retallick at the expense of Luke Romano.
Wales Rhys Patchell (Cardiff Blues); Liam Williams (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
