Wing Murray to make Wales debut against Fiji

1 month ago 23

Scarlets wing Blair Murray in Wales trainingImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image caption,

Blair Murray is one of eight Scarlets named in Wales' autumn squad

Gareth Griffiths

BBC Sport Wales

Autumn Nations Series: Wales v Fiji

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Sunday, 10 November Kick off: 13:40 GMT

Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds, follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app.

Scarlets wing Blair Murray is in contention to be given his first Wales cap against Fiji in Cardiff on Sunday.

Murray, 23, was born and brought up in New Zealand but qualifies for Wales through his mother, who is originally from Tonyrefail in south Wales.

He came through the Crusaders academy in New Zealand and played for Canterbury in the domestic competition before arriving in Wales this year.

Murray linked up with Scarlets this summer and has played just six games for his new side but was included in Wales' autumn squad and is in line to be preferred to Rio Dyer for a starting spot.

Cardiff duo Ben Thomas and Mason Grady could return to the positions they play in domestic rugby after occupying different roles in the summer for Wales.

Thomas featured at fly-half in the two losing Tests in Australia but is in contention play in his more familiar inside centre role while Grady will switch to the wing.

Thomas is expected to partner former Cardiff centre Max Llewellyn who has been recalled to the squad after showing some fine form with Gloucester.

It would be only a second start for Llewellyn with his English club set to have three players in Wales' starting side with half-backs Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe returning after missing the summer because of injury.

Anscombe, 33, has not played Test rugby in more than a year after being absent for last season because of a groin problem.

Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan, who has also not played for Wales in more a year, is struggling to shake off a minor injury.

Leicester open-side Tommy Reffell is in line to continue in the number seven shirt with Morgan potentially named as a replacement on a bench that could include six forwards.

Bath tight-head prop Archie Griffin has recovered from a minor temporary heart condition and could retain the number three jersey he wore against Australia, while locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are set to return after missing the summer programme.

Wales have lost their last nine internationals in a losing Test record that stretches back 13 months.

Another defeat will equal Wales' record of 10 successive international losses which stretches back to Steve Hansen's side of 2002 and 2003.

Wales open their autumn campaign against Fiji before facing Australia seven days later and finish with the visit of South Africa on 23 November.

Read Entire Article