Millennium Stadium's £3.1m hybrid pitch unveiled

The Millennium Stadium's new hybrid pitch was unveiled on Monday ahead of the start of the autumn internationals.

The surface, created by Desso Sports Systems, is now a mixture of grass and artificial fibres, designed to be more durable than traditional turf.

In recent years there have been complaints raised about the playing surface at the stadium.

Wales take to the pitch for the first time in a competitive match when they face Australia in Cardiff on Saturday.

The pitch is part of a £3.1m development, part-funded by the Welsh government, which also includes a new covering to protect the surface during concerts and motorsport events.

Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Roger Lewis said: "The fans who attend matches will undoubtedly benefit from being able to watch games they know will flow at speed with players running across top quality turf."

Cutting up - the old pitch was known to have issues