Wales v Argentina: Head coach Wayne Pivac makes seven changes for second Test

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Cardiff scrum-half Tomos Williams will play his 25th internationalImage source, Huw Evans picture agency
Image caption,

Cardiff scrum-half Tomos Williams will play his 25th international

Wales v Argentina - second Test

Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 17 July Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Coverage: Live on S4C, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Radio Cymru, live text on BBC website; highlights on BBC 2 Wales and iPlayer from 19:15 BST.

Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has made seven personnel changes for Saturday's second Test against Argentina.

There are four alterations in the backs with Tom Rogers, Nick Tompkins, Jarrod Evans and Tomos Williams starting.

Ospreys prop Gareth Thomas makes his first start with Leon Brown coming into the front-row, while Josh Turnbull replaces the injured Aaron Wainwright.

Jonah Holmes, Willis Halaholo, Callum Sheedy, Kieran Hardy, Nicky Smith and Dillon Lewis drop out.

Turnbull has been named at flanker with Ross Moriarty switching to number eight.

Hooker Sam Parry and prop Rhodri Jones are both handed their first opportunities of the summer among the replacements, while Matthew Screech is in line to win his first cap from the bench.

Sheedy, Hardy, Lewis and Halaholo are named on the replacements bench, with Smith and Holmes dropping out of the squad.

"We've got players that have trained well and it's our last opportunity to have a look at them against quality opposition," said Pivac.

"We always planned to get as many of the group out there as we could and we've learned a lot in these last four weeks. For some of them, now it will be about putting that into the acid test against a tier one nation.

"We've got about 27 players either away with the Lions, injured or unavailable. We'll learn a lot and it'll hopefully give us more depth for the future."

Media caption,

Wales 20-20 Argentina - highlights

Wales and Argentina drew 20-20 at the Principality Stadium last weekend and Pivac is aiming to end the season on a winning note.

"We were all frustrated after drawing last weekend and felt we left a number of opportunities out on the pitch," said Pivac.

"Argentina brought what we expected, they were big, physical and direct and exerted pressure with their kicking game.

"For some of this group it was the first time they have faced that level of physicality and intensity, and this week we will need to be much more accurate and disciplined.

"It is another exciting opportunity to face a quality outfit and we can still win the series, which would be a great way to finish our season.

"We have freshened the squad up a bit, giving others an opportunity to impress, and they are eager to make a big impression."

Argentina have made two personnel changes with Santiago Chocobares and Bautista Delguy starting in a revamped backline.

Wales: Hallam Amos; Owen Lane, Nick Tompkins, Jonathan Davies (capt), Tom Rogers; Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands, Josh Turnbull, James Botham, Ross Moriarty.

Replacements: Sam Parry, Rhodri Jones, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Taine Basham, Kieran Hardy, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo.

Argentina: Santiago Carreras; Bautista Delguy, Santiago Chocobares, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Matias Moroni; Nicolas Sanchez, Tomás Cubelli; Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Julian Montoya (capt), Francisco Gomez Kodela, Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Facundo Isa, Rodrigo Bruni.

Replacements: Facundo Bosch, Facundo Gigena, Santiago Medrano, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Felipe Ezcurra, Domingo Miotti, Juan Imhoff.

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