Wales v England: Jac Morgan captains hosts as Leigh Halfpenny reaches 100 Wales caps

Jac Morgan and Leigh Halfpenny are former Scarlets team-mates but have now both left the region

Jac Morgan will captain Wales against England on Saturday as Leigh Halfpenny wins his 100th cap for his country.

Wales have named three new caps to start the World Cup warm-up match in Cardiff.

Cardiff props Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti and Gloucester centre Max Llewellyn are set to make their debuts.

There could be two new caps off the replacements' bench in Taine Plumtree and ex-England prop Henry Thomas.

Aaron Wainwright will play at number eight at the Principality Stadium with Taulupe Faletau battling a calf injury, while Sam Costelow is named at fly-half alongside his Scarlets half-back partner Gareth Davies.

Captain Morgan

Ospreys flanker Morgan, 23, will captain Wales for the first time as coach Warren Gatland looks to replace Ken Owens who has been ruled out of at least the tournament pool stages because of a back injury.

Wales have also lost experienced players like Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb who have retired from international rugby ahead of the World Cup.

Gatland will look at captaincy contenders in the three warm-up matches before coming to a final decision.

"We've named Jac as captain for this match and it is a great honour for him to be leading his country," said Gatland.

"We'll be looking at probably having a different captain for each of the matches as we give as many as possible in the squad an opportunity to impress, but also mindful about potential combinations as we get closer to naming the World Cup squad."

Morgan and Wales women's captain Hannah Jones are both former pupils of Brynamman primary and Amman Valley Comprehensive schools.

Century maker

Leigh Halfpenny is aiming to play in his third World Cup

Halfpenny, 34, will become the ninth man to play 100 internationals for Wales after Alun Wyn Jones, Gethin Jenkins, George North, Dan Biggar, Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas, Martyn Williams and Faletau.

With his four British and Irish Lions Test caps, Halfpenny played his 100th international against Canada in July 2021. The occasion lasted only a minute for the full-back as he suffered a serious knee injury which forced him out of rugby for more than a year.

Halfpenny was 19 when he made his first Wales appearance against South Africa in November 2008 and Gatland has urged fans to mark his latest achievement.

"I'd like to make a special mention for Leigh," said Gatland.

"Reaching this milestone is an incredible achievement and testament to the player and person Leigh is. I know it will be a very special day for him and all his family.

"There are some tickets still available this weekend and we'd encourage as many fans as possible to come down to celebrate Leigh's achievement with us and see the new players making their Wales debuts."

New boys

Corey Domachowski, Max Llewellyn and Keiron Assiratti all played for Cardiff during the 2022-23 season

Cardiff props Domachowski and Assiratti impressed last season and were included in the World Cup training squad.

Domachowski's great-grandfather Stefan escaped from Auschwitz and arrived in Wales at the end of the World War Two.

Centre Llewellyn, the son of former Wales lock Gareth, has signed for Gloucester for next season and will partner North in the midfield.

Plumtree, 23, linked up with the Wales training squad in Switzerland just days after joining Scarlets. He was born in Wales and is the son of former Swansea coach John. He began his career with Wellington in the NPC and played for the Blues in Super Rugby.

Thomas played seven internationals for England between 2013 and 2014 but qualifies to play for Wales through his father and is eligible under World Rugby regulations because he last played for the land of his birth more than three years ago.

Final preparations

Wales have been on training camps to Turkey and Switzerland to prepare for the World Cup.

After the weekend's England game, Gatland's side face a return visit to Twickenham on 12 August.

Wales complete their preparations against world champions South Africa on 19 August before Gatland is scheduled to name his final 33-man squad the following week.

Wales open their pool campaign against Fiji in Bordeaux on 10 September before further group games against Portugal, Australia and Georgia.

"I've been really pleased with the players' effort and commitment in Turkey, Switzerland and the mini camps in Wales prior, but now it's about putting what we've been training into practice," said Gatland.

"We're excited to get out on pitch at Principality Stadium this Saturday - it's always so special playing at home in front of our amazing fans.

"There is some great competition among the squad in all positions and we've selected a team this week with a few debutants, because we want to give them the opportunity to see what they can do.

"There's a lot to play for over the next three matches and everyone is still in contention to make that final squad for France."

Wales side to face England: Halfpenny; Rees-Zammit, North, Llewellyn, Dyer; Costelow, Davies; Domachowski, Elias, Assiratti, Jenkins, Rowlands, Tshiunza, Morgan (captain), Wainwright.

Replacements: Dee, Smith, Thomas, Carter, Plumtree, Williams, Biggar, Grady.

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