Wales v Barbarians: Dragons prop Lloyd Fairbrother handed first Wales start
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Dragons prop Lloyd Fairbrother made his regional debut against Connacht in 2014
Wales v Barbarians |
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Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 4 November Kick off: 14:30 GMT |
Coverage: Live on S4C and via iPlayer; live on BBC Radio Wales (also available on Sounds, Sport & Radio Wales Extra), BBC Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app. Match report on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on Scrum V, Sunday, BBC Two Wales and online, Sunday, 5 November from 19:30 GMT and later on demand. |
Dragons prop Lloyd Fairbrother will make his first Wales appearance in the uncapped international against Barbarians at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Fairbrother starts with Harri O'Connor on the replacements bench, with Wales having five tight-head props unavailable because of injury and club commitments.
Full-back Leigh Halfpenny starts in his final Wales game.
Flanker Jac Morgan captains the side.
Wales include four survivors from the side that started in the World Cup quarter-final defeat against Argentina - Morgan, centre George North, lock Adam Beard and number eight Aaron Wainwright.
English, French and Japan-based club players are unavailable for the fixture which includes Liam Williams, Gareth Anscombe, Nick Tompkins, Louis Rees-Zammit, Henry Thomas, Dillon Lewis, Tomas Francis, Will Rowlands, Christ Tshiunza, Dafydd Jenkins and Tommy Reffell.
Fly-half Dan Biggar has retired while Taulupe Faletau, Gareth Thomas and Ryan Elias are injured.
Fairbrother, Scarlets wing Tom Rogers and Dragons lock Ben Carter all start after not being involved in the World Cup.
Three not the magic number
Wales have five tight-heads missing for this game with French-based duo Thomas and Francis and Harlequins prop Lewis unavailable.
Cardiff's Keiron Assiratti was initially named in the squad but has pulled out injured with an ankle injury, while Leon Brown has a calf problem.
Fairbrother, who is 31 and was born in Cornwall, joined Dragons in 2014 and has made 166 appearances for the region.
O'Connor, 23, is uncapped but toured South Africa with Wales in the summer of 2022.
"When you look at the players we had unavailable and then losing Kieron (Assiratti) and Leon (Brown) this week as well, we've just gone with a bit of experience," said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
"It's an important part of the role. Harri (O'Connor) is still a young player that we've invested a little bit of time in, and we've discussed in the past someone like Will Davies-King, and we've invested a little bit of time in him and want him to develop, but unfortunately he is not getting many opportunities at the moment.
"Even though we have used the national team in the past to develop players for the future, we just felt that wasn't the right decision to make for this game.
"We wanted a bit of experience so that's why Lloyd has come in to start."
Marking legends
Halfpenny will bid farewell to the international stage after a 15-year career which has seen him score 801 points in 101 Wales games. He will continue his club career and is in line to join New Zealand side Crusaders.
Barbarians include Wales legends Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric who retired from international rugby on the same day in May 2023.
The Baa-baas are being coached by Eddie Jones, who has just resigned as Australia head coach, and new All Blacks boss Scott Robertson.
"Playing a Barbarians side filled with quality players is a good challenge for this group and a chance for players to put their hands up and show what they are about," said Gatland.
"It'll be the last game in a Wales jersey for Leigh Halfpenny but also a chance for fans to see and celebrate Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric playing international rugby one last time.
"We're looking forward to getting back out in front of a home crowd on Saturday."
Wales v Barbarians 'unhelpful' and 'frustrating' - Scarlets boss Peel
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Tom Rogers, George North, Johnny Williams, Rio Dyer; Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams; Corey Domachowski, Dewi Lake, Lloyd Fairbrother, Ben Carter, Adam Beard, Dan Lydiate, Jac Morgan (capt), Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Harri O'Connor, Teddy Williams, Taine Plumtree, Kieran Hardy, Cai Evans, Mason Grady.
Barbarians: Ilasia Droasese (Fiji); Shaun Stevenson (New Zealand), Len Ikitau (Australia), Izaia Perese (Australia), Selestino Ravutaumada (Fiji); Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina), Simione Kuruvoli (Fiji); Joe Moody (New Zealand), Tevita Ikanivere (Fiji), Taniela Tupou (Australia), Rob Leota (Australia), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, capt), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Michael Hooper (Australia), Rob Valetini (Australia).
Replacements: Angus Bell (Australia), Asafo Aumua (New Zealand), Peni Ravai (Fiji), Api Ratuniyarawa (Fiji), Tom Hooper (Australia), Lautaro Bazan Velez (Argentina), Ben Donaldson (Australia), Andrew Kellaway (Australia).