Wellington (AFP) – Coach Warren Gatland has made two changes to his Test team to play New Zealand in their second encounter on Saturday as Wales look to bounce back from a humiliating midweek loss to the Waikato Chiefs.
Rhys Patchell has been drafted in at fullback, allowing Liam Williams to switch to the right wing and replace the injured George North, a standout player in Wales’ 39-21 first Test loss in Auckland.
The other change announced Thursday sees Luke Charteris, a 66-Test veteran lock who captained Wales to their 40-7 defeat against the Chiefs on Tuesday, starting alongside Alun Wyn Jones in the second row, meaning Bradley Davies drops to the bench.
Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens and Samson Lee make up the front-row with Ross Moriarty, Sam Warburton and Taulupe Faletau completing an unchanged back-row.
Hallam Amos completes the back-three alongside Williams and Patchell while Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies continue in the midfield with Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar at half-back.
“It is important we go out on Saturday with the confidence to play for 80 minutes in what will be another huge Test match,” said Gatland.
“We kept the ball and played well for periods of the first Test and we need to convert that to the full 80.
“It will be another huge occasion, in a packed out stadium in Wellington and we are determined to build on our first Test performance.”
The odds are heavily stacked against Wales, who have not defeated the All Blacks since 1953 and have never beaten them in New Zealand.
Wales (15-1):
Rhys Patchell; Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Hallam Amos; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Ross Moriarty; Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris; Samson Lee, Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Rob Evans, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Ellis Jenkins, Gareth Davies, Rhys Priestland, Scott Williams.
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