Five Ospreys named in Wales squad to face the All Blacks: Harri Deaves to debut

Head coach Steve Tandy has named the Wales team to face New Zealand on Saturday 22 November in their third Quilter Nations Series match this November at Principality Stadium (KO 3.10pm GMT. Live on TNT Sports, discovery+ and S4C).

Harri Deaves will become the 1,217th men’s international when he starts for Wales at openside flanker on Saturday, with Ospreys' Dewi Lake, Dan Edwards, Gareth Thomas and Kieran Hardy also named in the squad.

Alongside Deaves in the back row Alex Mann is named at blindside flanker and Aaron Wainwright is selected at No. 8.

Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker. Joining him in the front row this weekend are Rhys Carré at loosehead prop and Keiron Assiratti at tighthead prop.

There are two changes to the Wales back line. Joe Hawkins is selected at inside centre and will feature for Wales for the first time since the 2023 Guinness Six Nations. Tom Rogers returns on the wing.

Among the replacements hooker Brodie Coghlan would join Deaves in making his Wales debut on Saturday with an appearance from the bench, while loosehead prop Gareth Thomas is in line to make his first appearance for Wales this campaign.

Tandy said: “We obviously want to improve the performance from Japan. I thought we had some outstanding moments against Argentina [in week one]. We felt we would have liked to have improved more last weekend. It was obviously good to get the win, but we want to improve our own performance against a world-class opposition on Saturday.

“Joe Hawkins is in at 12. We’ve been impressed with his versatility. He can play 10 and 12 and we feel he's that second pair of hands. He's trained really well over the last three weeks, so it's exciting for him to get an opportunity.”

On Deaves making his debut Tandy added: “Harri Deaves making his debut I think is an amazing story. I think his performances for the Ospreys, both sides of the ball, have been outstanding. I love how he plays the game. He's a smaller rugby player and the way he plays he adds physicality. His speed and aggression are there for everyone to see. It's an amazing opportunity for Harri and we can't wait to see him go on Saturday.”

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Mae’r Prif Hyfforddwr Steve Tandy wedi enwi tîm Cymru i wynebu Seland Newydd ddydd Sadwrn 22 Tachwedd yn eu trydedd gêm yng Nghyfres Hydref Quilter yn Stadiwm y Principality (3.10pm – yn fyw ar S4C, TNT Sports a discovery+).

Bydd blaen-asgellwr ochr agored y Gweilch, Harri Deaves yn ennill ei gap cyntaf dros ei wlad yn yr ornest yn erbyn y Crysau Duon (Cap rhif 1,217).

Alex Mann a’r wythwr Aaron Wainwright fydd yn cwblhau’r drindod yn y rheng ôl.

Y capten Dewi Lake fydd yn dechrau yn safle’r bachwr unwaith eto. Yn cadw cwmni iddo’n y rheng flaen fydd Rhys Carre fel prop pen rhydd a Keiron Assiratti yn brop pen tynn.

Mae Steve Tandy wedi gwneud dau o newidiadau ymhlith yr olwyr. Mae wedi dewis Joe Hawkins fel rhif deuddeg – ei ymddangosiad cyntaf dros Gymru ers Pencampwriaeth Chwe Gwlad Guinness 2023. Tom Rogers ar yr asgell yw’r newid arall y tu ôl i’r sgrym.

Ymhlith yr eilyddion, fe allai’r bachwr Brodie Coghlan efelychu camp Deaves wrth wneud ei ymddangosiad cyntaf dros Gymru, tra bydd y prop pen rhydd Gareth Thomas yn gobeithio gwneud ei ymddangosiad cyntaf dros ei wlad hyd yn hyn yn y Gyfres eleni.

Dywedodd Steve Tandy: “Yn amlwg ry’n ni eisiau gwella’n perfformiad o’r penwythnos diwethaf yn erbyn Japan. Fe grëon ni rai eiliadau eithriadol yn erbyn Ariannin. Roedden ni’n siomedig na lwyddon ni i adeiladu ar yr agweddau cadarnhaol hynny’n ddigonol y penwythnos diwethaf. Roedd hi’n braf sicrhau’r fuddugoliaeth wrth gwrs, ond ry’n ni eisiau gwella’n perfformiad yn sylweddol yn erbyn un o dimau gorau’r byd ddydd Sadwrn.

“Mae Joe Hawkins wedi ei ddewis gan ei fod yn cynnig hyblygrwydd i’n gêm ni. Mae’n gallu chwarae fel maswr neu ganolwr cyntaf a gan ei fod wedi ymarfer yn dda yn ystod y tair wythnos ddiwethaf, mae’n hynod o gyffrous ei fod yn cael ei gyfle’r pwnwythnos yma.”

Wrth gyfeirio at gap cyntaf Harri Deaves, dywedodd Tandy: “Mae’r ffaith bod Harri Deaves yn dechrau dros Gymru am y tro cyntaf yn stori wych. Dwi’n meddwl bod ei berfformiadau dros y Gweilch – gyda’r bêl ac hebddi, wedi bod yn arbennig. Dwi’n caru ei agwedd tuag at y gêm. Mae’n chwaraewr eithaf bychan o safbwynt ei faint ond mae’n chwaraewr arbennig o gorfforol. Mae’i gyflymder a’i allu wrth ymodsod yn amlwg i bawb. Mae’n gyfle anhygoel i Harri ac ry’n ni gyd yn edrych ymlaen yn fawr at ei weld yn mynd amdani ddydd Sadwrn.”


Wales team v New Zealand– Quilter Nations Series | Tîm Cymru v Seland Newydd – Cyfres Hydref Quilter

15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 12 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears | Bryste – 34 caps)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby | Caerloyw – 10 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Scarlets – 5 caps)
11. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 12 caps)
10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys / Gweilch – 5 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby | Caerloyw – 66 caps)
1. Rhys Carré (Saracens | Saraseniaid – 22 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys | Gweilch – 24 caps) captain | capten
3. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 17 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs | Caerwysg – 25 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Montpellier – 60 caps)
6. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 9 caps)
7. Harri Deaves (Ospreys | Gweilch – uncapped | heb gap)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 61 caps)

Replacements | Eilyddion

16. Brodie Coghlan (Dragons / Dreigiau – uncapped / heb gap)
17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys | Gweilch – 42 caps)
18. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby| Caerfaddon – 10 caps)
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby | Caerloyw – 6 caps)
20. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 9 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys | Gweilch – 26 caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 13 caps)
23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens | Saraseniaid – 42 caps)