Wales team to play Fiji in full as Gatland makes exciting choices

Blair Murray will make his debut for Wales against Fiji as Warren Gatland named a strong side for their autumn curtain-raiser on Sunday.

Jac Morgan's Test return - having not featured since the World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina last year - will have to come from the bench, as Gatland opts for a six-two split as he goes in search of a first Test victory in 2024.

As first reported by WalesOnline on Thursday evening, Scarlets wing Murray will make the step up to Test rugby after just half a dozen appearances for the west Walians since arriving from New Zealand in the summer.

He'll join Mason Grady and Cameron Winnett in the back-three, with powerful Cardiff back Grady moving to the wing after spending the summer at inside centre.

He's replaced in midfield by club team-mate Ben Thomas, who started in both July Tests against Australia at fly-half but will now feature in his preferred 12 jersey - partnered by former Arms Park colleague Max Llewellyn. The two-cap centre has been in fine form for Gloucester this season and, along with Grady, will provide physicality to a relatively adventurous backline.

As well as Gatland opting for a second playmaker at inside centre, the Wales coach will be hoping Gloucester half-backs Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe can bring some of their dazzling attacking exploits from Kingsholm to proceedings, tempered with some nous and game management.

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Perhaps the biggest indicator of change in the last year is the fact that none of the backline that started against Fiji in Bordeaux last year are involved in this year's fixture. Just two backs - scrum-half Williams and replacement fly-half Sam Costelow - from last year's matchday 23 are involved on Sunday, while seven forwards from the 32-26 pool stage win feature this weekend.

In the pack, Archie Griffin is handed his first start of the season on the tighthead. The prop has featured just once in the Gallagher Premiership, coming off the bench for Bath in their season opener.

Since then, he has been sidelined with a heart condition that he has since recovered from, having made a comeback in Bath's Premiership Cup win over Ampthill last week. He'll line up alongside Gareth Thomas and Wales captain Dewi Lake in the front-row.

Second-row stalwarts Adam Beard and Will Rowlands both return after missing the summer, while Gatland has named the same back-row that started the first Test in Sydney this summer.

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Aaron Wainwright - who limped off injured in that match, his 50th Test for his country - is back from injury, while Tommy Reffell keeps the seven jersey after Morgan struggled with a minor knock this week.

On the bench, Gatland has opted for a six-two split, with Nicky Smith in line for his first Test appearance since last year's World Cup pool stage clash with Georgia - coincidentally Wales' last victory in international rugby.

Defeat to the Fijians would mark 10 consecutives losses at Test level, their joint-longest losing run with 2003, but along with Smith, Gatland will have some decent Test experience in the form of Ryan Elias, Christ Tshiunza, Morgan, James Botham and Costelow to call upon from the replacement's pine.

Wales: Cameron Winnett; Mason Grady, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Blair Murray; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake (captain), Archie Griffin, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Keiron Assiratti, Christ Tshiunza, James Botham, Jac Morgan, Ellis Bevan, Sam Costelow.