Three of head coach Robin McBryde’s nine debutants will start, including last season’s Guinness Pro12 top try-scorer Steffan Evans, who lines up on the left wing. Former Wales U20 forward Seb Davies will feature at lock, while European Player of the Year nominee Thomas Young packs down on the openside.
Gareth Davies and Sam Davies are named in the half-backs, with captain Jamie Roberts and Scott Williams in the midfield. Alex Cuthbert starts on the right wing, and Auckland native Gareth Anscombe at fullback.
The front row is comprised of Nicky Smith, Kristian Dacey and Tomas Francis, as Cory Hill joins newcomer Davies in the second row. Aaron Shingler and Josh Navidi are named at six and eight respectively.
Ellis Jenkins and Cory Allen are the only capped players on the bench, while Scarlets duo Wyn Jones and Ryan Elias and Cardiff Blues’ Dillon Lewis form the replacement front row. Newport Gwent Dragons back rower Ollie Griffiths, Scarlets scrum-half Aled Davies and Gloucester-bound fly-half Owen Williams complete the bench.
The game is part of the Pasifika Challenge double-header, which will see the All Blacks take on Samoa following the conclusion of Tonga v Wales. The large Tongan population in Auckland is set to make the iconic Eden Park a home from home for head coach and 1999 World Cup-winning Wallaby Toutai Kefu’s team.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our players to be taking part in this match at Eden Park, and we expect them to make the most of it,” says McBryde, whose team has been based in Takapuna on Auckland’s North Shore. “We’ve got an average age of 25 in the match squad, but there are experienced heads in there. We’ll need them all to be on top form against what will undoubtedly be a passionate, tough Tongan team.
“We’ve had a very good week in Auckland. The younger players have gained a valuable insight into what is expected of an international rugby player, with much of that being led by the senior players’ example. That learning process will continue this Friday in Eden Park, and again when we head to Samoa for next Friday’s Test match in Apia.”
Wales team to face Tonga
15 Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues, 9 caps)
14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues, 46 caps)
13 Scott Williams (Scarlets, 46 caps)
12 Jamie Roberts (c) (Harlequins, 94 caps)
11 Steffan Evans (Scarlets, uncapped)
10 Sam Davies (Ospreys, 6 caps)
9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets, 24 caps)
1 Nicky Smith (Ospreys, 12 caps)
2 Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues, 3 caps)
3 Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps)
4 Seb Davies (Cardiff Blues, uncapped)
5 Cory Hill (Newport Gwent Dragons, 5 caps)
6 Aaron Shingler (Scarlets, 8 caps)
7 Thomas Young (Wasps, uncapped)
8 Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues, 1 cap)
Replacements
16 Ryan Elias (Scarlets, uncapped)
17 Wyn Jones (Scarlets, uncapped)
18 Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues, uncapped)
19 Ellis Jenkins (Cardiff Blues, 3 caps)
20 Ollie Griffiths (Newport Gwent Dragons, uncapped)
21 Aled Davies (Scarlets, uncapped)
22 Owen Williams (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
23 Cory Allen (Ospreys, 4 caps)
Tonga v Wales will be shown live on S4C from 06:15 BST.
