Wales v Georgia: Scarlets' Josh Macleod to make debut at number eight

Injuries person doubly robbed Josh Macleod of a debut Wales cap

Scarlets backmost enactment Josh Macleod volition marque his Wales debut against Georgia successful the unfamiliar relation of fig eight.

Macleod, Ben Carter and Jac Morgan commencement successful the forwards, portion Josh Adams, Owen Watkin and Rhys Priestland are named successful the backs.

Uncapped duo Dafydd Jenkins and Dane Blacker are named arsenic replacements.

Exeter fastener Jenkins, 19, was lone called into the squad this week on with Ospreys 2nd enactment Rhys Davies to screen for the injured Will Rowlands and Dan Lydiate.

Patience is simply a virtue

Macleod, 26, has waited a agelong clip to beryllium capped. He was selected successful the 2020 autumn Test squad, but suffered a hamstring wounded a time earlier the squad linked up.

He was named successful the broadside to play successful the Six Nations travel to Scotland successful February 2021, but an hr aboriginal helium ruptured his Achilles tendon successful a grooming session, an wounded that ruled him retired for 11 months.

Macleod replaces Taulupe Faletau, who is named arsenic a replacement, portion Morgan comes successful for Lydiate.

"Josh is simply a subordinate that's been truly unfortunate successful the past," said Pivac.

"We've wanted to usage him connected a mates of occasions, truthful this is precise overmuch 3rd clip fortunate for him.

"He covers the backmost row. We cognize a batch astir him, I've coached him astatine the Scarlets.

"He brings a batch of energy, he's precise beardown implicit the shot and successful tandem with Jac Morgan hopefully that volition beryllium a beardown portion of our crippled connected the weekend.

"We're looking guardant to seeing him spell astatine this level and seeing the physicality that helium volition bring."

On Jenkins' enactment arsenic a replacement, Pivac added: "Dafydd is simply a young subordinate that we've had an oculus connected for rather immoderate clip now.

"He's done good with the (Wales) under-20s and is doing precise good astatine Exeter Chiefs. Talking to Rob Baxter, he's precise blessed with what Daf is doing.

"Daf captained that broadside past week truthful his enactment is valued and already successful campy for a precise abbreviated clip he's picked everything up precise quickly.

"We're excited to spot him go. There's not galore players similar him successful Wales and he's decidedly a subordinate for the aboriginal and 1 we deliberation this is the accidental to person a look astatine him."

• Rees-Zammit blessed to afloat successful astatine full-back
• Pivac savours imperfect triumph against Pumas

With Louis Rees-Zammit staying astatine full-back, helping Adams, who replaces Rio Dyer, volition commencement his archetypal crippled successful astir a period aft suffering a manus wounded portion playing for Cardiff.

Fly-half Priestland is named alternatively of Gareth Anscombe, portion centre Watkin starts alongside George North with Nick Tompkins dropping out.

Leigh Halfpenny returns arsenic a replacement aft recovering from a hamstring injury.

Wales look Georgia successful Cardiff connected Saturday, having bounced backmost from decision by New Zealand to bushed the Pumas.

"Georgia are a broadside that volition beryllium not excessively dissimilar to Argentina successful presumption of the guardant play, they're precise beardown up front," added Pivac.

"Traditionally they've been bully successful the acceptable piece, bully driving line-out and precise physical.

"We request to backmost up the show against Argentina, beryllium a batch much objective with the ball.

"We've challenged the boys again and I deliberation a effect volition beryllium what we're looking for connected the weekend.

"For america it's astir starting good - the past 2 matches we've talented the absorption points aboriginal - truthful subject aboriginal connected is going to beryllium important."

Wales spell connected to big Australia connected 26 November - a crippled scheduled extracurricular the agreed planetary Test period, which means England-based players volition not beryllium available.

Wales squad to look Georgia: Rees-Zammit; Cuthbert, North, Watkin, Adams; Priestland, T Williams; G Thomas, Owens, D Lewis, Carter, Beard, J Morgan, Tipuric (capt), J Macleod.

Replacements: B Roberts, R Jones, S Wainwright, D Jenkins, Faletau, Blacker, Costelow, Halfpenny.