CARDIFF, United Kingdom: Ospreys wing Eli Walker is set to make his Wales debut against South Africa after being named in coach Warren Gatland’s starting side to face the Springboks at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
The 21-year-old has been given his chance after injury ruled out wing Alex Cuthbert from the first of Wales’s four November internationals.
Meanwhile Rhys Priestland returns at fly-half after missing all of Wales’s Six Nations title-winning campaign last season with an Achilles injury.
British and Irish Lions skipper Sam Warburton again captains the side from the back-row where Dan Lydiate, one of the stars of the combined side’s 2-1 series win in Australia this year, makes his first Wales appearance since 2012 following an ankle injury.
Walker has long been regarded as one of the best finishers in the Celtic League but a back injury ruled him out of both the Six Nations and Wales’s two-Test pre-season tour of Japan.
“Eli has impressed for his region and while with us, and it’s a great opportunity for him to make his mark in a very experienced side,” Gatland said after the team was announced yesterday.
As for the return of Priestland and Lydiate, Gatland added “Since we have been together, competition in the squad has been good and it is great to have both Rhys and Dan back available for us.”
AFP
