Dragons flanker Gavin Thomas has been selected for the first Welsh test against the All Blacks.
Wales have made three changes to their starting line-up from the side narrowly defeated (34-31) by South Africa at the Millennium Stadium last time out for the first clash of their two-Test summer tour in New Zealand at Carisbrook on Saturday (KO 7.35pm).
Gavin returns to a Wales shirt for the first time since touring Australia in 2007, replacing Blues flanker Sam Warburton.
“Gavin Thomas is an experienced flanker who knows all about what it takes to perform at international level. He and Alun Wyn (Jones) have both impressed in training and deserve their chance this weekend,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
WALES: LEE BYRNE: LEIGH HALFPENNY, ANDREW BISHOP, JAMIE ROBERTS, TOM PRYDIE; STEPHEN JONES, MIKE PHILLIPS; PAUL JAMES, MATTHEW REES, ADAM JONES, BRADLEY DAVIES, ALUN-WYN JONES, JONATHAN THOMAS, GAVIN THOMAS, RYAN JONES (CAPT)
REPLACEMENTS: HUW BENNETT, JOHN YAPP, DEINIOL JONES, ROB McCUSKER, TAVIS KNOYLE, DAN BIGGAR, JONATHAN DAVIES
