Aaron Wainwright has been backed to counter the power of the Georgia pack when he makes his World Cup bow on Monday.
After naming the 21-year-old Dragons flanker in his back row to start the tournament, for the Pool D match at the City of Toyota Stadium on Monday, coach Warren Gatland gave Wainwright a glowing report on his progress so far.
“He’s incredibly athletic and an intelligent rugby player,” said Gatland about the forward who was playing student rugby for Cardiff Met just a couple of years ago.
“He’s very inexperienced still, but I think there is only an upward curve for him as a player.
“I don’t think people realise how quick and explosive he is. Since his first cap 12 months or so ago, he has just gone from strength to strength. There’s some real competition in the back row, and that’s the way we want it. We feel there’s a nice balance.”
The captain, Alun Wyn Jones, will equal his country’s cap record, matching prop Gethin Jenkins by making his 129th Wales appearance – and Gatland has said his skipper “deserves all the accolades”.
“He has been absolutely outstanding,” Gatland said of the 34-year-old. “He has got better with age – he’s like a good wine. He has been a great servant to Welsh rugby. The pleasing thing for me is that recognition hasn’t just been in Wales. It has been worldwide.
“People realise just what a contribution he has made to world rugby, both in his performances and leadership. It’s pleasing to see someone from Wales recognised as one of the best players in his position.”
In 2017, a second string Wales only edged past Georgia in Cardiff as they struggled at scrum time and Gatland will hope his team have learned the lessons from that game.
Gatland is taking no chances after the difficult build-up to the tournament for his side and has decided to give his first-choice side a run in the opening game.
Jones is partnered in the second row by Jake Ball, with Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi making up the back-row.
Wainwright will make his World Cup debut and was selected ahead of Ross Moriarty, who may feel unlucky to have missed out in a squad that has enviable depth in the loose-forwards.
Tomas Francis and Wyn Jones will scrum in the front row either side of hooker Ken Owens and Gatland expects them to be put under pressure.
“With Georgia, we know how strong they are up front and their scrum is a weapon,” Gatland added.
“We’ve got to be competent at scrum time. Wyn has scrummaged well in training and it’s one of his strengths.”
The half-back pairing sees Gareth Davies play alongside outside-half Dan Biggar, while Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies make up the centre-pairing.
Liam Williams is at fullback along with wings Josh Adams and George North.
Gatland also confirmed that loack Adam Beard had arrived in Japan on Saturday after an appendix surgery and started training, but is not expected to feature in the Sept. 29 meeting with Australia that follows the Georgia clash.
Cory Hill, another of the injured locks, is also back in training and should be fit for the team’s second pool match.
Wales’ only previous meeting with Georgia resulted in a narrow 13-6 victory in Cardiff in the November internationals in 2017, though Williams is the only member of Monday’s run-on team who started that game.
Wales:
15-Liam Williams, 14-George North, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Hadleigh Parkes, 11-Josh Adams, 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Gareth Davies, 8-Josh Navidi, 7-Justin Tipuric, 6- Aaron Wainwright, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 4-Jake Ball, 3-Tomas Francis, 2-Ken Owens, 1-Wyn Jones
Replacements: 16-Elliot Dee, 17-Nicky Smith, 18-Dillon Lewis, 19-Aaron Shingler, 20-Josh Navidi, 21-Tomos Williams, 22-Rhys Patchell, 23-Leigh Halfpenny.