Last update on. From the section Welsh Rugby
After suffering a serious injury in 2019, Gareth Anscombe, Wales' outside-half, had two separate knee operations.
Autumn Nations Series: Wales and New Zealand Venue: Principality Stadium in Cardiff Date: Saturday 30 October Kick-off at 17:15 BST. Live text commentary available on the BBC Sport app and website. BBC Radio Cymru Live Commentary
When Wales faces New Zealand on Saturday, Gareth Anscombe, the fly-half, will make his first start since 2019.
After two years of rehabilitation from a knee injury, Anscombe (30) has shown great promise for Ospreys.
Taine Basham, a 21-year old flanker, will also make her debut in the all-Dragons back row with Ross Moriarty (and Aaron Wainwright)
Although Ken Owens, a hooker, was originally named in the team, he failed a fitness test and is now being replaced by Ryan Elias.
Kirby Myhill was called in as injury cover for Elliot Dee and takes Elias' spot on the bench.
Scarlets fullback Liam Williams is unable to play as he continues his recovery from the surgery to remove an appendix.
After injuring his ribs earlier this month, Ellis Jenkins, Cardiff flanker, is now absent.
Jenkins and Williams had hoped that they would be fit to face the All Blacks, but their absence means that Wales will not have 19 players.
Many players are hurt and English clubs won't release their players as the game was not played outside World Rugby's international window. However, Willis Halaholo, Cardiff centre, contracted Covid-19 this week.
Wales will be led by Captain Alun Wyn Jones as they face a home crowd of capacity for the first time since February 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Jones, 36, will be playing his 149th international in Wales. This surpasses the previous record of one country held by Richie McCaw from New Zealand.
Anscombe is back in Test rugby after sustaining a serious knee injury playing for Wales against England in warm-up matches for the 2019 World Cup.
Although he has only played in four games, one of which was a friendly, he has been impressive enough to be recalled alongside Tomos Williams, scrum-half.
Anscombe was a player for New Zealand at the Under-20 level, before he moved to Wales. His Cardiff-born mother Tracy qualifies him for this position.
He holds 27 Wales caps, but has only played one replacement match against the All Blacks in 2016.
Anscombe was the fly-half option, while Rhys Priestland and Dan Biggar were unavailable. Callum Sheedy and Callum Sheedy are English-based.
Priestland, aged 34, was last seen at international level against New Zealand on November 2017. He is now eligible for selection after returning from Bath to Cardiff to be a member of the Cardiff International Football Club.
Northampton's Biggar, Bristol's Sheedy, and fellow England-based players Louis Reesz-Zammit and Taulupe Faletau, Nick Tompkins and Thomas Young were unable to play against the All Blacks.
Wayne Pivac, head coach, has a long list missing from the back row. Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi are out, as is Ellis Jenkins, Josh Macleod and Dan Lydiate. Young and Faletau will also be absent for the New Zealand fixture.
Basham, 21 years old, made three substitute appearances against Argentina and Canada in the summer but was given a starting position after a strong start to the season.
In the summer tests in Wales, Ross Moriarty (L), Aaron Wainwright (R) and Taine Basham together were Dragons back row trio Ross Moriarty.
Leigh Halfpenny out until next year, Williams unavailable for this weekend, and Rees Zamit not available, Johnny McNicholl, a New Zealander, is given a first full-back start alongside Owen Lane and Josh Adams.
Johnny Williams and Jonathan Davies are a Scarlets centre partnership, with George North absent from the autumn series due to injury and Halaholo absent.
Wayne Pivac, head coach, stated that injuries and unavailability are another great opportunity for players such as Taine Basham or Ben Thomas to join the group and gain valuable experiences.
"They will leave this match knowing what it is like to play against one of the top teams in the world.
"To win the World Cup, you must play against New Zealand teams at certain stages of the tournament.
"It's going be a great experience, for those guys who don't play a lot test rugby, and they'll definitely know that they've been in an actual match."
Wales: Johnny McNicholl; Owen Lane, Jonathan Davies, Johnny Williams, Josh Adams; Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Ross Moriarty, Taine Basham, Aaron Wainwright.
Substitutes: Kirby Myhill and Rhys Carre; Dillon Lewis; Will Rowlands; Seb Davies, Gareth Davies. Rhys Priestland. Ben Thomas
