Wales ring changes for All Blacks clash

Wales have rung the changes for Saturday’s Test against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium after a lacklustre performance in the 16-16 draw with Fiji last Friday.

Wing George North, fullback Lee Byrne and prop Adam Jones are the only players retained in their starting positions, although Ryan Jones and Dan Lydiate have kept their places in a back row re-shuffled to accommodate flanker Sam Warburton on the openside and Jones at number eight.

Warburton and prop Gethin Jenkins return after recovering from calf injuries while captain Matthew Rees (pictured) returns at hooker.

Bradley Davies will partner Alun Wyn Jones in the second row, scrumhalf Mike Phillips and flyhalf Stephen Jones start and Tom James, who last featured against England in the Six Nations nine months ago, replaces Aled Brew on the wing.

“We were all disappointed last week when we made a number of changes which we thought we could cope with. We found out we couldn’t, but we hope to be back firing on all cylinders this week,” said coach Warren Gatland.

As well as the draw with Fiji, Wales were beaten 25-16 by Australia and 29-25 by South Africa in their earlier November internationals.

Wales - 15-Lee Byrne, 14-George North, 13-Tom Shanklin, 12-James Hook, 11-Tom James, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Mike Phillips, 8-Ryan Jones, 7-Sam Warburton, 6-Dan Lydiate, 5-Alun Wyn Jones, 4-Bradley Davies, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Matthew Rees (captain), 1-Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16-Huw Bennett, 17-Paul James, 18-Jonathan Thomas, 19-Andy Powell, 20-Martyn Williams, 21-Richie Rees, 22-Andrew Bishop.