Joe Hawkins will make his return to the Test match arena when Wales take on the All Blacks in their third match of the Quilter Nations Series at the Principality Stadium on Saturday. (KO 3.10pm. Live on TNT Sports, discovery+ and S4C).
A summer signing from Exeter Chiefs, Hawkins has impressed at centre and fly-half for the Scarlets so far this season and is back in the Wales side for the first time since the 2023 Six Nations.
Named at inside centre, he is one of four Scarlets selected in Steve Tandy’s 23-man squad.
In the starting XV, Blair Murray continues at full-back, while Tom Rogers is recalled to replace the suspended Josh Adams on the left wing. Taine Plumtree is again named among the replacements.
Ospreys’ all-action openside Harri Deaves will become the 1,217th men’s international after getting the nod in the No, 7 jersey.
A reshuffled back row sees Alex Mann move to blindside and Aaron Wainwright come in at No. 8.
Among the replacements, Dragons hooker Brodie Coghlan will join Deaves in making his Wales debut if he comes off the bench.
Tandy said: “We obviously want to improve the performance from Japan. I thought we had some outstanding moments against Argentina (in week one). We felt we would have liked to have improved more last weekend. It was obviously good to get the win, but we want to improve our own performance against a world-class opposition on Saturday.
“Joe Hawkins is in at 12. We’ve been impressed with his versatility. He can play 10 and 12 and we feel he’s that second pair of hands. He’s trained really well over the last three weeks, so it’s exciting for him to get an opportunity.”
On Deaves’ selection, Tandy added: “Harri Deaves making his debut I think is an amazing story. I think his performances for the Ospreys, both sides of the ball, have been outstanding. I love how he plays the game. He’s a smaller rugby player and the way he plays he adds physicality. His speed and aggression are there for everyone to see. It’s an amazing opportunity for Harri and we can’t wait to see him go on Saturday.”
Wales team to play New Zealand
15 Blair Murray (Scarlets); 14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears), 13 Max Llewellyn (Gloucester), 12 Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), 11 Tom Rogers (Scarlets); 10 Dan Edwards (Ospreys), 9 Tomos Williams (Gloucester); 1 Rhys Carré (Saracens), 2 Dewi Lake (Ospreys; capt), 3 Kieron Assiratti (Cardiff), 4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Adam Beard (Montpellier), 6 Alex Mann (Cardiff), 7 Harri Deaves (Ospreys), 8 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Reps: 16 Brodie Coghlan (Dragons), 17 Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), 18 Archie Griffin (Bath), 19 Freddie Thomas (Gloucester), 20 Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), 21 Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), 22 Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), 23 Nick Tompkins (Saracens).
