Owen Lane set to make Wales debut against Ireland
Cardiff Blues wing Owen Lane will make his Wales debut in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up clash against Ireland at Principality Stadium.
Lane won’t be the only player making his debut this weekend as former Blues loosehead Rhys Carre makes the run out for the very first time.
“It is a great opportunity for Rhys and Owen, they have worked hard all summer to get to this point so it will be good for them to get their first international caps and put their hands up for RWC selection after the match”, said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
Lane and Carre apart, there are also opportunities for the likes of full-back Hallam Amos, centre Scott Williams, fly-half Jarrod Evans and hooker Ryan Elias prior to Gatland announcing his 31-man World Cup squad on Sunday.
Gatland says a number of positions are “still up for grabs” prior to Sunday’s announcement.
Lane and Amos could effectively be battling it out for one back-three place, while 21-year-old Carre has an opportunity to show the form that drove Premiership and European champions Saracens to sign him from the Blues earlier this year.
Saturday’s Principality Stadium encounter will be Gatland’s final Test as Wales boss in Cardiff before he steps down after the World Cup.
Wales: Hallam Amos; Owen Lane, Scott Williams, Owen Watkin, Steff Evans; Jarrod Evans, Aled Davies; Rhys Carre, Ryan Elias, Samson Lee, Adam Beard, Bradley Davies, Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi (capt), James Davies.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rob Evans, Leon Brown, Jake Ball, Ross Moriarty, Tomos Williams, Rhys Patchell, Jonah Holmes.