Moriarty Set For Wales Debut

Former England Under-20 World Cup winner Ross Moriarty is set to make his test debut for Wales having been named as starting blindside flanker for Saturday's World Cup warm-up Test against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium.

The 21-year-old Gloucester flanker is one of four debutants named by Wales head coach Warren Gatland, with wing Eli Walker, centre Tyler Morgan and lock Dominic Day also being handed places in the starting lineup.

St Helens-born Moriarty, whose father Paul and uncle Richard both played for Wales, helped England win successive Under-20 World Cup finals in 2013 - against Wales – alongside current senior England stars Anthony Watson and Jack Nowell.

Moriarty who qualifies for Wales through his father, is eligible to represent the Welsh national team despite his appearances for England U20s because he had not represented either England’s senior team or designated second XV, the Saxons, before being selected by Welsh head coach Warren Gatland.

There are a further two uncapped players on the Welsh replacements' bench for Saturday’s game in New Zealand-born fly-half Gareth Anscombe - whose mother is from Cardiff - and hooker Kristian Dacey, Anscombe's teammate at Cardiff Blues.

The team will be captained by Scarlets centre Scott Williams, who leads his country for the first time.

Saturday's sell-out clash is the first of three pre-World Cup warm-up games on Wales' schedule with a return fixture against Ireland in Dublin on August 29th, before Italy visit Cardiff seven days later.

Wales' open their World Cup campaign against Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on September 20 before facing England, Australia and Fiji as part of Pool A.

Elsewhere in the line-up, Gloucester’s James Hook starts for Wales at fly-half for only the second time since the 2011 World Cup, although his half-back partnership with Mike Phillips boasts a combined total of 170 caps.

Warren Gatland's starting XV largely comprises of players thought to be pushing for the few remaining places in his final 31-man World Cup squad, which will be announced later this month.

For the uncapped quartet, Saturday’s visit of Ireland represents a golden chance to press their claims for inclusion in this year’s tournament. The same can also be said of full-back Hallam Amos, prop Nicky Smith and number eight Dan Baker, who packs down in the back-row alongside Moriarty and Justin Tipuric, with all three looking to cement their places in the final Welsh squad with impressive showings over the three upcoming fixtures.

"Saturday is a real opportunity for these players to put their hand up," said Gatland, whose players return to competitive action following intensive training camps in Switzerland and Qatar.

"We have been really impressed over the last few weeks. We have put the players under a lot of pressure, and they have responded really well.

"This is their opportunity to show what they can do on the international stage.

"We have the right blend of youth and experience, and it's all about grasping the chance at this level.

"It's going to be a huge occasion - Ireland coming to town, a packed Millennium Stadium and players with everything to play for."