Loosehead prop Gethin Jenkins will captain Wales against Australia this weekend.
Usual captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of the Test with injury ,with Wales’s most-capped player the next in line to lead.
The Welsh backline is one of its strongest in recent times, with experienced centre pairing Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies in the midfield and Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar combining in the halves.
Fullback Leigh Halfpenny will play his first Welsh international since September 2015, named at 15.
George North, released by Premiership club Northampton for this window, will line up on the wing, after his June Series ended early in injury.
Wales will be missing Warburton and number eight Taulupe Faletau through injury, while Alun Wyn Jones has been ruled out after his father passed away.
Wales interim coach Rob Howley said he was confident in the experience in his team
“It’s great to welcome back Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Lydiate, and Alex Cuthbert who missed the New Zealand tour plus George North and Gethin Jenkins who left the tour early with injury,” he said.
“We have a vast amount of experience in the squad, we’ve trained really well over the last two weeks and are really excited for Saturday.
“With losing Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau and Alun Wyn Jones, we have spoken a lot about the leadership group this week and their importance on the field.
“From the Welsh squad’s perspective, our thoughts go out to Alun Wyn and his family at this difficult time. As a squad, we have a mantra of family coming first off the field, that’s always the case and obviously so here.
“With the two uncapped players, Sam Davies has played particularly well, he deserves his chance and hopefully will have an influence on the game. Cory comes onto the bench, with Rory (Thornton) having picked up a back spasm, and we are delighted with him and how he has stepped up to this level in training.”
The Test between the Wallabies and Wales will be screened LIVE on BeIN Sports 3 (Foxtel channel 515) from 1.00am AEDT. Fans can also LIVE stream the match on Foxtel GO (for Foxtel subscribers).
Wales team
1. Gethin Jenkins (126 Caps)
2. Ken Owens (42 Caps)
3. Samson Lee (26 Caps)
4. Bradley Davies (56 Caps)
5. Luke Charteris (68 Caps)
6. Dan Lydiate (57 Caps)
7. Justin Tipuric (43 Caps)
8. Ross Moriarty (9 Caps)
9. Rhys Webb (22 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (48 caps)
11. George North (62 caps)
12. Jamie Roberts (83 caps)
13. Jonathan Davies (56 caps)
14. Alex Cuthebert (42 caps)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (62 caps)
Reserves
16. Scott Baldwin (24 Caps)
17. Nicky Smith (3 Caps)
18. Tomas Francis (14 Caps)
19. Cory Hill (UNCAPPED)
20. James King (8 Caps)
21. Gareth Davies (17 Caps)
22. Sam Davies (UNCAPPED)
23. Hallam Amos (10 Caps)
