Jonathan Davies leads new-look Wales into battle

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ROME, ITALY - MARCH 13: Wales Head Coach, Wayne Pivac looks on prior to the Guinness Six Nations match between Italy and Wales at Stadio Olimpico on March 13, 2021 in Rome, Italy. Sporting stadiums around Italy remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images)

JONATHAN Davies will captain in their summer Tests against Canada and .

Coach has named five uncapped players: Ospreys prop Gareth Thomas, pair Ben Carter and Taine Basham, Blues centre Ben Thomas and wing Tom Rogers in his 34-man party.

Ospreys prop Thomas is selected ahead of Rhys Carre and is one of three looseheads from his region named alongside Rhodri Jones and Nicky Smith.

Wales, without ten players on tour with the , face Canada on July 3 with Tests against Argentina on July 10 and 17.

Pivac believes Dragons lock Carter, 20, could prove a long-term successor to Alun Wyn Jones.

“Ben is a fabulous young player,” he said. “For a young guy that's stepped into the Dragons team, he's earned a lot of starts and Dean Ryan has worked him well. He's shown that he's got a very big future in the game. When you look at long-term replacements for Alun Wyn, he's a young man that has shown all the credentials.”

On Basham, who was included ahead of Jac Morgan, Tommy Reffell and Dan Thomas, Pivac said: “We've had Taine before in the squad, he broke his arm and had some injuries along the way. We've got to have ball-players that can get us over the gain line and as a seven, he can do that.

“He's done well coming off the bench and who knows, he may get an opportunity off the bench for us.”

Dragons scrum-half Williams, 28, is recalled after a seven-year absence with Rhys Webb and Lloyd Williams left out.

Back rower Turnbull, 33, is rewarded for his fine form with Cardiff Blues with his last international appearance in 2018.

Pivac said: “With Ross (Moriarty) coming back in, and a guy like Josh, and the loose forwards in particular, it gives us a little bit more edge.”

WALES SQUAD

Forwards: Rhodri Jones (Ospreys), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Gareth Thomas (Ospreys), Elliot Dee (Dragons), Ryan Elias (Scarlets), Sam Parry (Ospreys), Leon Brown (Dragons), Tomas Francis (Exeter), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff), Adam Beard (Ospreys), Ben Carter (Dragons), Cory Hill (Cardiff), Will Rowlands (), Taine Basham (Dragons), James Botham (Cardiff), Ross Moriarty (Dragons), Josh Navidi (Cardiff), Josh Turnbull (Cardiff), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons)

Backs: Kieran Hardy (Scarlets), Tomos Williams (Cardiff), Rhodri Williams (Dragons), Callum Sheedy (), Jarrod Evans (Cardiff), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets, capt), Willis Halaholo (Cardiff), Nick Tompkins (), Ben Thomas (Cardiff), Hallam Amos (Cardiff), Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets), Jonah Holmes (Dragons), Owen Lane (Cardiff), Ioan Lloyd (Bristol), Tom Rogers (Scarlets)

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