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Eight Blues names in Wales team to take on Japan

6th June 2013


Cardiff Blues lock Bradley Davies, will captain the side for the first time when Wales play Japan at the Osaka's Kintetsu Hanazono Stadium on Saturday

Blues centre Owen Williams, Scarlets hooker Emyr Phillips, Ospreys winger Dafydd Howells and flanker James King will all be making their international debut.

Phillips will be joined in the front-row by RBS 6 Nations squad members Ryan Bevington (Ospreys) and Scott Andrews (Blues) and Captain Bradley Davies will pack down alongside his Blues teammate Lou Reed.

In the back-row Andrew Coombs (Dragons) wears six for the first time for Wales, King will play at openside flanker and Rob McCusker (Scarlets) makes his first start for Wales at number eight.

Lloyd Williams (Blues) and Dan Biggar (Ospreys) who both played in all five six nations matches partner each other at half-back.

Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys) makes his first appearance for Wales since 2009 and lines up alongside Williams who makes his debut.

Cardiff Blues wing Harry Robinson will earn his second cap and Howells, who recently won the Principality Premiership Newcomer of the Season award, starts on the other wing.

Liam Williams (Scarlets) is named at full-back and will make his fourth appearance for Wales.

There are four uncapped players on the bench with Blues captain Andries Pretorius named for the first-time as is 20-year-old fly-half Rhys Patchell. Ospreys hooker Scott Baldwin lining up alongside regional teammate Dan Baker who made 25 appearances for Swansea RFC this season. Props Rhys Gill (Saracens) and Rhodri Jones (Scarlets) are joined by Gloucester-bound scrum-half Tavis Knoyle and Dragons back Tom Prydie who returns to the Welsh squad for the first time since 2010.

WALES:
Liam Williams (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Blues), Owen Williams (Blues), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys), Dafydd Howells (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Scott Andrews (Blues), Bradley Davies (CAPT) (Blues), Lou Reed (Blues), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets).

Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Rhys Gill (Saracens), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Andries Pretorius (Blues), Dan Baker (Ospreys), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Rhys Patchell (Blues), Tom Prydie (Dragons).