Wales vs Fiji: Welsh ring changes to give young players a chance after defeat to Australia

Gatland: 'You can't coach experience' (Getty Images)

Wales have made eight changes after the 33-28 loss to Australia for the Test against Fiji on Saturday, mindful of providing younger players with experience while resting stars for the All Blacks next week.

“Even though we’ve made eight changes, there’s a lot of firepower in the team,” the coach, Warren Gatland, said. “We’ve tried 10 to 11 changes in the past and lost games. You can’t coach experience, and it’s about how you develop that.

He added: “After the [Australia] game, Scott Baldwin said Ospreys against Northampton was quick, but Australia was something else. You only learn that by playing.”

Baldwin will make his first start for Wales between tighthead prop Gethin Jenkins, who will captain the side for a fourth time, and loosehead Samson Lee. Jenkins, capped 108 times by Wales, had been dropped to the reserves for the game against the Wallabies.

France-based Luke Charteris, who was unavailable last weekend, and Bradley Davies come into the second row, and Justin Tipuric replaces regular skipper Sam Warburton on the openside flank. In the backline, Mike Phillips and Rhys Priestland are the new half-back pair. Gatland wanted to continue with scrum-half Rhys Webb, but a sore neck sidelined him and Phillips will start.

Scott Williams has recovered from a hamstring injury to play at centre, George North moves from centre back to his normal left wing, and Liam Williams moves off that wing to full-back, where he has excelled for Scarlets.

Fly-half Dan Biggar (groin injury), centre Jonathan Davies (shoulder) and full-back Leigh Halfpenny (concussion) were not considered for selection as a result of their injuries.

Wales team to face Fiji

L Williams, A Cuthbert, S Williams, J Roberts, G North; R Priestland, M Phillips; T Faletau, J Tipuric, D Lydiate, L Charteris, B Davies, S Lee, S Baldwin, G Jenkins (captain).

Replacements E Phillips, N Smith, R Jones, A Wyn Jones, J King, R Williams, J Hook, C Allen.