Trio claim first Welsh caps

Thomas, Lloyd and Durston given a chance to impress

Japan v Wales, Sunday 10 June
Hanazono Ground, Osaka,
kick-off 0600 BST

Live commentary on BBC Radio Wales

Wales will give three players their first international caps in the first Test match against Japan on Sunday.

Coach Lyn Howells has selected a team based on current form than reputations, allowing Bridgend centre Adrian Durston and Bath flanker Gareth Thomas to make their Test match debuts.

But the biggest surprise of all is the inclusion Thomas' Bath team mate Andy Lloyd at blindside flanker.

The 20-year-old is preferred to the vastly more experienced Nathan Budgett and Alix Popham.

Durston, who replaces the injured Allan Bateman, will partner Gareth Thomas in the centre after his impressive display on Wednesday against the Japan Select XV.

Llanelli's Stephen Jones moves to fly-half for the first time on the tour.

There is a return to Test action for Swansea's Kevin Morgan, who has been out of the international squad since April 1998.

Wales were beaten by national club champions Suntory 41-45 in the opening game of their five-match tour last Sunday.

But they avenged their first ever defeat to a Japanese side by winning 33-22 against Japan A on Wednesday.

Pontypridd's Lee Javis scored three conversions and four penalty goals to secure the victory.

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Teams

Wales: K Morgan; M Jones, A Durston, G Thomas, S Williams; S Jones, G Cooper; C Anthony, A Lewis, I Thomas, C Quinnell, A Moore (capt), A Lloyd, G Thomas, G Lewis.

Replacements: S Jones, B Evans, N Budgett, J Ringer, D Peel, G Henson, T Shanklin/J Robinson

Japan: Matsuada; Kurihara, Motoki, Oto, Tuidoraki; Onishi, Murata; Hasegatawa, Sakata (capt), Toyoama, Vaturei, Tanuma, Ito, Sugawara, Saito.

Replacements: Yamamura, Kato, Kubo, Yamamoto, Sonoada, Iawabuchi, Namba