MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Warren Gatland made two injury-enforced changes and two positional changes for the second rugby test against Australia as Wales bids for a drought-breaking, series-leveling victory.
No. 8 Aaron Wainwright and winger Josh Hathaway were injured in last weekend’s 25-16 loss in Sydney.
Gatland announced his lineup Thursday for Saturday's second test in Melbourne, moving Liam Williams from fullback to wing and recalling Cameron Winnett at No. 15 to cover for Hathaway’s absence.
Taine Plumtree shifted from the blindside flank to No. 8 to replace Wainwright, with James Botham coming into the starting lineup on the side of the scrum and Mackenzie Martin called up for the bench.
“We’ve been going through our processes, building on what worked well and sharpening the areas that need improvement,” Gatland said. "We expect Australia to go up another level this weekend and we know we need to as well.
“We want to start well and make sure we are disciplined and accurate. Then it’s about keeping in the arm-wrestle for the duration.”
Wainwright had been in doubt since injuring his hamstring late in the opening test, when the 50-test veteran was among the leaders for the Welsh team with his high work rate and impact with the ball.
Hathaway's elbow injury didn't recover in time for the test, although Liam Williams and prop Gareth Thomas overcame injuries to take their starting places as Wales pushes to end an eight-test losing streak.
The Welsh haven't won a test since the group stage of the Rugby World Cup last year — which included a lopsided win over Australia — and haven't beaten the Wallabies in 12 tests in Australia since 1969.
Gatland and his team are desperate to avoid the Welsh record of 10 consecutive defeats after a bleak Six Nations campaign.
“It is an important game,” assistant coach Rob Howley said. “There is huge disappointment and frustration within the camp. We want to give the best version of ourselves.
“I thought we really did well to come back into the game (first test) at 18-16. We can talk about the experience and the learning, of course we can, but we need to start winning test matches."
Australia coach Joe Schmidt was expected to announce his squad later Thursday.
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Wales: Cameron Winnett, Liam Williams, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer, Ben Thomas, Ellis Bevan; Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, James Botham, Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Gareth Thomas. Reserves: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O’Connor, Cory Hill, Mackenzie Martin, Kieran Hardy, Sam Costelow, Nick Tompkins.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby