Scarlets winger Blair Murray is being considered for his first cap with Wales in the upcoming match against the Fiji Water Flying Fijians in Cardiff on Monday. At just 23 years old, Murray was born and raised in New Zealand but qualifies for the Welsh national team through his mother, who hails from Tonyrefail in South Wales.
Murray developed his skills in the Crusaders academy and gained experience playing for Canterbury in New Zealand’s domestic competition before making the move to Wales earlier this year. After joining the Scarlets this summer and playing six matches, he has earned a place in the Wales autumn squad, where he may be favored over Rio Dyer for a starting position.
In addition to Murray, Cardiff players Ben Thomas and Mason Grady are also expected to return to their usual positions, having played in different roles during the summer. Thomas, who operated at fly-half in two recent matches against Australia, is likely to return to his preferred inside centre position, while Grady is set to move to the wing and partner Max Llewellyn, who has been recalled to the squad following a strong performance with Gloucester.
Llewellyn, appearing to have regained his form, will be making only his second start, joining three other players from his English club in the Welsh starting line-up. Half-backs Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe will also return to the squad after injury setbacks, with Anscombe not playing Test rugby in over a year due to a groin issue.
Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan is uncertain to play due to a minor injury issue, while Leicester’s Tommy Reffell is likely to continue in the number seven position, potentially with Morgan on the bench, which may feature six forwards. Bath’s Archie Griffin has recovered from a temporary heart condition and could retain his position in the front row, while locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands are set to return after missing the summer fixtures.
Wales, however, faces a challenging situation with a streak of nine consecutive international losses, marking a record that stretches back over 13 months. A tenth defeat would equate to their record of ten successive international losses last set by Steve Hansen’s team in 2002 and 2003.
The clash with Fiji is set to take place at 1:40 AM on Monday (Fiji Time), followed by a match against Australia a week later and the visit of South Africa on November 23.
This match presents an opportunity for Wales to turn their fortunes around and break free from this losing streak. With new talent like Blair Murray and returning players eager to make an impact, fans will be hopeful for a revitalized performance. The team’s potential for growth and success remains bright, especially as they prepare to face formidable opponents.
Leave a comment