Scarlets winger Blair Murray is in line to potentially earn his first cap for Wales as they prepare to face the Fiji Water Flying Fijians in Cardiff on Monday. At just 23 years old, Murray’s journey to this point is notably unique; although he was born and raised in New Zealand, he qualifies for the Welsh team through his mother, who hails from Tonyrefail in south Wales.
Murray developed his skills at the Crusaders academy and represented Canterbury in New Zealand’s domestic competitions before making the move to Wales earlier this year. Since joining the Scarlets this summer, he has made six appearances, but his talent has garnered attention, leading to his inclusion in Wales’ autumn squad. He may be favored for a starting position, possibly ahead of Rio Dyer.
In addition to Murray, Cardiff’s Ben Thomas and Mason Grady also look set to return to their preferred positions after taking on different roles during the summer tests. Thomas, who played as a fly-half in two losses against Australia, is now in contention to play as an inside centre, while Grady is expected to shift to the wing alongside Max Llewellyn, who has been recalled to the squad after impressive performances for Gloucester.
Llewellyn continues to build his experience with only his second start for Wales in sight. There’s also good news for experienced half-backs Tomos Williams and Gareth Anscombe, both returning from injuries that sidelined them last season. Anscombe makes his comeback after more than a year away from Test rugby due to a groin injury.
On the injury front, Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan is working to overcome a minor setback as he seeks to return, while Leicester’s Tommy Reffell appears ready to maintain his position at number seven. Bath’s Archie Griffin is set to keep the number three jersey after recovering from a temporary heart condition, alongside the anticipated return of locks Adam Beard and Will Rowlands, who were absent throughout the summer program.
Wales is currently facing a tough streak, having lost their last nine matches, which marks a challenging period extending over 13 months. Should they lose to Fiji, they would equal their own record of ten consecutive international defeats from the early 2000s.
Wales will play Fiji at 1:40 AM on Monday (Fiji Time), followed by a match against Australia a week later and a concluding game against South Africa on November 23. This series provides an essential opportunity for the team to regain confidence and momentum.
In summary, the upcoming matches are not only critical for team morale but also present a chance for rising talents like Blair Murray to make their mark on the international stage. Fans can look forward to seeing how these changes in the lineup pan out, potentially marking the start of a new chapter for Welsh rugby.
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