Thomas to debut for Wales against Australia

Swansea flanker Jonathan Thomas will win his first test cap for Wales against Australia at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Saturday…

Swansea flanker Jonathan Thomas will win his first test cap for Wales against Australia at Sydney's Olympic Stadium on Saturday.

Alix Popham, who is also uncapped, is named on the replacements bench in a new-look squad that includes six changes from the starting side who finished the Six Nations championship in March.

Mark Jones and Tom Shanklin are the new wings while Jamie Robinson is selected as Mark Taylor's centre partner.

Gareth Cooper starts at scrumhalf while an injury to Dafydd Jones means a reshuffle in the pack with Colin Charvis moving from flanker to number eight and Thomas winning his first cap.

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WALES:- 15-Rhys Williams; 14-Mark Jones, 13-Jamie Robinson, 12-Mark Taylor, 11-Tom Shanklin; 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Gareth Cooper; 8-Colin Charvis, 7-Martyn Williams (captain), 6-Jonathan Thomas, 5-Robert Sidoli, 4-Gareth Llewellyn; 3-Gethin Jenkins, 2-Robin McBryde, 1-Iestyn Thomas. Replacements - 16-Mefin Davies, 17-Ben Evans, 18-Chris Wyatt, 19-Alix Popham, 20-Dwyane Peel, 21-Ceri Sweeney, 22-Gavin Henson.