Josh Adams scored twice against Japan on Saturday. He is not in the Wales 23 to face New Zealand, and Reuters reports he has been rested.
Head coach Steve Tandy has made four changes for the All Blacks, and his XV carries 59 fewer caps than the one that won 28–21. The back row and back three have lost 114 caps between them, Adam Beard’s return wins 47 back, and the eight other starters each added one against Japan.
Wales play New Zealand at the Principality Stadium on Saturday 14 November (kick-off 14:10 GMT, ITV and S4C). Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb replaces Adams, Cardiff’s Taine Basham starts at No 8, James Botham is at blindside and Adam Beard returns at lock. Gloucester hooker Dewi Lake captains.
Would you have rested Adams against the All Blacks, or saved his week off for Australia?
The Wales team to face New Zealand
- Backs: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Eddie James, 12 Max Llewellyn, 11 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams
- Forwards: 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 3 Archie Griffin, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Adam Beard, 6 James Botham, 7 Jac Morgan, 8 Taine Basham
- Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Ben Carter, 20 Taine Plumtree, 21 Reuben Morgan-Williams, 22 Dan Edwards, 23 Louie Hennessey
The Ospreys and Dragons have no starter between them, but they supply five of the eight replacements.
“More ruthless”: what Tandy said about the side
Tandy’s comments came in the union’s team release.
“We have to go up another level this weekend and be more ruthless.”
Steve Tandy, Wales team announcement, 12 November 2026
Why is Josh Adams not playing against New Zealand?
Adams scored two of Wales’s tries in the 28–21 win over Japan on Saturday 7 November. Five days later he is out of the matchday 23, with Hamer-Webb preferred on the left wing.
Reuters describes Adams as rested. WalesOnline reports that a week off for him at some point this autumn was already planned, with Hamer-Webb the next wing in line.
Hamer-Webb has one cap. It came on his debut against Scotland in this year’s Six Nations, and Saturday is his first appearance in the Nations Championship.
Wales have swapped their most experienced wing for their least experienced one in the week the All Blacks come to Cardiff.
Three more changes, and a late one at tighthead
Aaron Wainwright is out with a minor calf injury, so Basham takes the No 8 shirt for his first Wales appearance since the 2024 Six Nations. Tandy said he was “delighted” to give him the chance. Botham replaces Alex Mann at blindside, and Mann drops out of the 23 altogether. Jac Morgan is the only back-row starter left from the Japan win.
Beard returns at lock beside Dafydd Jenkins, and Ben Carter moves to the bench.
The late change is at tighthead. Tomas Francis has been released from the squad after a knee injury in training this week. Keiron Assiratti joins the wider squad, and Dragons tighthead Dillon Lewis is on the bench.
Why is this Wales XV 59 caps lighter?
We added up the caps printed on the union’s two team sheets. The starting XV has 479 caps, about 32 a man, against 538 for the side that started against Japan. The bench barely moves: 211 caps, against 215.
- Back row: Basham 17, Botham 25, Morgan 28. That is 70 caps, down from 115 for Mann, Morgan and Wainwright.
- Back three: Blair Murray 20, Louis Rees-Zammit 44, Hamer-Webb 1. That is 65, down from 134 with Adams.
- Lock: Beard’s 68 caps for the 21 Carter had on last week’s sheet. It is the one change that adds experience.
The back row decides the breakdown, the contest for the ball after a tackle, and the back three has to catch whatever New Zealand kick. We would expect the All Blacks to test both in the first 20 minutes.
READ ALSO: The height question hanging over the All Blacks back three
What did Tandy leave alone?
Nicky Smith, Lake and Archie Griffin pack down together again with Jenkins behind them, and the half-backs are unchanged: Tomos Williams, on 76 caps, and Sam Costelow.
The centres, Eddie James and Max Llewellyn, stay as well. Tandy is betting that a settled front row and midfield can carry a back row and a wing with very little recent Test rugby.
What happens next
Wales finish their home rounds against Australia on Saturday 21 November (kick-off 20:10 GMT). Finals Weekend follows at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, from 27 to 29 November. The full run is on the Wales fixtures page.
If Hamer-Webb comes through Saturday, who starts on the left wing against Australia?
Wales v New Zealand: quick answers
What time is Wales v New Zealand?
Wales v New Zealand kicks off at 14:10 GMT on Saturday 14 November 2026 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. It is live on ITV and S4C.
Who plays No 8 for Wales against New Zealand?
Taine Basham of Cardiff starts at No 8. Aaron Wainwright, who wore the shirt against Japan, has a minor calf injury.
Who replaces Josh Adams?
Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb starts at 11 and wins his second cap.
Sources: Welsh Rugby Union team announcement of 12 November 2026, as carried by Cardiff Rugby and Scarlets (team and caps); the union’s team sheet for Japan (last week’s caps); RugbyPass; Reuters; WalesOnline.
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