Ross Moriarty to make Wales debut in World Cup warm-up against Ireland

The England-based duo Ross Moriarty and Dominic Day will make their Wales debuts along with Eli Walker and Tyler Morgan in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up match against Ireland in Cardiff.

The 21-year-old Gloucester back row Moriarty, who won two junior world championship titles with England Under-20s but whose father and uncle, Richard and Paul, won 44 Wales caps between them, lines up at blindside flanker in a youthful looking Wales side captained by the centre Scott Williams. Moriarty is not tied to England because he has not represented either the senior team or England’s designated second XV, the Saxons.

Elsewhere, Bath’s Day joins Jake Ball in the second row while the Ospreys’ Walker lines up on the left wing alongside Hallam Amos and Alex Cuthbert in the back three that, as was confirmed on Monday, does not feature George North, who continues his return to play protocols following a series of blows to the head.

The highly-rated Newport Gwent Dragons centre Morgan, 19, joins Williams in midfield while James Hook makes his first international start since November 2013 at fly-half. After training camps in Switzerland and Doha, the head coach, Warren Gatland, is looking forward to seeing his side take to the field on Saturday and grasping their opportunity.

“Saturday is a real opportunity for these players to put their hand up,” he said. “We have been really impressed over the last few weeks, we have put the players under a lot of pressure and they have responded really well.

“Today is their opportunity to show what they can do on the international stage. We have the right blend of youth and experience and it’s all about grasping the chance at this level.

“It’s going to be a huge occasion, Ireland coming to town, a packed Millennium Stadium and players with everything to play for.”

In the absence of the regular captain, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric lines up at openside flanker while Dan Baker gets the nod at No8 and Mike Phillips starts at scrum-half. Nicky Smith, Richard Hibbard and Aaron Jarvis comprise the front row.

Wales team to play Ireland:

H Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), T Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Williams (Scarlets, capt), E Walker (Ospreys); J Hook (Gloucester), M Phillips (Racing Métro); N Smith (Ospreys), R Hibbard (Gloucester), A Jarvis (Ospreys), J Ball (Scarlets), D Day (Bath), R Moriarty (Gloucester), J Tipuric (Ospreys), D Baker (Ospreys).

Replacements: R Evans (Scarlets), K Dacey (Cardiff Blues), S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), J King (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), M Morgan (Bristol).