Wales name Basham at No. 8 for New Zealand match

Wales have named Taine Basham at No. 8 among four changes to their starting XV for Saturday’s Nations Championship match against New Zealand in Cardiff. Basham is set to make his first Wales appearance since the 2024 Six Nations, replacing Aaron Wainwright, who has been ruled out with a minor calf injury.

Head coach Steve Tandy also selected James Botham at blindside flanker and brought Adam Beard into the second row. Gabriel Hamer-Webb takes the left-wing position for his first appearance in the Nations Championship. The other 11 starters are unchanged from Wales’ 28-21 victory over Japan.

Wales will play New Zealand at Principality Stadium on November 14, with kick-off scheduled for 14:10 local time. The match is part of the Nations Championship, and Wales are seeking their first win over the All Blacks since 1953.

Tandy said Wales needed to improve after the Japan game, pointing to execution as an area that had fallen short. He said the team would need to raise its level and deliver an 80-minute performance against one of the world’s leading sides. He also praised Basham’s work to return to the Wales team after an extended absence.

The announced starting XV is Blair Murray,...