Deaves is handed big opportunity and Hawkins will get chance to be centre of attention

STEVE Tandy has made five changes to his starting XV in the full knowledge Wales will need to improve significantly to avoid an embarrassing afternoon against New Zealand.

- Steffan Thomas

The All Blacks have made wholesale changes themselves but will be desperate to prove a point after seeing their Grand Slam dreams go up in flames against England last weekend.

Openside flanker Harri Deaves is the standout selection for Wales, while Scarlets centre Joe Hawkins also comes into the side.

Here is the verdict of Tandy’s team to take on the All Blacks.

A FIRST CAP FOR OSPREYS TYRO

TANDY has handed a first cap to Ospreys backrower Harri Deaves who was not named in the original squad.

Deaves has been a consistent performer at regional level for a number of years and has been outstanding for the Ospreys during the opening phase of the United Rugby Championship season.

The 24-year-old is a player who has had to work harder than most to reach the international game with critics questioning his lack of size.

But Deaves keeps on proving people wrong and the Pontyclun REC product punches well above his weight.

What Wales will get from the open-side is work rate and a never-say-die attitude.

Deaves is a scrapper on the floor and a dynamic carrier who hits hard in defence.

It is not the biggest backrow with Deaves and Alex Mann having their hands full against the likes of Simon Parker and Du Plessis Kirifi.

The loss of last Saturday’s player of the match Olly Cracknell, who has a hamstring injury, is a blow and there will be a big onus on Aaron Wainwright to get Wales over the gainline.

At his best Wainwright is a fine player but Wales will need the Dragons No 8 to be a talisman on Saturday if they are to stand a chance of keeping the score respectable.