Up front Ospreys prop Aaron Jarvis comes in for his injured team-mate Adam Jones (knee) on the tight-head to win his first cap, whilst Scarlets flanker Josh Turnbull makes his second start in national colours, winning his fifth cap, in place of Dan Lydiate (also injured – ankle).
In the backs, Scarlet Tavis Knoyle replaces Mike Phillips at scrum-half who provides cover from the bench and another Scarlet, Scott Williams replaces his regional team mate Jonathan Davies in the centre.
Davies was unavailable for selection this week after failing to fully recover from the groin injury he sustained whilst on Scarlets duty against Clermont in the Heineken Cup. The Wales medical team say he is working incredibly hard on his rehabilitation and his situation will be continually monitored.
Also ruled out of contention for the Argentina game, alongside Davies and Osprey Ryan Jones (shoulder), was Ospreys centre Ashley Beck who will be allowed more time to recover from an ongoing hip injury sustained prior to entry into this campaign. Beck will undergo a week of rehabilitation and conditioning which should enable him to be available for selection for next week’s clash with Samoa (Friday 16th November).
Williams partners Jamie Roberts in the centre, with Roberts returning to international duty for the first time since the Grand Slam climax against France at the Millennium Stadium last March.
Roberts missed Wales’ recent tour of Australia after undergoing knee surgery and he is one of seven players to come into the starting line-up since that final Test in Sydney.
None of Jarvis, Turnbull, Knoyle, Roberts or Williams faced the Wallabies last time out and they are joined by Dragons No. 8 Toby Faletau (who replaces the injured Ryan Jones) and Ospreys second row Ian Evans, in for Blues lock Bradley Davies, from that final game of the summer tour.
On the bench Perpignan pivot James Hook joins Phillips and Scarlets full-back Liam Williams – who could win his second cap – as cover for the backs.
Front row cover is provided by Ospreys pair Richard Hibbard (hooker) and Ryan Bevington and Bath prop Paul James.
Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric is joined by Scarlets back row Rob McCusker as forward cover to complete the line-up.
“One or two injuries have forced our hands in certain areas in terms of selection, but the fact that we are still able to field a side packed with Grand Slam experience shows that we have been able to develop some depth in recent years,” said Wales interim head coach Rob Howley.
“There are obvious opportunities for the likes of Aaron (at prop), Tavis at scrum-half and Josh in the back row, to pull on the jersey against Argentina and try to make it their own.
“We all know how important a good start against the Pumas will be to our November series, they arrive battle-hardened after a tough Rugby Championship campaign. They will be looking to silence the Millennium Stadium crowd from the outset and we know we can’t afford to let that happen, with a successful campaign this Autumn vital to our ambitions for the future.”
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, George North; Rhys Priestland, Tavis Knoyle; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Aaron Jarvis, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Josh Turnbull, Sam Warburton (Captain), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Richard Hibbard, Ryan Bevington, Paul James, Rob McCusker, Justin Tipuric, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Liam Williams
WALES FIXTURES STILL ON SALE:
10 November 2012, 1430hrs, Millennium Stadium – WALES v ARGENTINA Adults £30 U16 £10
16 November 2012, 1930hrs, Millennium Stadium – WALES v SAMOA Adults £25 U16 £10
1 December 2012 1430 hrs, Millennium Stadium – WALES v AUSTRALIA From £60
Tickets online: wru.co.uk. Tel: 0844 2 777 888
WALES SIDE TO FACE ARGENTINA, DOVE MEN SERIES 2012
15 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)
DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs
International record: 35 caps (W 17, L 18; 182 pts – 11T, 11C, 35PG)
14 Alex CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,089)
DoB: 05.04.90. 6’6” / 1.98m. 16st 3lbs / 103kgs
International record: 9 caps (W 5, L 4; 20 pts – 4T)
13 Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084)
DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 14 caps (W 8, L 6; 25 pts – 5T)
12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 44 caps (W 23, L 21; 25 pts – 5T)
11 George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078)
DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 17st 3lbs / 109kgs
International record: 24 caps (W 11, L 12, D 1; 55 pts – 11T)
10 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)
DoB: 09.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 18 caps (W 11, L 7; 53 pts – 1T, 12C, 8PG)
9 Tavis KNOYLE (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,076)
DoB: 02.06.90. 6’1” / 1.85m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 3, L 4)
1 Gethin JENKINS (TOULON – Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 19st 1lb / 121kgs
International record: 90 caps (W 41, L 47, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)
2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs
International record: 54 caps (W 23, L 30, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
3 Aaron JARVIS (OSRPEYS – Uncapped)
DoB: 20.05.86. 6’0” / 1.83m. / 18st 7lbs 117kgs
International record: Uncapped
4 Alun Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 19st 4lbs / 122kgs
International record: 66 caps (W 29, L 37; 35 pts – 7T)
5 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,045)
DoB: 04.10.84. 6’8” / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 12, L 10, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)
6 Josh TURNBULL (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,079)
DoB: 12.03.88. 1.93m / 6’4”. 15st 8lbs / 99kgs
International record: 4 caps (W 3, L 1)
7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070)
DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 30 caps (W 15, L 15; 10 pts – 2T)
8 Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082)
DoB: 12.11.90. 1.87m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 17 caps (W 10, L 7 – 2T)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,048)
DoB: 13.12.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 17 caps (W 8, L 9)
17 Ryan BEVINGTON (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,081)
DoB: 9.12.88. 6’0”/1.82m. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 3, L 4)
18 Paul JAMES (BATH RUGBY – Cap No 1,021)
DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs
International record: 37 caps (W 16, L 20, D 1)
19 Rob McCUSKER (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,075)
DoB: 10.12.85. 1.95m / 6’4”. 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: 4 caps (L 4)
20 Justin TIPURIC (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,087)
DoB: 06.08.89. 1.88m / 6’2” 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 4, L 2)
21 Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE – Cap No 1,022)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs
International record: 68 caps (W 33, L 33, D 2; 40 pts – 8T)
22 James HOOK (PERPIGNAN – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 2lbs / 96kgs
International record: 65 caps (W 29, L 34, D 2; 346 pts – 13T, 43C, 61PG, 4DG)
23 Liam WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,095)
DoB: 09.04.91. 6’2” / 1.88m. 13st 6lbs / 86kgs
International record: 1 cap (W 1)
