Wales team announcement as Gatland makes big call at fly-half and Cory Hill returns

Warren Gatland has handed Ben Thomas the keys to the fly-half jersey ahead of Wales' first Test against Australia in Sydney.

The 25-year-old will be the sixth player to wear the famous jersey since Gatland returned to the role in late 2022, despite the fact he's played virtually all of his rugby at inside centre for Cardiff this year.

Thomas' first start for Wales will just his second start in the fly-half jersey all season - having started at 10 against the Sharks late in the season. In fact, of his 85 senior matches for club and country so far, Thomas has started just four in the position to date - with three of those coming back in 2021.

He'll line up alongside Cardiff team-mates Ellis Bevan and Mason Grady, with the scrum-half and centre retaining their places from the defeat to South Africa. Similarly to Thomas, the position of inside centre is a relatively unfamiliar one to Grady.

Elsewhere in the team, Gloucester wing Josh Hathaway has been handed a debut on the wing after a breakthrough season in the Gallagher Premiership, with Cameron Winnett dropping out of the side after six consecutive Test matches at full-back.

In the pack, Sydney-born Bath's tighthead Archie Griffin is handed his first start for his country, lining up alongside Gareth Thomas - one of three Welsh starters remaining from last year's 40-6 win over the Wallabies in Lyon - and tour captain Dewi Lake.

Exeter duo Christ Tshiunza and Dafydd Jenkins reform their U20s second-row partnership - with the former making his first Wales appearance since last year's World Cup.

Leicester Tigers openside Tommy Reffell comes into the side ahead of James Botham after being unavailable for the clash at Twickenham, packing down with Taine Plumtree and Aaron Wainwright