Wales coach Warren Gatland has named two new caps in his side to face world champions South Africa in the opening match of the Invesco Perpetual Series at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday with Blues duo Andy Powell and Leigh Halfpenny in the starting fifteen.
Cardiff Blues duo Leigh Halfpenny (cap No 1,060) and Andy Powell (cap No 1,061) line-up for debuts against the Springboks and Gatland has told the pair to 'go out and enjoy themselves.'
Stephen Jones is partnered at half-back by Gloucester scrum-half Gareth Cooper, who is the incumbent in the jersey after impressing on Wales' summer tour to South Africa this June, and Jamie Roberts is selected at outside-centre to form a new partnership in midfield with Gavin Henson.
IRB World Player of the year candidate Shane Williams joins Halfpenny in a back three completed by Lee Byrne and captain Ryan Jones switches to blindside flanker to accommodate Powell at No 8 - with Martyn Williams completing the back row. In the front row Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones pack down either side of Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees.
"Both of the debutants have been form players so far this season so they now get a chance to test themselves against the very best team in the world," said Gatland.
"At 19 years-old our message to Leigh has been to just go out there and enjoy himself, he needs to not worry about his opposite number, but just relax and play without fear and enjoy the experience.
"Andy Powell is a little different as he has been around for a while and is an experienced head, despite his lack of international caps, but he is most definitely in form. We will be looking to get the ball in his hands and see him run.
"Ryan Jones is adept on either side of the scrum, but to switch our captain does tell you a little bit about what we think of Andy.
"At scrum-half Gareth Cooper is the man in possession of the shirt after doing well for us, particularly in the second Test on tour this summer and he has been rewarded.
"In the centres Jamie Roberts and Gavin Henson form a partnership that any side would be proud of, but perhaps the most important point about this selection is the bench.
"We have plenty of talent and experience available to us to come on and change things if necessary, which was something that worked for us in the 6 Nations last season. The likes of Ian Gough, Duncan Jones, Richard Hibbard, Dafydd Jones, Dwayne Peel, James Hook and Tom Shanklin are all able to offer up something different when required."
* Leigh Halfpenny - who will be 19 years and 322 days old on Saturday - will be the 60th teenager to be capped by Wales. The last was fellow wing and Cardiff Blues player Chris Czekaj v Canada in 2005.
* Leigh Halfpenny will be the 1,060th and Andy Powell the 1,061st player to be capped by Wales.
* Jamie Roberts will be the 29th player to play in an international on his birthday - the last ones to do that were Adam Jones in Dublin this year and Tom Shanklin v South Africa on 24 November, 2007.
WALES TEAM: Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Gareth Cooper; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones (capt), Martyn Williams, Andy Powell REPLACEMENTS: Richard Hibbard, Duncan Jones, Ian Gough, Dafydd Jones, Dwayne Peel, James Hook, Tom Shanklin
WALES
15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,041)
DoB: 01.06.80. 6'3" / 1.91m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 19 caps (W 8, L 10, D 1; 25 pts - 5T)
14 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES - Uncapped)
DoB: 22.12.88. 5'10" / 1.77m. 13st 1lb / 83kgs
International record: Uncapped
13 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES - 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6'4" / 1.93m. 16st 10lbs / 107kgs
International record: 3 caps (W 1, L2; 5 pts - 1T)
12 Gavin HENSON (OSPREYS - Cap No 990)
DoB: 01.02.82. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 10lbs / 100kgs
International record: 28 caps (W 16, L 11, D 1; 130 pts - 3T,29C,18PG,1DG)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS - Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5'7" / 1.71m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: 58 caps (W 29, L 27, D 2; 215 pts - 43T)
10 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS - Cap No 966)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6'1" / 1.86m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 72 caps (W32, L38, D2; 629 pts - 6T,115C,120PG,3DG)
9 Gareth COOPER (GLOUCESTER RUGBY - Cap No 985)
DoB: 07.05.79. 5'7" / 1.71m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs
International record: 37 caps (W 17, L 20; 40 pts - 8T)
1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6'2" / 1.88m. 18st 13lbs / 120kgs
International record: 60 caps (W 25, L 33, D 2; 15 pts - 3T)
2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs
International record: 22 caps (W 10, L 11, D 1; 10 pts - 2T)
3 Adam Rhys JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6'0" / 1.83m. 19st 10lb / 125kgs
International record: 49 caps (W 26, L 21, D 2; 5 pts - 1T)
4 Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6'5" / 1.96m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 9, L 14; 15 pts - 3T)
5 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,045)
DoB: 04.10.84. 6'8" / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs
International record: 14 caps (W 6, L 7, D 1; 5 pts - 1T)
6 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN - Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6'5" / 1.96m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 13, L 9, D 1; 5 pts - 1T)
7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 944)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: 81 caps (W 38, L 40, D 3; 73 pts - 14T, 1DG)
8 Andy POWELL (CARDIFF BLUES - Uncapped)
DoB: 23.08.81. 6'4" / 1.94m. 17st 6lbs / 111kgs
International record: Uncapped
REPLACEMENTS
16 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,048)
DoB: 13.12.83. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs
International record: 6 caps (L 6)
17 Duncan JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 997)
DoB: 18.09.78. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 8lbs / 112kgs
International record: 52 caps (W 23, L 27, D 2)
18 Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS - Cap No 964)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6' 6" / 1.98m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 52 caps (W 23, L 26, D 3; 5 pts - 1T)
19 Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,008)
DoB: 24.06.79. 6'3" / 1.90m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 31 caps (W 12; L 19; 10 pts - 2T)
20 Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS - Cap No 994)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5'9" / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 61 caps (W 27, L 32, D 2; 25 pts - 5T)
21 James HOOK (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 27 caps (W 11, L 15, D 1; 184 pts - 6T,32C,28PG,2DG)
22 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 993)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 54 caps (W 25, L 28, D 1; 90 pts - 18T)
WELSH RUGBY'S '50 CAP' CLUB
Ospreys prop Adam Jones will become the 23rd player to make 50 appearances for Wales when he starts against South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (2.30pm).
He will be the fourth prop to reach the milestone, joining team-mate Gethin Jenkins, who will be winning his 60th cap, David Young and Duncan Jones on the roll of honour.
100 - Gareth Thomas (1995-2007)
94 - Colin Charvis (1996-2007)
92 - Gareth Llewellyn (1989-2004)
87 - Neil Jenkins (1991-2002)
81 - Martyn Williams (1996-2007)*
72 - Ieuan Evans (1987-1998)
72 - Stephen Jones (1998-2008)*
61 - Dwayne Peel (2001-2008)*
59 - Rob Howley (1996-2002)
58 - Garin Jenkins (1991-2002)
60 - Gethin Jenkins (2002-2008)*
55 - JPR Williams (1969-1981)
58 - Shane Williams (2000-2008)*
54 - Robert Jones (1986-1995)
53 - Gareth Edwards (1967-1978)
53 - Scott Gibbs (1991-2001)
52 - Scott Quinnell (1993-2002)
52 - Mark Taylor (1994-2005)
51 - David Young (1987-2001)
54 - Tom Shanklin (2001-2008)*
52 - Ian Gough (1998-2008)*
52 - Duncan Jones (2001-2008)*
* Still current internationals
Full record against South Africa: P 22, W 1, D 1, L 20, F 280, A 615, Tries 25-80