The 22-year-old Dragons wing, Rio Dyer, will make his Wales debut against New Zealand in Cardiff on Saturday.
Dyer has been in sparkling form in the United Rugby Championship and earns his chance in the absence of the injured Josh Adams and Alex Cuthbert, and the fact that Wales are committed to playing George North at outside centre.
“Rio has fitted in really well and really quickly,” Wayne Pivac, the head coach, said. “He’s thriving in this environment. He’s a young man that’s bringing some form with him into camp. He scored some great tries and he’s full of confidence. That means a lot to a young guy playing his first Test match in front of a big crowd.”
While Pivac has taken a punt on Dyer, elsewhere in his selection he has returned to old heads. The British & Irish Lions Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens and Justin Tipuric all make returns after lengthy periods out with injuries.
“They bring a lot of experience and they are big-game players,” Pivac said. “Playing New Zealand, it doesn’t get much bigger, so we’re really looking forward to having them back in the side.”