Wales name Llewellyn and James in midfield as Jenkins returns

Wales head coach Steve Tandy has named Max Llewellyn and Eddie James together in midfield and selected Sam Costelow at fly-half for the Nations Championship opener against Japan. BBC Sport reported the team announcement, which includes seven personnel changes from the Wales side beaten 43-0 by South Africa in July.

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Llewellyn has been handed the number 12 shirt alongside James, giving Wales a centre pairing distinguished by its size. The BBC listed Llewellyn at 1.96 metres and 107 kilograms, with James at 1.90 metres and 103 kilograms. Its report described the selection as a departure from Tandy's previous preference for a more established ball-player at inside centre.

Costelow has been preferred to Dan Edwards in the starting fly-half role, although Edwards remains involved among the replacements. Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit have been selected on the wings, with Blair Murray at full-back. Those decisions confirm the starting back three as well as the changes to the midfield combination.

Captain Dewi Lake starts at hooker between props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin. Dafydd Jenkins has recovered from a knee injury and has been named alongside Ben Carter at lock, restoring the partnership used during the Six Nations. Alex Mann, Jac Morgan and Aaron Wainwright make up the starting back row.

The selection also highlights how much of the starting team now plays its club rugby outside Wales. Nine of the 15 starters are based at English clubs, including six of the eight forwards. That leaves six starters drawn from the Welsh clubs represented in the announced side, according to the BBC's breakdown.

Scarlets provide three members of the starting XV, Cardiff two and Dragons one. No Ospreys player has been selected to start, although the club's half-backs Edwards and Reuben Morgan-Williams have both been included on the replacements bench. The distinction applies to the starting side, rather than the entire matchday selection.

Tandy said competition for places within the squad was strong and reflected what he wanted from the group. The team announcement is for Saturday's match against Japan, with kick-off listed at 16:40 GMT.