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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Mathew Davies

The Wales team fans want Wayne Pivac to select against All Blacks as Rhys Priestland preferred

It's Wales versus the All Blacks this weekend as Wayne Pivac's team kick off their autumn international schedule.

It's arguably the hardest start possible, with New Zealand arriving in Cardiff looking to reassert their authority after a testing few months on the international circuit.

Pivac announces his squad to face the Kiwis on Thursday lunchtime, and you can follow that all here with us.

Read more: Wales Six Nations tickets on sale for a staggering £1,000 through official resale platform

Beforehand, we asked fans who they would pick in their XV to face Ian Foster's side, and the results are, as ever, interesting.

The headline act sees supporters opt for Rhys Priestland at fly-half over Gareth Anscombe, who has been nursing a rib injury from Ospreys duty. It was a close call, though, with the Cardiff man just shading the call at No. 10. Partnering Priestland at scrum-half is clubmate Tomos Williams, who gets the nod from fans ahead of Kieran Hardy.

In midfield, Nick Tompkins is paired with George North, while at full-back supporters want to see Leigh Halfpenny back in a Wales shirt after such a long absence through injury.

There is no surprise to see Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams on the wings, while Taulupe Faletau was the overwhelming pick at No. 8, with Will Rowlands and Adam Beard scoring highly in the second row, too.

Wales fans' team to face All Blacks

Wales: 15. Leigh Halfpenny, 14. Louis Rees-Zammit, 13. George North, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Tomos Williams, 1. Gareth Thomas, 2. Ken Owens, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Will Rowlands, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Justin Tipuric, 7. Tommy Reffell, 8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16. Ryan Elias, 17. Rhodri Jones, 18. Dillon Lewis, 19. Alun Wyn Jones, 20. Dan Lydiate, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Gareth Anscombe, 23. Owen Watkin.

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