Tuesday 24 October 2017 12:23, UK
Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, Luke Charteris and Sam Davies have been left out of Warren Gatland's Wales squad for the November internationals, while there is a recall for Rhys Priestland and maiden call-up for Hadleigh Parkes.
Wales announced a 36-man panel on Tuesday for Autumn Test matches against Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Georgia, with 20 forwards and 16 backs named.
The headline news is the number of shock omissions, however, as centres Williams and Roberts, who hold a combined 141 caps, miss out, along with experienced Bath second-row Charteris and talented Ospreys fly-half Davies.
Gloucester and Lions backrow Ross Moriarty and Cardiff Blues prop Gethin Jenkins were unavailable for selection due to injury. There is also no place for Ospreys hooker Scott Baldwin after his return following a bizarre lion bite hand injury.
Scarlets' New Zealand-born centre Parkes earns his first call-up despite the fact that he is unqualified to play until Wales' final fixture against South Africa on December 2.
Among other inclusions in the squad are uncapped quartet Leon Brown and Elliot Dee from the Dragons and Sam Cross and Owen Watkin from the Ospreys.
Bath fly-half Priestland is rewarded for his magnificent form so far this season with a first call-up since 2016.
Alun Wyn Jones is once again named as skipper and is one of nine 2017 British and Irish Lions named alongside Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau, Rhys Webb, Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams.
"I'm really excited about this squad as we kick off the two year countdown to the 2019 Rugby World Cup," said Wales Head Coach Gatland.
"We see this series as an opportunity to expose some players to the Test environment and continue to build our game as we look ahead to two years' time.
"This autumn is a lot different to 12 months ago, where the focus was all about rankings. We have selected five uncapped players, there are a further six who made their debuts on the summer tour so it is a big opportunity to see all these players in this environment and I'm looking forward to seeing what they are able to do.
"The important message for those players who have missed out: the door isn't closed."
Wales squad:
Forwards: Nicky Smith, Rob Evans, Wyn Jones; Tomas Francis, Samson Lee, Leon Brown; Kristian Dacey, Ken Owens, Elliot Dee; Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones, Seb Davies, Adam Beard, Cory Hill; Justin Tipuric, Sam Cross, Dan Lydiate, Taulupe Faletau, Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi.
Backs: Gareth Davies, Rhys Webb, Aled Davies; Dan Biggar, Rhys Patchell, Rhys Priestland, Owen Williams; Hadleigh Parkes, Owen Watkin, Jonathan Davies, Tyler Morgan; Alex Cuthbert, Steffan Evans, Hallam Amos; Liam Williams, Leigh Halfpenny.
