Gethin Jenkins to captain experienced Wales line-up against Australia

Gethin Jenkins will captain an experienced Wales side that will take on Australia in the opening autumn international on Saturday.

Sam Warburton is ruled out by a neck injury so Jenkins will step in and lead a team - which includes Leigh Halfpenny for the first time in 14 months - boasting 802 caps.

Taulupe Faletau and Liam Williams also miss the game with injuries.

There are two uncapped players on the bench - Ospreys fly-half Sam Davies and Dragons lock Cory Hill.

In the absence of Alun Wyn Jones - who misses the match following the death of his father - Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris will form the second row, behind Jenkins, Ken Owens and Samson Lee.

Dan Lydiate and Justin Tipuric are the flankers with Ross Moriarty winning his fourth cap at No 8.

Ospreys half-backs Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar continue their partnership, starting their sixth successive international alongside each other.

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British & Irish Lions pair Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies are in midfield, with George North and Alex Cuthbert on the wings and Halfpenny at full-back.

Halfpenny - who suffered a serious knee injury in last year's World Cup - Lydiate and Cuthbert all missed the summer tour of New Zealand and coach Rob Howley said: "It's great to welcome back Leigh, Dan and Alex plus George North and Gethin Jenkins who left the tour early with injury.

"We have a vast amount of experience in the squad, we've trained really well over the last two weeks and are really excited for Saturday.

"With losing Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau and Alun Wyn Jones, we have spoken a lot about the leadership group this week and their importance on the field.

"From the Welsh squad's perspective, our thoughts go out to Alun Wyn and his family at this difficult time.  As a squad, we have a mantra of family coming first off the field, that's always the case and obviously so here."

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb; 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Ken Owens, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Luke Charteris 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Ross Moriarty.

Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Tomas Francis, 19. Cory Hill, 20 James King, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Hallam Amos.