Warren Gatland is relishing seeing the “sharp” and “explosive” Regan Grace make his Wales bow in Friday’s Australia tour finale against Queensland Reds.
But the Wales head coach is putting no pressure on former St Helens rugby league star Grace, who has only played two games of union since switching codes.
Grace scored 89 tries for St Helens during a league career that saw him feature in three Grand Final-winning teams.
🏴👏 Huge congratulations to Bath Rugby's Regan Grace and Archie Griffin who will start for Wales this weekend against Queensland Reds.
Regan earns his first start for his country and Archie will start his third consecutive fixture.
— Bath Rugby (@BathRugby) July 17, 2024
He switched codes in 2022 but ruptured his Achilles tendon ahead of joining French Top 14 club Racing 92 and he did not play for them at all after suffering an injury relapse six months later.
Now under contract with Bath, he played in friendlies against Leinster and Gloucester last season and was called into Wales’ training squad just before departure Down Under when Ospreys wing Keelan Giles suffered an injury.
Grace lines up on the left wing in Brisbane for Wales’ first non-cap fixture since they beat the Barbarians eight months ago.
Wales are on the back of a 2-0 Test series defeat against Australia, while Barbarians apart, their last victory came against 2023 World Cup pool stage opponents Georgia.
“We had a big discussion last week about whether we threw him in at the deep end in terms of a Test match,” Gatland said.
“But we felt just a little bit more time in the environment would be good.
“He has been recovering from a pretty horrendous Achilles injury that he had – and then redid again. He has taken time in terms of his rehab and making sure he has done everything right.
“He is sharp, he is explosive and we’ve got to try and make sure we get the ball in his hands as much as we can, but not have too many high expectations.
“He has not played a lot of rugby since coming from league. There will be no pressure on him from my part. Just enjoy it and see what he can do.”
Grace is among 10 changes to the Wales team following a 38-26 second Test defeat against Australia in Melbourne.
Only Cameron Winnett, Rio Dyer, Archie Griffin, Christ Tshiunza and Taine Plumtree remain from that game, while Tshiunza moves from second-row to back-row and Plumtree is at openside flanker after replacing injured number eight Aaron Wainwright last weekend.
It is a first tour start for the likes of Grace, Saracens centre Nick Tompkins, Scarlets scrum-half Gareth Davies, Cardiff hooker Evan Lloyd and Dragons lock Matthew Screech.
1️⃣ day to go! James O’Connor previews the contest against the Welsh 🏴
🎟️ https://t.co/WeoswcqMMe pic.twitter.com/sQM4A46aKu
— Queensland Reds (@Reds_Rugby) July 18, 2024
Wales lost 35-24 the last time they met Queensland during a six-match Australia tour in 1991 that also featured defeats of 63-6 against Australia and 71-8 to New South Wales.
Queensland, meanwhile, crushed Scotland 41-5 in 2004 – Chris Latham, Wendell Sailor and Drew Mitchell were among their try-scorers – and lost 22-12 against the Gatland-coached British and Irish Lions nine years later.
Gatland added: “I have been pleased with the growth we’ve seen in the squad over the last three or four weeks, and that growth will continue.
“We are expecting a good challenge from the Reds and know they will be up for this fixture.
“I am looking to see us stay in the moment and keep scanning for opportunities, as well as being alert to threats. Little efforts will make the difference.”
