Ryan Jones has backed his young team-mates to begin a new era in Welsh rugby against Canada tomorrow.
The Wales captain leads a team at York University Stadium bolstered by experienced men such as scrum-half Gareth Cooper, prop Duncan Jones and fellow back rower Dafydd James.
Yet with the bulk of the RBS 6 Nations side in South Africa with the British & Irish Lions, the majority of the Wales team is inexperienced at international level.
Tighthead prop John Yapp, with 12 appearances, is the only other player with more than 10 caps to his name while Scarlets duo Daniel Evans at full-back and outside centre Jonathan Davies will be making their debuts for Wales.
Three more uncapped players – Sam Warburton of Cardiff Blues and Ospreys duo Jonathan Spratt and Craig Mitchell – will be on the bench.
“I think what you’re getting this weekend is a glimpse of the future,” Jones said.
“I think a lot for these guys will figure in the immediate future and a few of them will figure in a couple of years to come.
“And realistically a lot of these kids are a bit older too who can take Welsh rugby forward.
“They’re the guys we’re going to rely on in the up and coming years to make sure we keep growing and building and get to the top of the game.”
