Griffin pride at first Wales start in city of birth

Men’s world friendly: Australia v Wales

Venue: AAMI Park, Melbourne Date: Saturday, 13 July Kick off: 10:45 BST

Coverage: Listen connected BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, nan BBC Sport website and app, positive unrecorded matter commentary, followed by study and guidance connected nan BBC Sport website and app.

For a first master start, facing Australia successful Sydney and nan world's astir capped prop successful history mightiness look a daunting imaginable for many.

But it is simply a task Wales prop Archie Griffin took successful his stride arsenic he played astir of nan 25-16 defeat astatine nan Allianz Stadium.

The Bath beforehand statement came up against Wallabies seasoned James Slipper, who was starting his 135th international, eclipsing nan grounds of astir internationals for a prop held by Gethin Jenkins.

Griffin's accomplishment was poignant because it occurred successful nan metropolis he was calved almost 23 years ago.

His family moved to Singapore but nan ties to Australia stay strong.

Griffin, whose parents are some Welsh pinch his begetter brought up successful Cardiff and mother calved successful Wrexham, was shouted connected by family and friends.

"I loved it," said Griffin.

"You dream to beryllium here. With nan games being successful Australia and what this spot intends to me, it sweetens nan woody and thing I was aiming for.

"It meant a batch to me. Mum and Dad came retired for nan crippled truthful that was special. Mum is simply a spot of a crier!

"We person family and friends here, truthful it was bully to drawback up pinch them."

Wales person travelled to Melbourne wherever they will effort and level nan two-Test bid adjacent Saturday.

The visitors were readying to sanction their broadside connected Tuesday but it has been delayed 48 hours until Thursday.

There are wounded concerns complete full-back Liam Williams, prop Gareth Thomas and number 8 Aaron Wainwright.

Griffin is expected to characteristic again aft Warren Gatland described him arsenic "outstanding".

The Wales caput coach says tight-head prop is simply a problem position arsenic he searches for a successor to Tomas Francis, presently unavailable for action aft moving to play nine rugby successful France past year.

Henry Thomas, Keiron Assiratti and Leon Brown were ruled retired of nan summertime circuit because of injury, while Dillon Lewis was unavailable for nan first Test.

These absentees paved nan measurement for Griffin, who came done nan Welsh Exiles programme and played for Wales under-18s and under-20s and roseate done nan ranks astatine Bath.

Griffin had ne'er started a master crippled earlier past play pinch 191 replacement quality minutes for Bath successful nan 2023-24 season.

A little stint connected his Test debut against England astatine Twickenham successful February was trim short done injury.

A subordinate making his first elder commencement for state earlier his nine provides a telling illustration of nan inexperienced Wales broadside presently being blooded by Gatland.

Griffin managed 74 minutes against nan Wallabies earlier being replaced by Harri O'Connor.

"I sewage a batch of crippled clip truthful I was chuffed to bits," said Griffin.

"It has been a while since I played 74 minutes, astir apt a assemblage game."

There was a reliable introspection successful nan scrum which Griffin believes Wales improved arsenic nan crippled progressed.

"There are things to activity connected successful nan scrum," said Griffin.

"We came successful astatine half-time made immoderate changes and were amended successful nan 2nd half."

It is successful nan loose wherever he excelled, topping nan tackle charts pinch 26 and besides demonstrating his ball-carrying potential.

"It seems a batch of tackles," said Griffin.

"Defence is important, it is nan commencement of our onslaught and you request to get disconnected nan statement truthful we tin get nan shot back."

The conclusion successful Sydney was an eighth successive Test lucifer nonaccomplishment for Wales pinch nary world triumph since they hit World Cup excavation opponents Georgia 9 months ago.

Wales person dropped to 11th successful nan world rankings, a lowest-ever position, but Griffin insists morale remains precocious wrong nan squad arsenic they purpose to level nan series.

"We are not going to beryllium down aft this," said Griffin.

"We person sewage things to activity connected and are disappointed pinch nan loss, but it's now onto nan adjacent crippled and we are aiming for that win.

"We request to make much of nan chances created but we're getting there. We person to support going, we are building for something."