Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Robinson pulls on the red shirt to win his 14th cap after spending three seasons in the international wilderness through injury and Llanelli Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees makes only his second appearance for his country.
Robinson will play alongside his brother Nicky for only the second time at this level – the first being against Ireland in Dublin in 2003 – and the duo are joined in the back line by incumbents Lee Byrne, Mark Jones, Shane Williams and Mike Phillips.
Evans makes his debut partnering the most senior player in the team, 30-year-old Ian Gough in the second row, with his regional colleague Jones joining a back row consisting of Llanelli Scarlets pair Gavin Thomas and Alix Popham. Ospreys prop Adam Jones joins Rees and his club and country captain Duncan Jones in the front row.
“We’ve brought a young squad to Argentina and remained faithful to that selection policy by picking a young team with an average of just 16 caps each and just one player in Shane Williams who has made over 30 appearances,” said Jenkins. “We’re proud to be able to give the honour of a first Wales cap to both Ian and Alun who have been picked on merit and, we believe, will do a job for us out there on Sunday.
“A mention should also go to James Hook, Richard Hibbard and Rhys Thomas who have impressed us all and will undoubtedly meet the challenge of international rugby if called upon.”
Wales have beaten Argentina on six occasions and lost twice, but the historical significance of the first ever Test match to be played in the Welsh speaking Puerto Madryn carries the most weight in Jenkins’s eyes.
“The experiences we have had already in Patagonia have been eye opening and we have been quite literally made to feel right at home here,” he said. “The occasion on Sunday will be historic, but we know we must focus on the task in hand and be at the very top of our game if we are to stand a chance of beating the Pumas.”
And how easy was Jenkins’s first selection as Wales coach?
“There are always players who give you a few headaches come selection time and this team selection was no different,” he said. “We have a talented group here and everyone of them would give their all for their country, but the key decisions were in the forwards.
“We’ve gone for Matthew at hooker in order to have a good look at him in this environment and have told Huw (Bennett) that he will be involved for Test two.
“Ian Gough as a senior player in the squad will be important against a tough and physical Argentina and he boosts our lineout options, as does the selection of Ian Evans and, significantly, Alun Wyn in the back row.
“Alun has played at flanker before and has been performing well for us there in training all week, but, importantly, he is a top class lineout forward who has been setting the Principality Premiership alight this season.
“We are approaching Sunday in a positive frame of mind, with a young, determined side who realise that they have a major opportunity to achieve something special on an historic day for Welsh rugby.”
Ian Evans will be the 1,040th player to feature for Wales, Alun Wyn Jones will be the 1,041st.
Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys), Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Jamie Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues); Duncan Jones (Ospreys – Captain), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys and Swansea), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys and Swansea), Gavin Thomas (Llanelli Scarlets), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets)
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Delve (Bath Rugby), Andy Williams (Bath Rugby), James Hook (Ospreys and Neath), Chris Czekaj (Cardiff Blues)
