20-year-old Allen shocked at Wales's autumn squad call-up as Gatland looks to 'throw guys in at the deep end' ahead of Argentina match

By Rob Wildman

Published: 06:01 EST, 15 November 2013 | Updated: 06:02 EST, 15 November 2013

Cory Allen has admitted he never thought he had a chance of even making Wales’ autumn squad let alone starting an international.

The 20-year-old has been thrown into tomorrow’s visit of Argentina to the Millennium Stadium because of injury to centre Jonathan Davies.

He explained: ‘If someone had said to me at the start of the season that I’d be in the autumn Wales squad, then I’d have laughed.’

Call-up: Cory Allen will win his first Wales cap on Saturday against Argentina

Allen, who joins a Wales team including prop Gethin Jenkins winning his 100th cap, takes over from Davies, the Lions centre set to miss the Six Nations after tearing a pectoral muscle in the 24-15 defeat by South Africa.

‘When they read out the team, I had a lot of butterflies in my stomach,’ he added. ‘But I just wanted to ring my mum straight away. I think she screamed, cried, all at once.

‘My first game this season was for Cardiff RFC (in the Welsh Premier) and my goal for the year, if I’m honest, was just to break into the Blues (regional) team.’

Allen is in a team which shows four changes to those who started against the Springboks. Scarlets’ loose-head prop Rhodri Jones takes over from Adam Jones (calf) while Justin Tipuric gains a back-row chance due to an ankle knock ruling out Dan Lydiate.

The other change will provoke the biggest debate as Dan Biggar, the fly half who steered the team in last season’s successful Six Nations campaign, replaces Rhys Priestland.

Chance: Gatland has made a few changes ahead of the Argentina match

But head coach Warren Gatland refused to use the word ‘dropped’ about Priestland, insisting that he had promised both fly halves a start in the opening two games.

Biggar, however, demonstrated such a strong all-round game last season he was considered the favourite to start the campaign despite Priestland’s return this autumn from a torn Achilles’ tendon.

Now Gatland has told the pair he will pick the best on form for the final match of the autumn, against Australia, on Nov 30.

In between, James Hook has been promised a start at fly half for next Friday’s match against Tonga, though the experienced Perpignan-based playmaker is not available for the Wallaby match because of his French club contract.

Gatland said he had been pleased at Priestland’s performance but said he wanted to see Biggar given his chance.

‘Dan’s done really well last term in the Six Nations and he’s trained well this week. So, yes it’s a really big chance for him,’ Gatland said.

Out: Davies will miss the match at the Millenium Stadium due to injury

He admitted that he did know whether Allen had the ability for international rugby.

‘That’s why we sometimes throw these guys in at the deep end and see what they’ve got.’

Gatland is worried at Wales’ lack of depth once his squad suffer a number of injuries.

‘We have got a squad good enough to compete against any team. We pick up four or five injuries and the strength is not quite there, but gives us a chance to develop a youngster.’

The head coach said he could not fault his players for effort in Saturday’s defeat but felt his men lacked the ability to finish off like the Springboks did in winning by three tries to nil.

‘The top teams finish it off when they make a break, because their support lines are so positive and they get on the inside of the pass. Our support lines have been a little bit negative, and we have been working hard on that.’

Patriot: Jenkins will win his 100th for Wales during the Autumn internationals