NEVER mind the debate over the benefits or pitfalls of playing a second outside-half at 12, Owen Williams is just glad to be representing his country in front of a packed Principality Stadium.

The Gloucester ace was given the nod by Wales head coach Warren Gatland on Thursday to fill the inside-centre berth for today’s autumn series opener against Australia in Cardiff (kick-off 5.15pm).

Before this evening’s Test match, Williams’ only previous senior international appearance had come on the summer tour when he featured as a blood replacement in the defeat of Tonga at Eden Park.

Now he gets his first start in a Welsh jersey, and it doesn’t get tougher than the Wallabies, who are chasing a 13th successive victory over Gatland’s men.

A big part of the build-up to the game has centred around whether or not Gatland would go with another playmaker outside number 10.

The Kiwi decided to, treading the same path he took for the second and third British and Irish Lions’ Tests in the drawn series with New Zealand this summer.

Back then it was Owen Farrell on the shoulder of Jonathan Sexton, today it’s Williams flanking Dan Biggar.

Giving his take on playing in a position he is not as well accustomed to as fly-half, Williams, 25, said: “I’m happy to play there.

“I played quite a few times there for my previous club, Leicester, and I’ve played there for Gloucester once this year, so I’m comfortable in the role and as long as I’m playing for Wales I’m happy where I’m playing.

“At 10 you obviously kick the ball a lot more than at 12.

“Ten is the organizer, the main playmaker who calls the starters, what you run off certain positions.

“But you maybe call a phase off nine and 12 organises the forwards outside him, so 10 doesn’t have to worry about that.

“Twelve is basically a second set of eyes for 10 and just feeds information to 10 and sees where the space is, so effectively you’re just feeding 10 information.

“It worked for the Lions in the summer. That’s how I’m going to approach the weekend, just help Biggs at 10, get the team moving around a bit and get Australia moving around the park.”

He added: “We are not trying to reinvent the wheel. It’s just about options going forward.

“It’s maybe slightly different to what Wales have had in the past few years, we are just experimenting. It’s just nice to get the opportunity and I am excited.

“Thrown in at the deep end, I guess it’s sink or swim. I’m looking forward to it and hopefully it goes well.”

Winning his first cap was obviously a proud moment for the former Scarlets man.

But a first start, and on home soil, is a dream come true.

“It is every young boy’s dream in Wales to play for Wales at the stadium in front of a packed house, so I am looking forward to it,” he said.

“It’s massive, obviously, but I have got to try to block the crowd out, do my job and concentrate on what the team needs.

“How big an occasion it is will probably sink in after.”

He added: “Australia are just a good attacking team.

“If you are on the back foot against them it can be very difficult, they have got some sharp attackers and good skills, so we have just got to stay on top defensively.”