Wales coach Robin McBryde on Tuesday night praised the experienced players in the squad for their role in mentoring the newcomers on the North American tour.

McBryde brought in some of that experience to his team to face the United States at Toyota Park on Saturday, making five changes to the side which started the 32-23 win over Canada in Toronto last weekend.

"We were keen to maintain a level of intensity in our performance and our training and off the field as well we were looking for strong leaders who were able to get the balance right between working hard and enjoying themselves as well," McBryde said.

The back line has been boosted by the inclusion of seasoned internationals Mark Jones on the wing, and the half-back pairing of Dwayne Peel and Nicky Robinson, while Ian Gough returns to the second row in place of the injured Bradley Davies to win his 61st cap.

The only other change sees Gareth Williams win his seventh cap at hooker in place of Richard Hibbard.

That means only a place on the bench for fly-half Dan Biggar, the 19-year-old who marked his first international start last Saturday with a man-of-the-match performance including six penalties and two conversions with the boot for a perfect kicking record.

McBryde, though, has kept faith with his young midfield pairing of Andrew Bishop and Jonathan Davies, while Daniel Evans keeps his spot at full back, both he and Davies having debuted for Wales against Canada.

The caretaker coach, standing in for Warren Gatland, believes those rookies have benefited from the presence of veterans such as Jones, Gough and Sonny Parker, a late call-up to the squad who will not have won a cap on the tour.

McBryde added: "It was very important for these players such as Ian Gough and Mark Jones. They've been excellent for us on the tour and it was a particularly tough call on someone like Sonny Parker, who's been with us from the start.

"He had a late call-up but the youngsters have benefited and we as coaches as well as he's taken on that mentoring role, so it's been pretty tough on him."