Three Newport Gwent Dragons have been included in the Wales squad for the match against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium this Friday night.
Fitness permitting, Dan Lydiate will start at flanker to win his fourth cap. Dan impressed for Wales against Australia but was forced out of the fixture with world champions South Africa on match-day with an ankle injury. Martyn Williams is standing by should Dan not make it. Wales coach Warren Gatland said:
"We are giving Dan's ankle injury time to settle down and are looking for him to start in a young back row, if he doesn't make it Martyn will come straight, but we are fairly relaxed about which way that falls and are blessed to be able to switch and change in that area if necessary to minimum impact."
Dynamic Dragons wing Aled Brew returns to the Wales team for what will also be his fourth cap, taking the place of the inured Shane Williams. This will be Aled’s first game for Wales since taking on England at Twickenham in 2007.
Rising back row star Toby Faletau is named amongst the replacements, and will win his first international cap if he makes an appearance. Toby will be the 1079th player to be capped by Wales, and the first born in Tonga. Said Gatland:
“On the bench…we have a wealth of experience to call upon, should we need it, alongside a young man originally from Tonga who now qualifies for Wales who…is already quite a prospect.”
Wales make nine changes to the side which started the Invesco Perpetual Series defeat to South Africa on Saturday.
"We must maintain our focus this week, if we even cast an eye beyond Fiji on Friday night, to the World Cup or even just to the game a week later we could be left counting the cost," Gatland added.
"We know all too well that the Fijians bring an extra dimension to their game when they face Wales and there is no doubt they will have targeted us this weekend as a game think they can win.
"We have been self critical this week about our failure to close out matches when the finishing line may be in sight, no less than was evident against South Africa on Saturday.
"We need to be ruthless against Fiji and, with a few changes made to the starting line-up, more organised than ever."
Commenting on the selection, Dragons Head Coach Paul Turner said:
“It’s great news for the players and for the region. Two of them, Dan Lydiate and Toby Faletau, have come through our academy. Aled Brew rejoined us last season – we got him capped three years ago too so we’re delighted.
“We’d have liked to have had them against Leinster this weekend but we’re really delighted for the boys.
“It’ll be a tough game on Friday – Fiji are no mugs on the international stage. We’re very happy for the boys and we hope they’ll do us proud.”
Wales take on Fiji on Friday 19th November at 7.30pm.
WALES: Lee Byrne; George North, James Hook, Andrew Bishop, Aled Brew; Dan Biggar, Richie Rees; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Deiniol Jones, Ryan Jones (captain), Dan Lydiate/Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas.
REPLACEMENTS: Richard Hibbard, John Yapp, Bradley Davies, Toby Faletau, Mike Phillips, Stephen Jones, Tom Shanklin.
