The Wales side to play Ireland in the 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-final at Wellington Regional Stadium on Saturday shows four changes, plus two positional switches, from the side who clinched the Pool D runner-up spot with an impressive victory over Fiji last weekend.
Dragons trio of Luke Charteris, Toby Faletau and Danny Lydiate are due to start with Lloyd Burns on the bench.
Fit again Ospreys wing Shane Williams returns to the back three sparking a positional switch for Scarlets wing George North, who moves from left to right wing to accommodate Wales’ all-time top try scorer, and for Blues flier Leigh Halfpenny, who moves from wing to full back at the expense of Clermont’s Lee Byrne.
In the centres Jonathan Davies returns to partner Jamie Roberts, with his regional team-mate at the Scarlets, Scott Williams, moving to the bench.
Up front Dragons back row forward Dan Lydiate completes his return from the ankle injury he picked up in Round 2, replacing Osprey Ryan Jones, who also provides cover from the bench.
The final change comes in the second row with Osprey Alun Wyn Jones promoted from bench duty to partner Dragon Luke Charteris, with Blues lock Bradley Davies again retained as a replacement.
Elsewhere on the bench James Hook completes his return from injury to replace Stephen Jones, who is omitted alongside Byrne, to join Williams and Blues scrum half Lloyd Williams in providing cover for the backs.
Ospreys prop Paul James and Dragons hooker Lloyd Burns are retained to provide front row cover alongside lock Davies and flanker Jones.
That means it’s ‘same again’ for the front row of Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Huw Bennett and Adam Jones (both Ospreys), half backs Mike Phillips (Bayonne) and Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), with Dragon Toby Faletau also retained in the back row alongside captain Sam Warburton (Blues).
“This was a tough selection for us, probably one of the longest selection meetings we have ever had, where we went through every possible permutation available to us,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
“It’s a great position to be in when you are struggling to find a place for players in the squad and the starting line-up, instead of having to think who can make up the numbers, which has sometimes been the case.
“This is Rugby World Cup quarter-final time and we had some tough decisions to make with the likes of Dan, Shane and James returning from injury and the side having done so well in their recent absence.
“But this is the side we have gone with and, as a 22, we believe it is the side which gives us the best chance of winning this game against an Ireland team which not only topped their group but beat the Wallabies on the way.”
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Lloyd Burns, Paul James, Bradley Davies, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams
WALES
15 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)
DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 2lbs / 83kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 11, L 12; 67 pts – 8T, 9PG)
14 George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078)
DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs
International record: 12 caps (W 5, L 6, D 1; 45 pts – 9T)
13 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066)
DoB: 05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 3lb / 103kgs
International record: 18 caps (W 10, L 8; 20 pts – 4T)
12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 35 caps (W 17, L 18; 20 pts – 4T)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7” / 1.71m. 12st 1lb / 77kgs
International record: 83 caps (W 40, L 41, D 2; 275 pts – 55T)
10 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)
DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 5, L 3; 35 pts – 10C, 5PG)
9 Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE – Cap No 1,022)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs
International record: 57 caps (W 27, L 28, D 2; 30 pts – 6T)
1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 79 caps (W 36, L 41, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)
2 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs
International record: 45 caps (W 22, L 22, D 1)
3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 18st 12lb / 120kgs
International record: 73 caps (W 34, L 36, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)
4 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6’9” / 2.06m. 19st 10lbs / 125kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 15, L 14)
5 Alun Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 18st 10lbs / 119kgs
International record: 56 caps (W 24, L 32; 35 pts – 7T)
6 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071)
DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs
International record: 16 caps (W 7, L 8, D 1)
7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070)
DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 21 caps (W 11, L 10; 10 pts - 2T)
8 Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082)
DoB: 12.11.90. 1.88m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 4, L 3; 10 pts – 2T)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Lloyd BURNS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,085)
DoB: 09.12.84. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 0lbs / 108kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 4, L 2; 5 pts – 1T)
17 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)
DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 12, L 16, D 1)
18 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 28 caps (W 13, L 14, D 1)
19 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 55 caps (W 28, L 25, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)
20 Lloyd WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,087)
DoB: 30.11.89. 6’0” / 1.83m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 3 caps (W 3; 10 pts – 2T)
21 James HOOK (PERPIGNAN – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 56 caps (W 24, L 30, D 2; 320 pts – 12T, 40C, 56PG, 4DG
22 Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084)
DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 3lbs / 97kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 4, L 2; 20 pts – 4T)
Dragons trio of Luke Charteris, Toby Faletau and Danny Lydiate are due to start with Lloyd Burns on the bench.
Fit again Ospreys wing Shane Williams returns to the back three sparking a positional switch for Scarlets wing George North, who moves from left to right wing to accommodate Wales’ all-time top try scorer, and for Blues flier Leigh Halfpenny, who moves from wing to full back at the expense of Clermont’s Lee Byrne.
In the centres Jonathan Davies returns to partner Jamie Roberts, with his regional team-mate at the Scarlets, Scott Williams, moving to the bench.
Up front Dragons back row forward Dan Lydiate completes his return from the ankle injury he picked up in Round 2, replacing Osprey Ryan Jones, who also provides cover from the bench.
The final change comes in the second row with Osprey Alun Wyn Jones promoted from bench duty to partner Dragon Luke Charteris, with Blues lock Bradley Davies again retained as a replacement.
Elsewhere on the bench James Hook completes his return from injury to replace Stephen Jones, who is omitted alongside Byrne, to join Williams and Blues scrum half Lloyd Williams in providing cover for the backs.
Ospreys prop Paul James and Dragons hooker Lloyd Burns are retained to provide front row cover alongside lock Davies and flanker Jones.
That means it’s ‘same again’ for the front row of Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Huw Bennett and Adam Jones (both Ospreys), half backs Mike Phillips (Bayonne) and Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), with Dragon Toby Faletau also retained in the back row alongside captain Sam Warburton (Blues).
“This was a tough selection for us, probably one of the longest selection meetings we have ever had, where we went through every possible permutation available to us,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
“It’s a great position to be in when you are struggling to find a place for players in the squad and the starting line-up, instead of having to think who can make up the numbers, which has sometimes been the case.
“This is Rugby World Cup quarter-final time and we had some tough decisions to make with the likes of Dan, Shane and James returning from injury and the side having done so well in their recent absence.
“But this is the side we have gone with and, as a 22, we believe it is the side which gives us the best chance of winning this game against an Ireland team which not only topped their group but beat the Wallabies on the way.”
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Lloyd Burns, Paul James, Bradley Davies, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams
WALES
15 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)
DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 2lbs / 83kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 11, L 12; 67 pts – 8T, 9PG)
14 George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078)
DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs
International record: 12 caps (W 5, L 6, D 1; 45 pts – 9T)
13 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066)
DoB: 05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 3lb / 103kgs
International record: 18 caps (W 10, L 8; 20 pts – 4T)
12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 35 caps (W 17, L 18; 20 pts – 4T)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7” / 1.71m. 12st 1lb / 77kgs
International record: 83 caps (W 40, L 41, D 2; 275 pts – 55T)
10 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)
DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 5, L 3; 35 pts – 10C, 5PG)
9 Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE – Cap No 1,022)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs
International record: 57 caps (W 27, L 28, D 2; 30 pts – 6T)
1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 79 caps (W 36, L 41, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)
2 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs
International record: 45 caps (W 22, L 22, D 1)
3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 18st 12lb / 120kgs
International record: 73 caps (W 34, L 36, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)
4 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6’9” / 2.06m. 19st 10lbs / 125kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 15, L 14)
5 Alun Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 18st 10lbs / 119kgs
International record: 56 caps (W 24, L 32; 35 pts – 7T)
6 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071)
DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs
International record: 16 caps (W 7, L 8, D 1)
7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070)
DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 21 caps (W 11, L 10; 10 pts - 2T)
8 Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082)
DoB: 12.11.90. 1.88m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 4, L 3; 10 pts – 2T)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Lloyd BURNS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,085)
DoB: 09.12.84. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 0lbs / 108kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 4, L 2; 5 pts – 1T)
17 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)
DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 12, L 16, D 1)
18 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 28 caps (W 13, L 14, D 1)
19 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 55 caps (W 28, L 25, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)
20 Lloyd WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,087)
DoB: 30.11.89. 6’0” / 1.83m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 3 caps (W 3; 10 pts – 2T)
21 James HOOK (PERPIGNAN – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 56 caps (W 24, L 30, D 2; 320 pts – 12T, 40C, 56PG, 4DG
22 Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084)
DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 3lbs / 97kgs
International record: 6 caps (W 4, L 2; 20 pts – 4T)
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