Pocock returns to Australian side facing Wales

Posted on Nov 29, 2012

Openside flanker David Pocock will complete his return to on-field duties after today being named to start in the Qantas Wallabies’ year-ending James Bevan Trophy Test against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday (2.30pm).

Pocock led Australia to a 3-0 clean sweep of Grand Slam-winning Wales in June, but has not appeared since injuring his knee during the Wallabies’ opening match of the inaugural Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship against the All Blacks at Sydney in August.

The 24-year-old was scheduled to make his return earlier in the Spring Tour, but was held back after sustaining a mild calf strain at training prior to Australia’s departure from Paris following the opening game of the tour.

Pocock’s return allows the work load to be eased for star rookie Michael Hooper, who has performed exceptionally in the absence of his senior colleague.

Used off the bench against the Six Nations champions in June, Hooper ends his freshman Test season having started nine Tests consecutively prior to this weekend, where he will be injected into the game from the bench.

The high class 21-year-old fetcher has won the Australian team’s internal Player of the Day award on four occasions from those nine starting appearances.

Although Pocock will not captain the Wallabies this weekend, with that honour remaining with Pocock’s long-time Western Force and Wallaby colleague Nathan Sharpe as he plays his 116th and final Test; Qantas Wallabies coach Robbie Deans says his return will provide the squad with fresh impetus – both physically and mentally.

“David is one of the best in the world as a player, and is growing every day as a leader, so naturally we are delighted to have him back,” Deans says.

“While he has continued to contribute off the field, this tour has been one of frustration for him, but we were not prepared to take any risks and potentially compromise either the player or the team, in terms of his fitness. The upside to the wait is that his return comes at a time where we need fresh energy, as was evident at times during our Test in Italy last weekend.”

Although Deans believes Pocock is capable of playing the full Test, pointing to the lengthy training background he had prior to the calf strain, the inclusion of Hooper in the match night squad gives Australia the option of applying two openside flankers to the breakdown contest.

(more…)

Wales team to face Australia

Posted on Nov 29, 2012

Wales have made four changes – all to the pack – for the final clash of the 2012 Dove Men Series, against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm)

In the front row Blues prop Scott Andrews, who came on for Osprey Aaron Jarvis in the first minutes of the defeat to the All Blacks last time out, is handed his second Wales start and he is joined by former Blues colleague and 93-times capped veteran prop Gethin Jenkins (now Toulon).

Jenkins, who has been released by the French club for the fixture which falls outside the IRB international window, replaces Bath’s Paul James, who by contrast has been made unavailable.

Elsewhere Ospreys lock Ian Evans completes his return from injury (knee) to replace Bradley Davies (Blues) who has been ruled out with concussion and Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler replaces another Osprey, Ryan Jones, in the back row – with Jones retained on the bench.

The same backline which started against New Zealand last time out is selected, with Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar coming in for another player returning to his club, Perpignan’s James Hook, in one change to the backs cover provided by the bench.

Uncapped Scarlets tight-head Samson Lee has the potential to make his international debut after joining the training squad on a full time basis this week providing front row cover as a replacement alongside Ospreys prop Ryan Bevington in the final change to the match-day 23.

Lee turns 20 tomorrow (Friday), missing out on the chance to make his debut as a teenager, but he still has the opportunity to pick up the late birthday present of an international cap should he appear from the bench.

“We need to pick up again where we left off in the second half last week,”said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“We managed to retain 73% possession after the break against the All Blacks and win the territory battle, and we need to put Australia under similar pressure from the outset.

“We have played them regularly over the last couple of years and have come close to winning on a number of occasions, but have not quite been able to get ourselves over the chalk of the finish line.

“Both sides have had injuries to cope with, but there is every reason for optimism.  The Millennium Stadium crowd will be in full voice again, they were outstanding last week, and we are aiming to reach the end of a tough series on Saturday and finish off on a high.”

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Liam Williams; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Scott Andrews, Ian Evans, Luke Charteris, Aaron Shingler, Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau
REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Ryan Bevington, Samson Lee, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Biggar, Scott Williams

 

(more…)

Halfpenny reaches points milestone–team announced

Posted on Jun 21, 2012

Leigh Halfpenny’s 13-point haul last week means he has broken into the top 10 list of all-time points scorers in Welsh international rugby. The Blues full back and wing goes straight in at number eight ahead of 1970s fly half Phil Bennett with 168 points in just 34 internationals.

He now needs 33 points to progress above Gareth Thomas who is in seventh, but is some way off his mentor and kicking coach Neil Jenkins, who heads the list with 1,049 points.

Meanwhile, Wales field an unchanged side for the third Test of their Australian tour at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on Saturday (kick-off 3.05pm local time).

The same starting XV which led the Wallabies for the majority of the match in Melbourne last weekend – only to be denied by the last-minute penalty which made the home side 25-23 victors – has been handed a repeat chance to notch up Wales’ first victory on Australian soil since 1969.

The replacements’ bench shows one change with Scarlets hooker Ken Owens, who started the first Test two weeks ago in Brisbane, coming in to replace Ospreys front rower Richard Hibbard, who misses out on this occasion.

“We know what we have to do to beat Australia, but there is a difference between knowing how to win and achieving that aim,” said Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley.

“This Wales team was within around 30 seconds of beating the Wallabies on their home patch for the first time in 43 years, the challenge now is to go one better than that and make sure we are ahead on the scoreboard, not just when the hooter goes, but when the game finishes this weekend.

“The players can take some credit for the way they played for the large part of the match on Saturday, but that will be scant consolation if we don’t come home with a win in this Series.

“We have risen to our highest position (4th) in the IRB World rankings because of our performances so far this season, which can have positive repercussions for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but now we want to stay there and that means coming away with the spoils on Saturday afternoon.”

Wales’ leading points scorers (all time):Neil Jenkins 1,049, Stephen Jones 917, James Hook 346, Paul Thorburn 304, Shane Williams 290, Arwel Thomas 211, Gareth Thomas 200, Leigh Halfpenny 168, Phil Bennett 166, Ieuan Evans 157

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Ashley Beck, George North; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (Captain), Ryan Jones

REPLACEMENTS: Ken Owens, Paul James, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, James Hook, Scott Williams

(more…)

Beck starts: Wales team for second Aus test

Posted on Jun 14, 2012

Wales coach Rob Howley has made four changes to his side for the second clash of the three Test summer tour of Australia to be played under the closed roof of the Etihad Stadium, Melbourne on Saturday (Kick-off 8.00pm,local time).

Up front Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees combines with Ospreys pair Ryan Jones and Alun Wyn Jones to add well over 180-caps worth of experience to the pack, whilst in the backs Ospreys’ centre Ashley Beck (pictured) wins his second cap.

Rees replaces fellow Scarlet Ken Owens, who misses out altogether, with Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard providing the front row cover on the bench alongside his former regional colleague, prop, Paul James.

(Alun Wyn) Jones, who captained the Wales XV to 25-15 victory over the ACT Brumbies in their midweek fixture on Tuesday night, replaces Dragons lock Luke Charteris in the second row, with Charteris moving to the bench.

In the back row (Ryan) Jones comes in at No8 in place of injured Dragons flanker Toby Faletau, who returned to Wales from Canberra yesterday (Tuesday) after breaking a bone in his hand.

Beck, who also featured prominently in the midweek clash with Brumbies, comes into the starting line-up in place of Scarlets centre Scott Williams. Williams joins Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb and Perpignan pivot James Hook in providing cover from the replacements bench for the backs.

Elsewhere, Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric offers back row cover from the bench to complete the matchday line-up.

“After the first Test Australia are obviously in the ascendency, but the tour is not over by any means and we have all to play for on Saturday,” said Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley.

“We are bringing three very experienced players into the pack, all three made an impact from the bench during the first Test which has justified their selection in the starting line-up this weekend.

“We were also impressed with the performances of Ashley Beck, Justin Tipuric, Richard Hibbard and Rhys Webb on Tuesday night and they have each very much played themselves into the squad.

“Having played two matches now on Australian soil we have acclimatised and are ready for another huge challenge this Saturday in Melbourne.”

Dragons wing Aled Brew will return home this week after a hip contusion (bruise) has ruled him out of contention for selection for the next two weeks, no further players will be added to the squad.

WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Ashley Beck, George North; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (Captain), Ryan Jones

REPLACEMENTS: Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, James Hook, Scott Williams

(more…)

Wales team to face Australia

Posted on Jun 7, 2012

Wales have named a side to play Australia in Brisbane this weekend showing four changes from that which sealed a 16-9 victory over France last March to be crowned Champions of Europe and achieve their third Grand Slam in seven seasons.

In the front row Scarlets hooker Ken Owens replaces Matthew Rees and it’s all change in the second row with Bradley Davies (Blues) and Luke Charteris (Dragons) replacing Ian Evans – who joins the tour party immediately after his wedding this weekend – and Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), who moves to the bench.

There is one change to the backline which remained together for the duration of the 2012 RBS Six Nations clean sweep, with Scarlets centre Scott Williams replacing the injured Jamie Roberts (knee).

That means 15 of the players who travelled to Brisbane early last week, and missed Wales’ 30-21 victory over the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, have been handed starting positions with the 16th, uncapped Ospreys centre Ashley Beck, providing cover from the bench.

The rest of the replacements bench is made up of starters from the Baa-Baas victory, each of whom were involved in the match day 22 on Grand Slam day.

Scarlets hooker Rees joins prop Paul James, lock Jones and back row Ryan Jones (all Ospreys) to provide cover for the forwards with Blues scrum-half Lloyd Williams and Perpignan pivot James Hook complete the line-up.

"We are well prepared and looking forward to the challenge this weekend," said Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley.

"Australia will be disappointed after their defeat to Scotland, but that will make them all the more dangerous for us.

"The Wallabies are still the second highest placed side in the world rankings and we are playing them in their own back yard.

"We all appreciate the enormity of the task ahead of us, the long term stats don’t make happy reading for the Welsh against the Wallabies, but as recently as this season we have two losses racked up against Australian opposition and we are determined to stop that trend.

"We have created some winning momentum, we have a recent home win against the Barbarians to take into this game and have built a certain amount of confidence within the squad."

 

(more…)