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Beck starts: Wales team for second Aus test
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
WALES BIOGS
15 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)
DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs
International record: 33 caps (W 17, L 16; 155 pts – 11T, 8C, 28PG)
14 Alex CUTHBERT (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,089)
DoB: 05.04.90. 6’6” / 1.98m. 16st 3lbs / 103kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 5, L 2; 20 pts – 4T)
13 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066)
DoB: 05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 8lb / 105kgs
International record: 27 caps (W 16, L 11; 35 pts – 7T)
12 Ashley BECK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,097)
DoB: 15.04.90. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 1 cap (L 1)
11 George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078)
DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 17st 3lbs / 109kgs
International record: 22 caps (W 11, L 10, D 1; 50 pts – 10T)
10 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)
DoB: 09.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 16 caps (W 11, L 5; 53 pts – 1T, 12C, 8PG)
9 Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE – Cap No 1,022)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs
International record: 66 caps (W 33, L 31, D 2; 40 pts – 8T)
1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 19st 1lb / 121kgs
International record: 88 caps (W 41, L 45, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)
2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs
International record: 52 caps (W 23, L 28, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 19st 4lbs / 122kgs
International record: 81 caps (W 40, L 38, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)
4 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 4lbs / 122kgs
International record: 34 caps (W 15, L 18, D 1)
5 Alun Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 19st 4lbs / 122kgs
International record: 64 caps (W 29, L 35; 35 pts – 7T)
6 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071)
DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 25 caps (W 12, L 12, D 1)
7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,070) – CAPTAIN
DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 28 caps (W 15, L 13; 10 pts – 2T)
8 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 12lbs / 113kgs
International record: 65 caps (W 34, L 29, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,048)
DoB: 13.12.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 16 caps (W 8, L 8)
17 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)
DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs
International record: 36 caps (W 16, L 19, D 1)
18 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6’9” / 2.06m. 19st 10lbs / 125kgs
International record: 35 caps (W 18, L 17)
19 Justin TIPURIC (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,087)
DoB: 06.08.89. 1.88m / 6’2” 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 5 caps (W 4, L 1)
20 Rhys WEBB (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,092)
DoB: 09.12.88. 6’0” / 1.83m. 13st 12lbs / 88kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 2)
21 James HOOK (PERPIGNAN – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 2lbs / 96kgs
International record: 64 caps (W 29, L 33, D 2; 346 pts – 13T, 43C, 61PG, 4DG)
22 Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084)
DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 13lbs / 101kgs
International record: 13 caps (W 8, L 5; 25 pts – 5T)