Rob Howley to give Martyn Williams his 100th Cap – Rugby News Update
Rob Howley, the caretaker coach of Wales in place of Warren Gatland, who is currently injured is set to give Martyn Williams his 100th Welsh cap against the Barbarians, along with giving debuts to three uncapped players.
Williams, the 36-year-old back-row is going to be named on the bench for the clash against the Barbarians, and if he comes on during the game, he will join Stephen Jones (104 caps) and Gareth Thomas (100), as the third player to complete a century of games
for his country.
However, Howley will be more focused on the result, and be prepared for the crucial tour of Australia, where they have not won a test match since 1969. Speaking ahead of the clash, he said that he wants the summer to get off to a winning start.
"We have an opportunity against the Barbarians to get an important summer series off to a winning start," Howley said. "We have momentum from the Six Nations and the Ospreys have added to that with a great win in our domestic competition. We are now looking
for the next step and a victory on home soil against a formidable Barbarians team before we set off for Australia."
This is also a chance for Howley to show his credentials as a future coach of Wales. Gatland has been sidelined and will most likely join up the squad for the second and third test matches, at Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
The team is going to travel to Australia. The first batch of 16 players leaves for Down Under this Thursday and the other 18 will depart after the commencement of the match against the Barbarians.
Wales squad:
Wales: Liam Williams (Scarlets); Harry Robinson (Blues), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Aled Brew (Dragons); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Blues); Rhys Gill (Saracens), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn
Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys)
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Martyn Williams (Blues), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Adam Warren (Scarlets), Will Harries (Dragons)
Tags: