Warren Gatland announces his match 22 for second pre-World Cup match against England - Rugby
The Welsh Rugby Union has announced their match day 22 for the second world cup warm up match against England. Wales’ national Rugby Union team head coach, Warren Gatland, provided the details regarding the squad on Thursday, August 11.
Wales will host England at Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday August 13. Commenting on the occasion, Gatland admitted that in order to give their 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) campaign a boost, they need to win Saturday’s game.
Gatland added, “We've told the players that for us to be regarded as contenders at the Rugby World Cup we need to beat England at home this weekend, to send out that message to everyone that we are contenders.”
Commenting further, Wales head coach added that the win will give them a psychological boost for the tough RWC pool matches. Wales will play their opening match of the 2011 RWC against some of the toughest teams in the world. Wales is placed in Pool D of the 2011 RWC, which is also known as pool of death. Besides Wales, other teams in Pool D include Springboks, Fiji, Samoa and Namibia.
Gatland further added, “It is vitally important that we go into that match with the sound of Welsh fans ringing in our ears, fans who have cheered us on to victories in the final two matches of our warm-up campaign against England and against Argentina next week.”
Gatland has made four changes in the squad, which took part in their last weekend encounter against England at Twickenham, London.
Gatland included Perpignan’s utility back, James Hook, in place of Morgan Stoddart, who broke his leg during the Twickenham encounter. Hook will start the match at the fullback position.
Dragons’ hooker Lloyd Burns has replaced the Ospreys’ Huw Bennett in the starting XV. Bennett is dropped to the match for the match. Dragons lock Luke Charteris will start the match in the starting xv, in place of the Bradley Davies, who has been dropped from the squad.
Gatland has also named their controversial utility back player, Gavin Henson, in the starting xv. This probably would be the Henson’s last opportunity, which can earn him a place in the Wales final 30-man squad for their 2011 RWC campaign.
Henson will start the match at the inside centre position. Jonathan Davies has been dropped from the squad, as Jamie Roberts overtook Davies duties at the outside centre position.
Wales' squad for their August 13, encounter against the visiting English side consists of
Starting XV: 15. James Hook (Perpignan), 14. George North (Scarlets), 13. Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), 12. Gavin Henson (unattached), 11. Shane Williams (Ospreys), 10. Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), 9. Mike Phillips (Bayonne); 8. Toby Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), 7. Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain), 6. Dan Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), 5. Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 4. Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), 3. Craig Mitchell (Exeter), 2. Lloyd Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), 1. Paul James (Ospreys)
Replacements: 16. Huw Bennett (Ospreys), 17. Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), 18. Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), 19. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 20. Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), 21. Scott Williams (Scarlets), 22. Aled Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons).
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