Warren Gatland makes mammoth changes to Welsh team before RWC- Rugby News
Welsh coach Warren Gatland has made massive changes to his team that will play the last warm-up match against Argentina before Rugby World Cup 2011. Gatland revealed his 22-member squad on August 17 which contains nine changes from their last outgoing against
England. Talking to journalists, Gatland said that big shifts have been made to test the new combinations and to provide an opportunity for new players before RWC. Gatland has made four changes in the back rows, three in the front packs along with one each
at the scrum-half and fly-half’s position.
The big changes have been made at a very crucial time as the Welsh side is left with only one match before RWC 2011 and their previous combination worked like a magic against England on last weekend. Wales disrupted England by 19-9 and gave a glimpse of
hope to the selectors that the side could make its place into the top eight teams during forthcoming global show. The new combination against Pumas could be helpful only if they keep up the winning momentum for Wales.
According to the details, Paul James, Richard Hibbard and Bradley Davies will be included in the Welsh side at the frontlines. Leigh Halfpenny, Lee Byrne, Jonathan Davies and Dan Lydiate will be part of team in the back packs. James Hook will be deployed
at fly-half and Tavis Knoyle at the scrum-half’s position in the match.
Gavin Henson and Scarlet Rhys Priestland will miss the contest due to injuries whereas the other players have been rested by their coach.
Expressing his views on the large changes made in the Welsh side, Warren Gatland said that, “Criteria for selection has been about putting together a side to win the game, but also about giving some players the opportunity to impress and, therefore, bid
for selection for the world Cup.”
He further said that, “In some areas we are also looking at combinations with that opening game against South Africa on 11 September always kept in mind. Beating the Pumas on Saturday would also mean we retain that all important winning momentum going into
the World Cup.”
Wales will collide with Argentina on August 20 in Millennium Stadium.
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