Warren Gatland names Wales match day 22 for upcoming World Cup warm-up match against England
Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) has announced their match 22 for their 1st summer international encounter against England. Both England and Wales will lock horns as part of their 2011 Rugby
World Cup preparations on Saturday, August 6, at Twickenham, London. The match will be the first of two matches the European rivals will play for their World Cup preparations.
WRU officials have confirmed the announcement of the roster in a statement released on their website on Thursday, August 4.
Wales head coach, Warren Gatland, has made six changes to the side which took the field against the Barbarians earlier this year. Furthermore, 11 players in the starting XV were part of the
Wales team in the 2011 RBS Six Nations tournament held earlier this year.
Gatland has expressed his confidence in the team combination in spite of missing out key players from the starting line-up due to injuries. He has expressed his satisfaction with the efforts
and hard work players have shown in the Wales Rugby World Cup training camps.
Gatland further added, “These are the men in possession of the jersey at the moment and it is now up to them to hold on to it and they will only do that with a performance at Twickenham at
the weekend. The stakes are high for individuals, but as a team it is also important for us to create some momentum as we head for the World Cup in New Zealand.”
The players who were not considered for the place in the match 22 include Adam Jones, James Hook, Lee Bryne, Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees and Leigh Halfpenny.
Adam Jones is still needs tp fully recover from his toe injury, while James Hook is still struggling with his neck injury. It is expected that Hook will be available for selection for Wales'
home game against England on August 13.
Lee Byrne is yet to gain 100 percent fitness following an injury to his knee, which he sustained earlier. Matthew Rees is on track to gain full fitness, however, his selection for the home
game against England is subject to his performance in the fitness test next week. Leigh Halfpenny’s ankle injury has ruled him out of both tests against England.
Additionally, Gethin Jenkins was considered fit to play in the game but his injury was not risked as Gatland has given him a week off to continue his rehabilitation.
The Wales squad for their upcoming encounter against the England at Twickenham includes,
Starting XV: R Priestland (Scarlets); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); P
James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), C Mitchell (Exeter), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Bevington (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys), T Knoyle (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets), M
Stoddart (Scarlets).
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