Skipper Ryan Jones, Leigh Halfpenny and Tom Shanklin are the three players retained from Saturday’s 20-15 defeat by the world champion Springboks for Friday night’s second Invesco Perpetual 08 Series match against Canada at the Millennium Stadium.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has rung the changes for the Canadian challenge, including switching Jones across the back row from number six to No8.

That means Saturday’s Invesco Perpetual man-of-the-match Andy Powell moves to the bench after an impressive debut.

Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts is set to make his international debut in place of Dwayne Peel, but the most changes come up front where Scarlets flanker Dafydd Jones joins Blues flyer Robin Sowden-Taylor alongside Jones in the back row.

It’s all change in the front five with 2005 Grand Slam squad member John Yapp called into the squad to win his ninth cap following a two-year absence after Duncan Jones was ruled out with a foot injury.

Richard Hibbard and Rhys Thomas complete the front row while Ian Gough and Luke Charteris will pack down behind them.

There are five new starting faces behind the scrum with Mark Jones recovering from the knee injury that forced him out of contention against the Springboks.

He takes his place on the left wing as Wales’ record try-scorer Shane Williams is given a break, with Leigh Halfpenny winning his second cap on the other wing

James Hook picks up where they left off after replacing Stephen Jones at half-back and forms a new partnership with debutant Roberts.

Andrew Bishop joins Shanklin at centre in place of Jamie Roberts while Scarlet Morgan Stoddart starts at full-back in place of Lee Byrne.

“We have a short turn around before we face Canada and this was always going to be a game in which we tried to utilise our squad,” said Gatland.

“We have a chance to put defeat against South Africa behind us and really try to build some momentum before the All Blacks and the Wallabies come to town so we know what we need to achieve against Canada.

“It’s a real boost to have someone of Mark Jones credentials back available to us and we are also pleased to give Leigh Halfpenny a chance to get another cap under his belt with places still very much up for grabs in those positions.

“Tom Shanklin again gets the opportunity for further game time after coming in at a late stage last week and doing a great job and we are keen to see how that partnership goes with Andrew Bishop. Martin Roberts also has a chance to win his first cap and we are looking forward to seeing what he can offer us.

“Up front Duncan Jones has been carrying a foot injury so that has opened the door for John Yapp to join us and the likes of Luke Charteris and Robin Sowden-Taylor also have the chance to wear the red shirt and show us what they can do.

“There are many of changes from last week but we have maintained consistency by keeping Ryan in there as captain and we have some experience and impact players too on the bench.”

Osprey fly-half Dan Biggar and Sale prop Eifion Roberts all have the chance to win first caps for from the replacements bench and they are joined by experienced heads in Matthew Rees, Alun Wyn-Jones and Jamie Roberts alongside the impressive Powell.

Ospreys centre Gavin Henson was not considered for selection this week as the Wales coaching team await reports from a medical specialist in consultation about his Achilles injury.

WALES: Morgan Stoddart; Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Andrew Bishop, Mark Jones; James Hook, Martin Roberts; John Yapp, Richard Hibbard, Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough, Luke Charteris, Dafydd Jones, Robin Sowden-Taylor, Ryan Jones (Captain),

REPLACEMENTS:

Matthew Rees, Eifion Roberts, Alun-Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Dwayne Peel, Dan Biggar, Jamie Roberts

Tags: Rugby Canada, Welsh rugby news

The Springboks held out a second half onslaught from the Welsh team to scrape home 20 - 15 at the Millenium Stadium.

The visitors scored the only two tries of the match a well worked early try and a second half interception, apart from that the match was pretty much all Wales.

How the Welsh team has not won this match will puzzle both spectator and player alike. The simple truth is though that when Wales come up against a top team  and have a real chance of victory composure often lets them down.

The last 10 minutes of the match was proof in the pudding, simple errors at key times killed off the chance of victory.

Western Province full back Conrad Jantjes kept Wales at bay time after time with clearing up and unders, whilst Schalk Burger made Martyn Williams look all of his 30+ years.

Wales will take many positives from the match, both debutants were excellent with Andy Powell getting man of the match deservedly. With the Lions coaches in the Stands Lee Byrne has put notice that the Fullback Jersey is his and it is going to take some removing from him.

Wales

Tries:
Con:
Pen: Halfpenny, Hook 4
DG:

South Africa

Tries: Jacobs, de Villiers
Con: Pienaar 2
Pen: Pienaar 2
DG:

Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks), James Hook (Ospreys), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys).

South Africa: Conrad Jantjes (Western Province); JP Pietersen (Sharks), Adrian Jacobs (Sharks), Jean de Villiers (Western Province), Bryan Habana (Blue Bulls); Ruan Pienaar (Sharks), Fourie du Preez (Blue Bulls); Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks), Bismarck du Plessis (Sharks), John Smit (Sharks, capt), Bakkies Botha (Blue Bulls), Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls), Schalk Burger (Western Province), Juan Smith (Free State Cheetahs), Pierre Spies (Blue Bulls).
Replacements: Brian Mujati (Western Province), Gurthrö Steenkamp (Blue Bulls), Andries Bekker (Western Province), Ryan Kankowski (Sharks), Ricky Januarie (Western Province), Frans Steyn (Sharks), Jaque Fourie (Golden Lions).

Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland).

Tags: Springboks, Welsh rugby news

A unique gathering of more than 70 former Welsh international rugby players will take place at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday afternoon, 6 November.

The legendary figures of Welsh rugby have been invited to the stadium to watch Warren Gatland’s team make their final preparations for the Prince William Cup clash with South Africa on Saturday.

Every living Welsh international was invited to a special lunch at the Millennium Stadium as part of a series of events organised by the WRU for former internationals. The Union is hoping to create a full database of everyone who has played for Wales with details of where they now live.

To date, the whereabouts of just over 50 former international players are being sought by the WRU. It is vitally important for the Union to establish contact details for the players because in April there will be a family day at the Millennium Stadium for all ex-internationals and their relatives.

There will be more than a dozen British & Irish Lions, including the 2009 tour manager Gerald Davies, and many grand Slam and Triple Crown winners among the 70+ gathering on Thursday. Former Wales captains and coaches will be in attendance with players from every decade from the Fifties on the guest list.

Among those confirmed for the event are: Onllwyn Brace, Clive Rowlands, Tommy David, JPR Williams, Brian and Graham Price, Hemi Taylor, Peter Rogers, Ieuan Evans, Bleddyn Bowen, Ron Waldron and John Taylor.

The WRU has recently developed a ‘Heritage Range’ of merchandise exclusively for capped players, which includes a unique cap box, a new International Player’s tie and cufflinks made by Welsh gold experts, Clogau.

To launch the range, a set of the Clogau cufflinks and a cap box will be presented to Gareth Edwards and Gareth Thomas at the pre-match function ahead of the Wales v South Africa match on Saturday. Edwards was the first player to reach 50 caps for his country, while Thomas became the first centurion.

Tags: Welsh rugby news

The Welsh Rugby Union has appointed Robin McBryde as caretaker Head Coach of Wales for the 2009 summer tour of North America and Canada.

He steps up to the senior role for the first time in place of Warren Gatland who will be touring South Africa with the British & Irish Lions.

Robin McBryde will be joined on the tour by senior team regulars Assistant Coach Neil Jenkins, Conditioning Coach Mark Bennett, Team Manager Alan Phillips, analysts Rhodri Bown and Andrew Hughes and physiotherapists Mark Davies and Hywel Griffiths.

The coaching team will be supplemented by one extra caretaker Assistant Coach and another conditioner, who will both be appointed in the near future.

Robin McBryde said: “It is a great honour to lead Wales on tour for two important Test matches which will prove to be a challenging test of our progress as a squad.

“We know the American Eagles and the Canadians will be tough opposition and will fully test us on their home turf.

“It is inevitable that some members of our senior squad will be heading for South Africa as Lions, so the players who travel with us will be determined to make the Test starting positions their own.

“This is a great opportunity to step up and for some players to prove that our coaching strategies and processes are creating real competition for the coveted Welsh jersey.

“I will be working closely with Warren and the team in the preparation phase for the tour, but the chance to be the man in charge for the games is a challenge I am relishing.

“We work collectively as a coaching team for Wales and Warren knows my style and my input into the management system we operate.”

Head Coach Warren Gatland praised McBryde as a first class coach who also possesses the senior management skills to deliver success for Wales.

He said: “Robin has proved he is entirely worthy of this opportunity to step up and take on the ultimate responsibility as coach at international level.

“He is widely known for his talent and uncompromising qualities as a player, but all of us in the national coaching team know he has a lot more to offer Wales.

“Robin has the technical expertise, the strategic understanding and the man-management skills to take on new responsibilities and challenges as a coach.

“Part of my role is to structure a coaching succession policy and that will only be achieved if key individuals are given the opportunities to develop their skills under pressure.

“The tour of North America will be a challenging experience, but I am confident that Robin and the rest of his coaching team will underscore the strategies and processes we have all discussed and refined as a team.

“We will be building towards the North America tour throughout the Six Nations so all of the coaches will have an important input into the preparations and selection for the trip.

“Robin will be his own man, but we will also be in regular contact to talk through his plans.”

WRU Group Chief Executive, Roger Lewis, said: “Warren had no hesitation in recommending Robin for this role and I fully support that decision.

“Robin is a proud Welshman with a formidable knowledge and understanding of the modern game. He already has wide experience as an international coach and this tour will take him on to a new level of expertise.

“The other coaches on the trip are also part of Warren’s strong coaching structure and they all understand the systems thoroughly.

“While our coaches and backroom staff travelling with the British & Irish Lions will bring back a huge new store of knowledge, the team heading for North America will also reap the rewards of taking on new responsibilities with all the demands that entails.

“The WRU is particularly proud that no less than five members of the successful coaching team it has assembled have been granted the honour of coaching the British Lions.

“Warren Gatland, Rob Howley, Shaun Edwards, Craig White and Rhys Long go to Lions duty with our blessing and absolute approval and we regard their appointments as a great accolade for Welsh rugby.

“Their experiences on tour will help keep them at the forefront of the ever-changing world of elite rugby and pay inevitable long term dividends to Wales’ preparations for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.”

The extra role of temporary Assistant Coach for Wales’ summer tour will be filled shortly and discussions are already underway to identify potential candidates.

Tags: Robin Mcbryde, Welsh rugby news

Given the absence of meaningful dialogue with the WRU to date, it has become apparent that reaching agreement on extended player release, at least in the short-term, is unlikely.

The regions remain as committed as we have ever been to Welsh rugby. Last season during World Cup Year, as the WRU’s own figures show, the regions released players for national duties for a combined total of 198 days, despite only being required to do so for 104 days.  In return, the WRU has displayed contempt for the regions, offering and then reneging on agreements, arbitrarily shifting goal posts and, latterly, asking us via the national coach to effectively overlook the EDF Cup.

However, all of these issues could be holistically addressed and resolved in the future through a new participation agreement, as the Guinness Premier clubs and RFU have so successfully demonstrated in England.

Roger Blyth & Mike Cuddy (Ospreys)
Stuart Gallacher (Scarlets)
Gethin Jenkins (Newport Gwent Dragons)
Bob Norster (Cardiff Blues)

Tags: Welsh rugby news