Wales team to face Australia

GETHIN JENKINS skippers a Wales team which shows four changes, one positional, for Friday's third place play-off with Australia at Auckland's Eden Park for a World Cup bronze medal.

Ospreys prop Paul James starts out of position at tight-head prop in place of calf injury victim Adam Jones, while Blues bruiser Bradley Davies has replaced an exhausted Alun Wyn Jones at lock.

Former captain Ryan Jones takes the place of banned skipper Sam Warburton, with the speedy Toby Faletau shifting from No 8 to open-side flanker.

Ryan Bevington (Ospreys) will provide prop cover on the bench following James' promotion, while Sale Sharks back-row Andy Powell has also been added to it.

Hook retains the No.10 jersey.

WALES TEAM: Leigh Halfpenny (Blues); George North (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Gethin Jenkins (capt, Blues)), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Paul James (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (Dragons).

Replacements: Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks), Lloyd Williams (Blues), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

hook retains 10 =(

my thoughts exactly. Maybe he'll have a better game

Has TF played 7 before?

Yes for the dragons

I know it's a "dead rubber" and all that, but I really hope the boys can raise themselves for this - I actually see it as a pretty important game in terms of making a statement about the level they intend to maintain going forward.

Hook

Really hoped Preistland would be fit

That's an alright team...

Most of it is first choice.

WALES TEAM:

Leigh Halfpenny (Blues) 1st

George North (Scarlets) 1st

Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) 1st

Jamie Roberts (Blues) 1st

Shane Williams (Ospreys) 1st

James Hook (Perpignan) 2nd

Mike Phillips (Bayonne) 1st

Gethin Jenkins (capt, Blues) 1st

Huw Bennett (Ospreys) 3rd

Paul James (Ospreys) 2nd usually loosehead

Bradley Davies (Blues) 2nd

Luke Charteris (Dragons) 1st

Dan Lydiate (Dragons) 1st

Ryan Jones (Ospreys) 2nd

Toby Faletau (Dragons) 1st



Replacements

Lloyd Burns (Dragons) 4th

Ryan Bevington (Ospreys) 5th

Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) 1st

Andy Powell (Sale Sharks) 6th

Lloyd Williams (Blues) 2nd

Stephen Jones (Scarlets) 3rd

Scott Williams (Scarlets) 3rd

MarcusHalberstram wrote:I know it's a "dead rubber" and all that, but I really hope the boys can raise themselves for this - I actually see it as a pretty important game in terms of making a statement about the level they intend to maintain going forward.

After all that Wales have done during this RWC, I doubt they will see this as a dead rubber. The positivity and intent of their RWC campaign isn't going to stop because they aren't in the final. Besides that Australia have been battered by SA and NZ two weeks in succession and their forwards have struggled against the top nations.

Wales should be able to dominate their forwards and I doubt Cooper is going to regain confidence so quickly.

2 main surprises for me:

Why play James out of position when we have specialist T/Head there in Mitchell?

Hook at 10 again really after Saturdays performance, dropping him might have given him kick he needs. Of course if he has good game this weekend all the Hook for 10 brigaders will be back out in force again.

I would have put Lydiate at 7 Jones at 6 but thats the backrow Unit I expected, lets hope they have the sense to swap around if not working.

Getting a win against a SH side in SH is still something we have a shocking record at so getting this win will be good for confidence

Personally it does not bother me if we finish 3rd or 4th, neither really means anything. What is important however is beating a SH team. Psychologically that could be very important to a young team who are probably feeling down at the moment. Its especially important as despite having what is by our standards a good WC we have only beaten one tier 1 nation. Glorious defeats dont meam anything in the long term. Plus we play Australia a lot in the next 10 months or so and need to put down a marker.

Totally agree Subs,

Getting a win (if we can) as I said in the SH as well will be huge boost for their confidence.

Why is the bloody game on Friday morning- could end world cup on a high and I'm in work

Personally I would have played Mitchell at tight head so we could really attack the Aus scrum, Im a bit suprised Gats hasnt gone for him.

Tycroes,

Agree and can't see point in taking specialist when he doesn't get used when chance arises.

James could have covered from bench.

I think both teams should be going all out to win this match,whoever loses will have lost 3 matches at the WC.Both teams have only won 1 match against a top 8 team so far.

Anybody else find it poor how no assessment/estimated length of time has been given on Priestland's injury?

TycroesOsprey wrote:Personally I would have played Mitchell at tight head so we could really attack the Aus scrum, Im a bit suprised Gats hasnt gone for him.

I've heard Moore, Kepu and Vickerman are all broken so the scrum will be pretty vulnerable whoever you guys put out. McCabe and Beale also look like being unavailable.

munkian wrote:Why is the bloody game on Friday morning- could end world cup on a high and I'm in work

Retire mate

I did and I get to watch much more

maestegmafia wrote:

munkian wrote:Why is the bloody game on Friday morning- could end world cup on a high and I'm in work

Retire mate

I did and I get to watch much more

I shoulda studied a lot harder in school to retire at 30

I don't think it matters what team Wales put there, I can't see Oz getting up for this game. After the end of an extended super15 season, a tough Trinations and the last 2 games against the boks and the AB's coupled with the general pressure of the world cup I think Oz have an empty tank (and have probably been running on empty the last few games). This young Aus side sadly weren't up to the big occasion and just want to go home despite hardly firing a shot.

Do we even have anyone left (uninjured) to run out there?

Wales would like to prove that we CAN take on a top 3 side and that the rest of the tournaments performances wernt a fluke,

however it is a weakend team, no Adam Jones, Priestland or Warburton, I would still like them to give it their all.

this is a huge game for wales. it is our final. we will have smashed the pundits expectations if we win this.

for some in the squad (shane etal) this is thier only chance to retire with a rwc medal.

i dont see wales having any problem getting motivated for this match

I'd like to add my displeasure and amazement, that Paul James has been selected as the TH for this game, what if he gets injured early on Gethin would have to shift across and Ryan Bevington brought on, don't get me wrong RB is going to be an outstanding LH in the future, but Gethin never was and never will be an International class TH.
The obvious answer was to play C. Mitchell and have Paul on the bench to cover both props.

Craig Mitchell has poor fitness that why he isn't playing

So why was he taken then view?

MarcusHalberstram wrote:I know it's a "dead rubber" and all that, but I really hope the boys can raise themselves for this - I actually see it as a pretty important game in terms of making a statement about the level they intend to maintain going forward.

Couldn't have put it better myself.

A 3rd place win will put to bed to some extent the controversial game last week and the dreaded reruns of this missed kicks that still go thru my head!!!

The last thing we want is another loss and go back to the way we were a few months ago.

Have my concerns about Hook - I guess Priestland injury worse then we imagined - nobody seems to know much about it??

This is a big game for us, no doubt about it - if nothing else, it'll decide where we are in the world rankings. How gutting would it be to have played some of the best rugby we've played in years and find ourselves eighth in the rankings (potentially)?

It really highlights how unbalanced the rankings are when the WC has double points.
Teams don't play an equal number of games so the teams who do well surge ahead in the rankings by a huge amount.
It's actually not as bad this year as Wales,France and Oz have all lost pool games.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:It really highlights how unbalanced the rankings are when the WC has double points.
Teams don't play an equal number of games so the teams who do well surge ahead in the rankings by a huge amount.
It's actually not as bad this year as Wales,France and Oz have all lost pool games.

Would you being saying the same thing if your team got through ?

Why would that change my opinion.

Do you think it'll amke sense that Wales can come 4th in the WC and drop to 8th in the rankings.
France can lose to Tonga and N.Z. yet surge to no.1 in the world if they win on sunday?

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Why would that change my opinion.

Do you think it'll amke sense that Wales can come 4th in the WC and drop to 8th in the rankings.
France can lose to Tonga and N.Z. yet surge to no.1 in the world if they win on sunday?

Good point well made

munkian wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:Why would that change my opinion.

Do you think it'll amke sense that Wales can come 4th in the WC and drop to 8th in the rankings.
France can lose to Tonga and N.Z. yet surge to no.1 in the world if they win on sunday?

Good point well made

It will all sort itself out I am sure.


Cant wait for the game, hopefully there is a little more in the red tank than the canary yellow...!

Good side selected by Gatland Wales still has a large pack and must put pressure on the opposition. Good to see how we go at 7, I think we will do well also R Jones is a good line out opttion and strengthens the scrum. I hope we don't kick too much and run the ball as much as possible.

Looking forward to a great game.

I realy do not understand why Gatland as picked Hook at 10.

Surely with this being a must win game for Wales and Gatland, He(Gatland)would have been better with S Jones at 10.

I hope we don't kick too much and run the ball as much as possible

Hook will do plenty of that I bet and aimlessly.

I agree Madge but Stevo hasn't got the legs any more, he has the brain but age is catching up with him,sadly.

I think Gatland took him for that reason his reason,his knowledge and experience.

I understand that Gethin Jenkins is going to be Captain.
Is this the first time he as captaind Wales, I would of thought now that Ryan Jones is playing Gatland would have made him Captain.

i wasnt sure about hook before last weeks game. he wasnt too good in the match. hopefully he will play better on friday. he must.

wellies must be a bit crocked if hook is getting picked ahead of him after the france game but gatland always does give players the chance to redeame themselves. its been a double edged sword for us all.

fingers crossed.

Jenkins has captained us before in one of AI games, not sure when or who against though.

Wallabies named for Friday:

15. Kurtley Beale (Waratahs)
14. James O’Connor (Western Force)
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies)
12. Berrick Barnes (Waratahs)
11. Digby Ioane (Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Reds)
9. Will Genia (Reds)
8. Ben McCalman (Western Force)
7. David Pocock (Western Force)
6. Scott Higginbotham ( Reds)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Western Force)
4. James Horwill (Reds, captain)
3. Salesi Ma’afu (Brumbies)
2. Tatafu Polota Nau (Waratahs)
1. James Slipper (Reds)

Reserves:

16. Saia Fainga’a (Reds)
17. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)
18. Rob Simmons (Reds)
19. Radike Samo (Reds)
20. Luke Burgess (Waratahs)
21. Anthony Fainga’a (Reds)
22. Rob Horne (Waratahs)

100th test appearance for Nathan Sharpe, so congratulations to him. He has been good for us over the past 3 years and becomes the fifth Wallaby to play 100 joining Gregan, Smith, Larkham and Campese.

Main changes to the team are in the front and back rows.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Jenkins has captained us before in one of AI games, not sure when or who against though.

It was the last time the Wallabies were in Cardiff and they spanked us.

sj said in the press he was trying to get nearer for the dropg, he's kicked drops from further, i wonder if the calf injury is still a problem, but we havent got anyone else to put on the bench.

not making excuses ,if you're on you're on, but he does have the highest % in kicks, so it does make you wonder.