Scott Williams starts at centre, replacing Jamie Roberts
WALES HAVE named a side to play Australia in Brisbane this weekend showing four changes from that which sealed a 16-9 victory over France last March to be crowned Champions of Europe and achieve their third Grand Slam in seven seasons.
In the front row Scarlets hooker Ken Owens replaces Matthew Rees and it’s all change in the second row with Bradley Davies (Blues) and Luke Charteris (Dragons) replacing Ian Evans – who joins the tour party immediately after his wedding this weekend – and Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), who moves to the bench.
There is one change to the backline which remained together for the duration of the 2012 Six Nations clean sweep, with Scarlets centre Scott Williams replacing the injured Jamie Roberts (knee).
That means 15 of the players who travelled to Brisbane early last week, and missed Wales’ 30-21 victory over the Barbarians at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, have been handed starting positions with the 16th, uncapped Ospreys centre Ashley Beck, providing cover from the bench.
The rest of the replacements bench is made up of starters from the Baa-Baas victory, each of whom were involved in the match day 22 on Grand Slam day.
Scarlets hooker Rees joins prop Paul James, lock Jones and back row Ryan Jones (all Ospreys) to provide cover for the forwards with Blues scrum-half Lloyd Williams and Perpignan pivot James Hook complete the line-up.
“We are well prepared and looking forward to the challenge this weekend,” said Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley.
“Australia will be disappointed after their defeat to Scotland, but that will make them all the more dangerous for us.
“The Wallabies are still the second highest placed side in the world rankings and we are playing them in their own back yard.
“We all appreciate the enormity of the task ahead of us, the long term stats don’t make happy reading for the Welsh against the Wallabies, but as recently as this season we have two losses racked up against Australian opposition and we are determined to stop that trend.
“We have created some winning momentum, we have a recent home win against the Barbarians to take into this game and have built a certain amount of confidence within the squad.”
Australia v Wales
Saturday, 9th June 2012 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 11:00 BST
Starting XV:
Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, George North; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Ken Owens, Adam Jones, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (Captain), Toby Faletau
Replacements:
Matthew Rees, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Ashley Beck