Understudies get their chance for Wales
Wales coach Mike Ruddock has made 11 changes from the side mauled by New Zealand for Friday night’s Millennium Stadium clash against Fiji.
A handful of switches are enforced after Gareth Thomas, Mark Taylor, Stephen Jones, Mefin Davies and Colin Charvis were all released for club duty.
Llanelli Scarlets full-back Lee Byrne and Worcester prop Chris Horsman both make their full Test debuts after going on as second-half substitutes during a record 41-3 home defeat against the All Blacks.
There are also opportunities for Cardiff Blues hooker Rhys Thomas and his Blues colleagues Nicky Robinson and John Yapp, while Lions flanker Martyn Williams returns after taking compassionate leave following a family bereavement.
Williams’ fellow Lion Michael Owen will captain Wales as they tackle opponents drawn in the same 2007 World Cup pool as them.
“There are five enforced changes in selection, but it is possible we could have made many of these changes in personnel anyway,” said Ruddock.
“On the basis of the workload we have taken on this month, and working from the principle that we want to develop a panel of players to take forward into the Six Nations and the World Cup, changes had to be made.
“We have stuck to our selection policy, utilising our whole squad and rotating certain members, and there is now a real opportunity for those players facing Fiji on Friday to put their hands in the air and force us to pick them for the rest of the (autumn) series.
“We lost our last game, so the new faces in the starting line-up have a chance to push for selection for the next two games (against South Africa and Australia) by performing well on the day.”
Matthew Watkins, Sonny Parker, Williams and Yapp start against Fiji after not being involved in the All Blacks encounter.
Watkins comes in for the absent Taylor at centre to partner Parker, with Ceri Sweeney moving to replacement duty.
And the four starting line-up survivors from last weekend are wings Kevin Morgan and Shane Williams, lock Brent Cockbain and skipper Owen.
“We wanted to get a look at Sonny Parker at 12 and John Yapp in the front-row, in particular,” added Ruddock.
“John offers a height advantage which we want to see in his lineout lifting, and Sonny is returning to form after a long lay-off.
“Dafydd Jones would probably have figured anyway, but the decision was made easy by a hamstring fatigue injury which has meant Jonathan Thomas will benefit from a rest.
“Both Lee Byrne and Chris Horsman acquitted themselves well when they went on against New Zealand last weekend, and we are looking for them to step up and show us they can be consistent at this level.”
Ruddock is refusing to take Fiji lightly, meanwhile, even though a much-changed Wales side should triumph with something to spare.
“Fiji have recently beaten both Tonga and Samoa in World Cup qualifying games, and they warmed-up for their game against us with a match against a New Zealand Divisional side. That means they should be a more cohesive side than we showed ourselves to be last weekend,” he continued.
“They are dangerous opponents and we will show them the utmost respect, but this weekend is about us and we are looking to emulate the sort of form and intensity in our game that produced such a wonderful campaign for us last season.
“We need to ensure we get the basics right. Our passing, tackling, lineout and tackle area play all need to be improved, and we need to recreate the kind of quality rugby we know we are capable of.”
Wales team to play Fiji on Friday, November 11:
Lee Byrne (Llanelli Scarlets); Kevin Morgan (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets), Sonny Parker (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Cooper (Newport-Gwent Dragons); John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Chris Horsman (Worcester Warriors, Brent Cockbain (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Michael Owen (Newport-Gwent Dragons, captain).
Replacements: Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Newport-Gwent Dragons), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), Michael Phillips (Cardiff Blues), Ceri Sweeney (Newport-Gwent Dragons).
