Four changes for Wales
Leigh Halfpenny – and not James Hook or Lee Byrne – will be the Wales full-back in Saturday’s World Cup quarter-final against Ireland.
Despite Hook returning to fitness following a shoulder injury that meant he missed Wales’ final two Pool D games, in-form Halfpenny has won coach Warren Gatland’s vote.
Hook, who has played Test rugby at full-back, centre and fly-half, has to be content with a place on the bench.
Flanker Dan Lydiate, though, returns to the starting XV announced by Gatland today.
Lydiate has recovered from ankle ligament damage and wing Shane Williams’ thigh strain has also healed, enabling him to wear his familiar number 11 shirt.
With Lydiate reunited alongside his back-row colleagues Sam Warburton and Toby Faletau, former Wales captain Ryan Jones moves to the bench.
Lydiate’s determined recovery process included him getting up at two-hourly intervals during the night and icing an injury that initially threatened to destroy his World Cup dream.
Eight of Gatland’s matchday 22 are aged 23 or under, which confirms the impact Wales’ thrilling younger generation have made on the tournament.
But there are no places for British and Irish Lions trio Byrne, Stephen Jones and Andy Powell, who all miss out as Wales move towards what could be their most successful World Cup campaign since 1987.
Wales finished third in that inaugural tournament. Victory over Ireland would set up a semi-final against England and France, two teams struggling for consistency.
“This is Rugby World Cup quarter-final time, and we had some tough decisions to make with the likes of Dan, Shane and James returning from injury and the side having done so well in their recent absence,” Gatland said.
“But this is the side we have gone with and, as a 22, we believe it is the team which gives us the best chance of winning this game against an Ireland team which not only topped their group, but beat Australia on the way.”
L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), 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), P James (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Perpignan), S Williams (Scarlets).
