Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Centre Davies earns Wales start

Autumn internationals - Wales v Argentina
Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 21 November Kick-off: 1430 GMT
Coverage: Exclusively live on BBC ONE Wales and online, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and online, live text commentary online and score updates on BBC Radio 5 Live


Jonathan Davies scored two tries against the US in the summer
Jonathan Davies will make his first start in a home Test

Wales coach Warren Gatland has restored the side that lost 19-12 to New Zealand for Saturday's Test against Argentina.

The only change is at centre, where in-form Scarlet Jonathan Davies replaces the injured Tom Shanklin, although he starts at 12 with Jamie Roberts at 13.

Lions quartet Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Matthew Rees and Martyn Williams are all recalled after being rested in last Friday's 17-13 win over Samoa.

Gareth Cooper is named at scrum-half, holding off the claims of Dwayne Peel.

Sale number nine Peel was unavailable against the All Blacks due to club commitments but started against Samoa.

However, with Blues scrum-half Cooper earning Gatland's decision Peel has to be content with a place on the bench, with Martin Roberts of the Scarlets dropping out of the match 22.

Dan Biggar is another half-back to miss out completely despite starting against Samoa, relinquishing the fly-half shirt to Stephen Jones and finding there is no place on the bench for the young Osprey.

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Despite the threat posed by the hard-scrummaging Pumas, Gatland has again resisted the temptation to move loose-head prop Gethin Jenkins across to tight-head and keeps faith with Paul James in the three jersey.

Shanklin has been ruled out by a broken nose, opening the way for 21-year-old Davies to make his first Test start in Cardiff.

Three-cap Davies was first-choice centre on Wales' summer tour of North America, scoring two tries against the US in Chicago, and came on in place of Shanklin against Samoa.

"Jonathan came on at inside centre on Friday when Tom was injured and he acquitted himself well," said Gatland.

"That's his natural position, he plays there for his region and is comfortable there.

"Jamie is the more experienced player and more than capable of playing at 13 and we are looking forward to the continuation of the partnership from the second half last weekend."

Dan Lydiate is named among the replacements and the Dragons back-row will win his first Wales cap if he comes off the bench at the Millennium Stadium.

"Dan has impressed in training, we have selected a small squad and he is the only one who has not been involved so far," Gatland added.

"So we felt it was important for his development that he gets the opportunity to win his first cap and put what he has learnt into practice."

Archive: Jonathan Davies on... Jonathan Davies

With Lydiate getting the nod on the bench and Martyn Williams restored to the seven shirt, Blues open-side Sam Warburton drops out of the match squad after starting against Samoa.

Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop, called in to train with the squad on Monday after Shanklin's injury was confirmed, fills out the bench along with Tom James, Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones and Bradley Davies.

James Hook continues at full-back and his kicking prowess will be vital on Saturday against an Argentina side who are expected to play a set-piece kicking game.

"With James Hook going so well at full-back it was important for us to continue his international development in that position," Gatland explained.

Flanker Andy Powell accepts Wales will need to increase their performance level for the Pumas, who have beaten their hosts four times from the last six attempts.

"The set-piece went all right against Samoa, but the breakdown killed us," said Powell.

"It went wrong against New Zealand as well and it is the one thing we need to work on.

Jones' Puma warning to Wales

"We are just not putting enough numbers in. We are going in ones and twos and it is going against us.

"But it can be put right through putting hard work in training into practice on the field against Argentina.

"They will be a tough side to break down as well, so we have a big week ahead of us."

Argentina, who lost 16-9 to England at Twickenham last Saturday, name their team later in the week and coach Santiago Phelan wants his team to learn from that game.

"We had a good defence against England, but against Wales we need more concentration, more determination and a bit more attacking," Phelan said.

"We know Wales are a very dynamic team with excellent players. They are a dangerous team that plays very good rugby."

Argentina have won four of their last six encounters against Wales, with victories coming in Cardiff, Tucuman, Puerto Madryn and Buenos Aires.


Wales: James Hook (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts (both Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper; Gethin Jenkins (both Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones (both Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Andy Powell, Martyn Williams (both Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones (both Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Blues), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Dwayne Peel (Sale), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom James (Blues).

Argentina: tbc

Referee: George Clancy (Ire)

Assistant referees: Christophe Berdos (Fr), David Changleng (Sco)

Television match official: Jim Yuille (Sco)

Assessor: Michel Lamoulie (Fr)

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