Roberts, Jenkins and Davies start for Blues vs. Dragons

Posted on Nov 4, 2011 in Cardiff Blues, Welsh Rugby

Jamie Roberts, Gethin Jenkins and Bradley Davies will all start for the Blues against the Dragons this Friday.

The World cup stars line up for the Blues for the first time this season with Roberts forming a centre partnership with the inform Casey Laulala, this being the only change in the backs to the team that defeated Connacht last Saturday.

Gethin Jenkins starts in the front row in place of John Yapp. Bradley Davies forms a new partnership in the second row with James Down. Paul Tito moves to the bench and Michael Paterson moves to the blindside in place of Maama Molitika. Lloyd Williams who also featured for Wales during the World Cup is also on the bench.

The Blues have won back to back RaboDirect PRO12 matches, both away from home at Aironi and Connacht, but are winless in five encounters with fellow Welsh regions in 2011.

Newport Gwent Dragons’ only victory in their last four RaboDirect PRO12 matches was 22-9 at home to Ulster in round five. Dragons have won five of their last six games at Rodney Parade in the tournament.

Speaking ahead of the match, Cardiff Blues squad captain Paul Tito said,

“We have a few of the Welsh boys back and I’m sure they will be firing to play for the Blues.”

“It’s the opening of their new stand at Rodney Parade so I’ve no doubt it will be a big match.”

“They beat us down there last year, which was disappointing and stopped us getting in the top four, so there’s a lot riding on it.”

“The boys obviously want to play well, so they get into the Heineken cup team as well.”

“So a good performance against the Dragons this week is crucial for everyone.”

15 Chris Czekaj 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Casey Laulala 12 Jamie Roberts 11 Tom James 10 Dan Parks 9 Richie Rees

8 Xavier Rush 7 Josh Navidi 6 Michael Paterson 5 James Down 4 Bradley Davies 3 Taufaao Filise 2 T Rhys Thomas (c) 1 Gethin Jenkins

16 Ryan Tyrrell 17 John Yapp / Sam Hobbs 18 Scott Andrews 19 Paul Tito 20 Maama Molitika 21 Lloyd Williams 22 Ceri Sweeney 23 Gavin Evans.

Jenkins to captain Wales against Australia in RWC playoff

Posted on Oct 18, 2011 in Rugby News, Rugby World Cup, Wales, Welsh Rugby

Gethin Jenkins will captain a Wales side which shows three changes, plus one positional, to the starting line-up for the Rugby World Cup 3rd place play-off clash with Australia at Eden Park on Friday night (8.30pm).

Ospreys prop Paul James comes into the front row in place of his regional colleague Adam Jones, who has a calf injury.
Cardiff Blues lock Bradley Davies starts in place of another Osprey, lock Alun Wyn Jones, with Jones moving to the bench.

Ryan Jones joins the back row in place of squad captain Sam Warburton, who is suspended, with Toby Faletau shifting from No8 to open-side flanker to accommodate the Ospreys flanker and fill the berth vacated by Warburton.

On the bench prop Ryan Bevington (Ospreys) provides front row cover in place of James and Sales Sharks back row Andy Powell is also added due to the promotion of Jones.

“We are sticking with the majority of the side which has put together a string of performances for us so far in this tournament, the one change which wasn’t forced, in the second row, is based on the fact that Alun Wyn ran himself into the ground when we faced 14 men against France last week,”  said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“We face Australia back home at the Millennium Stadium in just over a month’s time and we are single-minded in our assertion that we want that home-coming to be a celebration of us achieving the status of one of the top three teams in the world.

“We have come a long way and put together a string of performances that the nation can be proud of so far in New Zealand and we need to ensure that the history books reflect what we know we are capable of – and it is only by beating the Wallabies on Friday night that we feel this will be achieved.”
WALES: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins (c), Huw Bennett, Paul James, Bradley Davies, Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate, Toby Faletau, Ryan Jones,
Replacements: Lloyd Burns, Ryan Bevington, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Lloyd Williams, Stephen Jones, Scott Williams.

Jenkins says AIs for “ultimate honour”

Posted on Sep 21, 2010 in Rugby News

Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins – who achieved as much as many can only ever dream of as a player – believes this Autumn’s internationals at the Millennium Stadium will be a battleground for the ‘ultimate honour’ in world rugby.

For Jenkins it doesn’t come any bigger than the Rugby World Cup and, despite his legendary status as a British & Irish Lion and as the former world record points scorer, he says making it to the New Zealand 2011 tournament should be the only thing on the minds of the young players he now coaches.

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Williams, Rees & Jenkins out of Wales squad to face France

Posted on Feb 18, 2010 in Rugby News

Wales physio Mark Davies today confirmed Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins and Gareth Williams will not be available for selection for the RBS 6 Nations clash with France at the Millennium Stadium a week tomorrow (kick-off 8.00pm)

Scarlets hooker Rees has failed to recover from a groin problem, Blues prop Gethin Jenkins has a calf injury and fellow Blues player, hooker Gareth Williams, has damaged knee ligaments.

“Matthew (Rees) is progressing well and will continue his rehab in camp with Wales,” said Davies.

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Ryan Jones is out of Australia clash – Gethin Jenkins takes over as Captain

Posted on Nov 27, 2009 in Rugby News

Ryan Jones has withdrawn from the Wales side to take on Australia in the Invesco Perpetual Series climax at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow (kick-off 5.15pm).

Gethin Jenkins will captain the team and Jones is replaced at No8 by Andy Powell, who moves across the back row, with Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate promoted from the bench to the blindside to win his second cap.

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