Wales squad to play Scotland

Posted on Feb 8, 2011 in Rugby News

Wales have made three changes, one positional, to the side defeated by England for their RBS 6 Nations Round 2 clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday (kick-off 5.00 pm).

Osprey James Hook wins his 49^th cap and starts at fly half for the first time since the Championship win over Italy in 2009, with Stephen Jones, who has taken a limited part in training after a bump to his neck during his last outing, moving to the bench.

Hook’s regional colleague Lee Byrne reclaims the vacated full back berth.

“James has a real opportunity to show what a quality player he is,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.

“There  is a certain amount of risk involved as he has not started a game at fly-half this season, but the decision was made easier considering Stephen has been limited in what he can do in the early part of this week after the bump he picked up early on against England.”

Up front Ryan Jones (also Ospreys) returns to the back row in place of injured Wasps No8 Andy Powell (shoulder), with the coaches saying ‘same again’ to the rest of the pack.

“The forwards were in a battle last week, but there were plenty of things that went right and we want them to go up to Murrayfield and give it a shot,”said Wales assistant coach (forwards) Robin McBryde.

“Our front five was an asset in the Autumn and Craig Mitchell has come in and done well and helped give us platform off the scrum and line-out.  We have talked about better execution and accuracy but largely we want the same again from the forwards with Ryan (Jones) coming back into the mix as well.

“Ryan has shown his true character after some set backs in terms of selection and playing in different areas of the pack and he has come out on top.”

On the bench two players, back row Josh Turnbull and fly half / full back Rhys Priestland (both Scarlets), could gain their first caps – with Turnbull replacing the promoted Jones and joining Jonathan Thomas and Richard Hibbard (Ospreys) and John Yapp (Blues) in providing the forward cover.

Elsewhere fellow Scarlet Tavis Knoyle covers the scrum half position in place of Sale Shark’s Dwayne Peel, with Peel unable to train after pulling up with a sore hip training yesterday (Monday).

“Last week in the first half we struggled for field position, which meant we didn’t attack in the way we would have liked and we are hoping to put that right this week,” added McBryde.

“We know we are under pressure, but the pressure we put on ourselves is more than enough and there is no-one working harder than us to put things right.

“We need to maintain our accuracy under pressure, look after the things we can control on the field on Saturday and we will not be far away.”

WALES:Lee Byrne; Morgan Stoddart, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Shane Williams; James Hook, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Matthew Rees (Capt), Craig Mitchell, Bradley Davies, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, John Yapp, Jonathan Thomas, Josh Turnbull, Tavis Knoyle, Stephen Jones, Rhys Priestland

WALES

  15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,041)
  DoB: 01.06.80. 6’3" / 1.91m. 14st 12lb / 94kgs
  International record: 39 caps (W 14, L 23, D 2; 45 pts – 9T)

  14 Morgan STODDART (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,056)
  DoB: 23.09.84.  6’1” / 1.86m. 14st 13lbs / 95kgs
  International record: 4 caps (W 1, L 3; 15 pts – 3T)

  13 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)
  DoB: 08.11.86.  6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
  International record: 25 caps (W 10, L 15; 10 pts – 2T)

  12 Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066)
  DoB: 05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 3lb / 103kgs
  International record: 8 caps (W 4, L 4; 10 pts – 2T)

  11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)
  DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7” / 1.71m. 12st 1lb / 77kgs
  International record: 76 caps (W 35, L 39, D 2; 255 pts – 51T)
  10 James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)
  DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
  International record: 48 caps (W 18, L 28, D 2; 240 pts – 11T, 34C, 36PG, 3DG)
  9 Michael PHILLIPS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,022)
  DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs
  International record: 47 caps (W 21, L 24, D 2; 20 pts – 4T)
  1 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)
  DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs
  International record: 18 caps (W 5, L 12, D 1)

  2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,033)
  DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs
  International record: 43 caps (W 17, L 25, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)

  3 Craig MITCHELL (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,068)
  DoB: 03.05.86. 6’1” / 1.85m. 17st 2lbs / 109kgs
  International record: 5 caps (W 3, L 2)

  4 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)
  DoB: 09.01.87.  6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
  International record: 18 caps (W 6, L 11, D 1)

  5 Alun Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046)
  DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 18st 10lbs / 119kgs
  International record: 44 caps (W 16, L 28; 25 pts – 5T)

  6 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071)
  DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs
  International record: 6 caps (W 1, L 4, D 1)

  7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,070)
  DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
  International record: 10 caps (W 4, L 6)

  8 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,029)
  DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
  International record: 47 caps (W 23, L 22, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)

  REPLACEMENTS

  16 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,048)
  DoB: 13.12.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs
  International record: 10 caps (W 3, L 7)

  17 John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,031)
  DoB: 09.04.83. 6’2” / 1.88m. 19st 4lbs / 122.4kgs
  International record: 18 caps (W 12, L 6)

  18 Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,013)
  DoB: 27.12.82. 6’5” / 1.96m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs
  International record: 63 caps (W 27, L 33, D 3; 35 pts – 7T)

  19 Josh TURNBULL (SCARLETS)
  DoB: 12.03.88. 1.93m / 6’4”. 15st 8lbs / 99kgs
  International record: Uncapped

  20 Tavis KNOYLE (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,076)
  DoB: 02.06.90. 6’1” / 1.85m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs
  International record: 1 cap (L 1)

  21 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 966)
  DoB: 08.12.77.  6’1” / 1.86m.  14st 7lbs / 92kgs
  International record: 96 caps (W 39, L 54, D 3; 870 pts – 7T, 137C, 181PG, 6DG)
  22 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS)
  DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
  International record: Uncapped

Wales team to face England

Posted on Feb 2, 2011 in Rugby News

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley has predicted his side’s meeting with England in the RBS 6 Nations opener at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night will be “a battle of inches not yards.”

Howley is in charge of a back line which sees Scarlets wing Morgan Stoddart return to international duty for the first time since the Autumn of 2008 and finds a place for Osprey James Hook at full back with his regional colleague Lee Byrne on the bench.

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A new era for Welsh rugby

Posted on Feb 2, 2011 in Rugby News, Welsh Rugby

A new era breaks over the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Friday night, for Wales will field a team shorn of stars like Martyn Williams, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Ryan Jones, Jon Thomas, Tom Shanklin, Lee Halfpenny and Lee Byrne – Lions to a man. Some of these omissions are the result of the Coach’s choice, others because of injury, still others because of suspension: backup halfback, Cardiff’s Richie Rees was unjustly suspended for eight weeks after making accidental contact with Dylan Hartley’s eye area in a fractious game between Northampton and Cardiff Blues. The likely Welsh team will be:

• 15. James Hook (Ospreys)
• 14. Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets)
• 13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
• 12. Jamie Roberts (Blues)
• 11. Shane Williams (Ospreys)
• 10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets)
• 9. Mike Phillips (Ospreys)
• 1. Paul James (Ospreys)
• 2. Matthew Rees (Scarlets, capt)
• 3. Craig Mitchell (Ospreys)
• 4. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
• 5. Bradley Davies (Blues)
• 6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons)
• 7. Sam Warburton (Blues)
• 8. Andy Powell (Wasps)

The bench is shrouded in mystery, but John Yapp is likely to be the replacement prop, with Richard Hibbard stepping into Bennett’s sizeable shoes at replacement hooker. Former captain and falling star Ryan Jones may take a bench spot as a replacement utility back five player. Jones can fill in at lock, number eight or blind side flanker. This would probably mean no place for long time flanker Jon Thomas who fills a similar role as a utility second or back row man. Instead expect to see the unfamiliar face of Josh Turnbull, who has been turning in fantastic performances for the Scarlets at number seven.

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Doran-Jones signs for the Saints

Posted on Jan 31, 2011 in Rugby News

Northampton Saints today announced that Paul Doran-Jones will join the club ahead of the 2011/12 season.

The 25-year-old prop joins the Saints from Gloucester, where he has played for the last two seasons.

Comfortable on either side of the scrum, Doran-Jones was capped by England in the 2009 Autumn Internationals and is in the England Elite Playing Squad currently preparing for the Six Nations. A member of England’s touring party last summer, Doran-Jones has also played non-cap games against the Barbarians, Australia ‘A’ and the New Zealand Maori.

Educated at Wellington College, Doran-Jones joined Gloucester from London Welsh, with his previous clubs also including Lansdowne RFC, for whom he played while studying at University College, Dublin, and Leinster, where he spent four seasons between 2003 and 2007.

Doran-Jones’s representative career includes caps for England Under-18 and Ireland Under-19 and Under-21, and in addition to his Aviva Premiership Rugby experience in the Cherry and White he has played in the Heineken Cup and in all of Gloucester’s Amlin Challenge Cup pool matches this season.

He is excited by the prospect of joining the Saints.

“I played against the Saints in my first game for London Welsh and it’s always been tough playing against them,” he said. “They’ve got a history of having a strong pack and it will be great to be a part of the squad at Franklin’s Gardens.

“I’m looking forward to getting in and training with the boys. I’ve been with a few of them with England and the banter’s starting already. The likes of Dylan and Courtney and the other guys like Tonga’uiha and Mujati have done really well this season and I want to be a part of that.

“Gloucester has been a great club for me. It’s tough to leave the place where I had my chance. The clubs are similar with great followings and histories and Kingsholm will always be a special place for me.

“But I’m looking forward to the challenge of moving to Franklin’s Gardens and challenging for my place at the Saints. They are showing where they can be in the current Heineken Cup and I want to be competing at that level week in, week out in the future and improve myself as a player.”

Director of rugby Jim Mallinder said that Doran-Jones will be a good addition to the Saints squad.

“Paul is a quality prop who has the added benefit of playing on either side of the scrum,” he said. “As we prepare for a tough Aviva Premiership and European campaign we need players who are flexible enough to play in a variety of positions, and to have props like Paul, Tom Mercey and Brian Mujati who can play at tight and loose-head will only be good for the Saints squad.

“Having quality players in these positions will mean that competition will remain fierce and will also continue to push our standards higher and higher, which we need if we want to stay competing at the top end of the Premiership and in the later stages of Europe.”

Albion keen to regain form

Posted on Jan 28, 2011 in Rugby News

After three British & Irish Cup matches, Plymouth Albion return to the task of trying to secure a Championship promotion play-off place this weekend.

Eighth-placed Albion face the long trip to South Yorkshire on Saturday to take on Doncaster, who currently sit two places above them in the table.

Albion, who claimed their first win at Castle Park on the final day of last season, will be hoping to return to the form they showed in the league before they took a break for the cup, where they won three out of four matches.

They earned consecutive victories over Birmingham & Solihull, Rotherham and Esher before picking up a losing bonus point in a narrow 10-6 defeat to the Cornish Pirates.

Graham Dawe and his coaching staff did use the cup matches against the Cornish Pirates, Worcester and Newport to give some valuable game time to some squad players, but the club are set return to a more familiar looking line-up for this weekend’s match.

However, Albion will be without forwards Tyler Hotson and Sam Hocking, who have picked up shoulder injuries in the last fortnight, but Gareth Evans and Rory Watts-Jones have recovered from knocks. Hooker Gavin O’Meara will have a fitness test.

Doncaster did beat Albion 41-3 at Brickfields in October, but since that match Graham Dawe’s side have picked up at least one point in every fixture, apart from away at runaway leaders Worcester.

A win this weekend would be a big boost to Albion’s hopes of securing a top eight spot.

"We’ve got just four games left in the league to complete," said chairman of rugby Dawe. "And if we have any realistic aspirations of getting a top eight place and competing for promotion then we would prefer a win sooner rather than later to put the pressure on the teams around us."

Albion (from): M Lee, B Mercer, K Fisilau, S Tu’ipulotu, S Johns, C Mitchell, F McLoughlin, K Hallett, A Davies, T Kessell, R Cushion, G Porter, R Hopkins, D Morton, G Evans, G O’Meara, R Freestone, R Copeland, D Collier, T Skelding, S-M Stephen, W Sprangle, R Watts-Jones, S Matavesi, A Carpenter