Welsh young guns for SA
Wed, 14 May 2008 10:57
Bringing his youn guns: Warren Gatland
Wales coach Warren Gatland on Wednesday named three uncapped players in his 27-man squad for the two-Test series against World Cup-holders South Africa, but no specialist openside flank.
Wales will play two Tests against the Springboks, the first in Bloemfontein on Saturday, June 7 and the second in Pretoria on Saturday, June 14.
Gatland has kept faith with each of the 23 players he took to Wexford, Ireland for a 10-day training camp and added Gloucester duo Gareth Delve and Gareth Cooper, alongside Scarlets wing Mark Jones, who returns from a knee injury, and Blues forward Bradley Davies.
Cardiff Blues lock Bradley Davies, London Irish scrumhalf Warren Fury and Ospreys fullback Andrew Bishop are all included in the Welsh squad marked by the absence of a raft of injured senior players.
Flyhalf Stephen Jones of the Llanelli Scarlets is the most experienced player in the squad, having played 70 times for the Six Nations champions.
There are five other players who have 50 caps or more times for Wales.
They are Gethin Jenkins (58), Shane Willams (56), Tom Shanklin, (52); Ian Gough (50)
and Duncan Jones (50).
Flanks Martyn Williams, Robin Sowden-Taylor and Ospreys youngster Ben Lewis have all been ruled out of the two-Test trip, leading to speculation that veteran loose forward Colin Charvis could earn a recall.
But Gatland decided against it and now seems set to ask either Jonathan Thomas or Dafydd Jones, both natural blindside flanks, to play out of position against the Springboks.
Martyn Williams is joined on the sidelines this summer by fellow Grand Slam-winners Gavin Henson, Lee Byrne, Dwayne Peel and Mike Phillips.
"This is a great chance for some of the younger guys," said Gatland.
"And for a number of the players chosen it is about what I've heard about them and Bradley and Andrew are thought of very highly.
"I also worked with Warren during our Wasps days and I know what a good kid he is."
But Charvis' omission is the real shock as it was thought the veteran Dragons captain would fill Wales' problem openside flank position.
"It wasn't a close decision," confirmed Gatland.
"We had looked at the possibility of bringing back Colin as a short-term fill but this tour is about the future and it has given us the chance to call some younger guys into the squad to develop them.
"We feel we can cover the No.7 jersey by moving Jonathan Thomas from blindside to openside flank and including Dafydd Jones in the squad."
Wales have beaten the Springboks just once in their history, and have never triumphed on South African soil.
Moreover, Wales have not beaten one of the Tri-Nations sides on their home turf since overcoming Australia in 1969, a 1987 World Cup semifinal win over the Wallabies having been played in New Zealand.
The series will again contest the Prince William Cup which South Africa claimed after their successful visit to the Millennium Stadium last year.
Wales:
Backs: Morgan Stoddart, Andrew Bishop, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Tom James, Mark Jones, Sonny Parker, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, James Hook, Andy Williams, Warren Fury, Gareth Cooper
Forwards: Ryan Jones (Captain), Dafydd Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Gareth Delve, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Gough, Duncan Jones, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Huw Bennett.
