Wales make four changes for Wallabies Test
Related coverage
Wales have made four changes to their starting team for the second rugby union Test against Australia as they seek to level the three-match series in Melbourne on Saturday.
Ashley Beck will start in the centres with Scott Williams dropped to the bench, Matthew Rees replaces Ken Owens at hooker, Alun Wyn Jones relegates lock Luke Charteris to the bench and Ryan Jones takes over at No.8 from the injured Toby Faletau.
Melbourne Rebels player Gareth Delve missed out on a starting spot after playing 50 minutes against the Brumbies in Tuesday night’s tour match.
The Wallabies won the first Test 27-19 and are looking to clinch the series at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.
The Roar will be live blogging the match – join us for the 8pm AEST kick-off tomorrow night.
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Ashley Beck, George North, Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies, Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins. Res: Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Luke Charteris, Justin Tipuric, Rhys Webb, James Hook, Scott Williams.
© AAP 2013Sport, all day long. Does this sound too good to be true? We're searching for a Group Sales Manager to lead our team in Sydney. If you're a sales star who doesn't mind a hit, kick, throw, or cycle, we want to hear from you. Apply now.
Have you seen the new Wallabies jersey? Want one of your own? We're giving away a brand new 2013 Wallabies jersey to one lucky Roarer, click here to go in the running to win.
The Crowd Says (13) | Page 1 of Comments
Have Your Say
- Explore:
- Rugby Union, Wales rugby, wallabies
June 14th 2012 @ 2:55pm
Jutsie said | June 14th 2012 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
no Delve
June 14th 2012 @ 3:54pm
Rugby Fan said | June 14th 2012 @ 3:54pm | Report comment
It was always on the cards that AWJ would come into the starting line-up for the second Test, even if Wales had won the first. The main question in the second row was whether Evans would start. He formed a partnership with AWJ for the Grand Slam but Davies had been first choice until he was banned for a dangerous tackle. Wales have gone back to the pairing which started against Ireland,
There were plenty of calls in Wales for Rees to come back and complete the 2009 British Lions front row. Moore outplayed Owens at hooker and the hope is that Rees will be more accomplished.
I’ve seen a few Australians wonder why Delve still isn’t in the team. Quite simply, Ryan Jones has been in great form and has been with the Wales squad for longer. The main question in Wales is over number seven. Justin Tipuric is probably better than Warburton at the moment and there was some talk of the captain moving to number 8 to accomodate him. Tipuric is on the bench though, which means Wales want Jones in one of his best positions while retaining Warburton’s leadership. If the back row doesn’t go well at the weekend, Tipuric could come on as a direct replacement for Warburton, or else a lock would come off so Jones could move to the second row and Warburton moves round.
Beck is a popular choice in the centre. He made an impact when he came on and is regarded as a more creative player.
The big debate has been over Priestland at ten since he had a poor game. He’s been given another chance while Hook is on the bench. Hook has plenty of doubters too so there’ll be mixed feelings in Wales about that selection. Most people want Mike Phillips to up his game at scrum half. He was slow at the base of rucks and was comprehensively outplayed by Genia.
June 14th 2012 @ 4:27pm
Jutsie said | June 14th 2012 @ 4:27pm | Report comment
Was it beck that gave the offload in the lead up to cuthbert’s try?
I was reading on the planet rugby forums alot of welsh supporters saying that tipuric has overtaken warbuton. Is it just a matter of warbuton taking a while to find form after his injury lay off or is tipuric actually the better player?
It was less than 12 months ago when warbuton and brussow where neck and neck with pocock as the heir apparent to king richie’s throne.
Hook didn’t look great on saturday either, If I was gatland I’d persist with priestland as it wouldn’t have helped his game recieving poor service from phillips and hook has had a number of chances at 10 and has rarely delivered.
June 15th 2012 @ 4:47am
Uncleflob said | June 15th 2012 @ 4:47am | Report comment
The 2nd rows against Ireland were Davies and Evans as AWJ was injured, other than that you are spot on and I agree with everything you say , I think we are a stronger forward pack and will look to sort the ruck out firstly
June 15th 2012 @ 5:18am
Rugby Fan said | June 15th 2012 @ 5:18am | Report comment
“The 2nd rows against Ireland were Davies and Evans as AWJ was injured”
Doh!
June 15th 2012 @ 9:31am
Robbie Young said | June 15th 2012 @ 9:31am | Report comment
Oh and Stephen Moore didn’t start for oz it was Tatafu Polota-Nau , Owens was replaced before Moore came on.
June 15th 2012 @ 5:04pm
Rugby Fan said | June 15th 2012 @ 5:04pm | Report comment
Doh! x2
June 14th 2012 @ 4:23pm
Gary Russell-Sharam said | June 14th 2012 @ 4:23pm | Report comment
Well spoken Rugby Fan, good summation. Can’t add anything to that. It will be a tighter contest than last test and Wales will get better. It would not surprise to see wales in front at the final whistle. However there is hope eternal that Deans will get it right and the Wallabies will click. I’m still not convinced that Horne has a place in this Wallaby side his blatant butchering of a certain try was significant in my eyes that he is not up to test standard. It will be a great test I will be ensconced on my lounge and have the fire lit and a stubbie in my hand well before kick off.
June 14th 2012 @ 4:55pm
stillmissit said | June 14th 2012 @ 4:55pm | Report comment
Gary RS: Me too with a glass of red. I am trying to keep my enthusiasm for this game under control. When ever I start spruiking up the Wallabies on the Roar they take my pants down and give me a good spanking.
All I am hoping for is a good game. The rest of the clichés will come tumbling out on Sunday morning – ‘I never doubted we would win’ – ‘My god we were awful’ – ‘We were just too fast and clinical at the breakdown’ – ‘Wales played well above anything else I have seen from them for a well earned win’….. Who bloody well knows – let the clichés fall where they will………………
June 14th 2012 @ 7:57pm
Brett McKay said | June 14th 2012 @ 7:57pm | Report comment
There it is: Adam Jones, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins. Just when we thought the Wallabies front row held it’s own, an even bigger test arrives…
June 15th 2012 @ 5:32am
Uncleflob said | June 15th 2012 @ 5:32am | Report comment
Who thought they held their own? They were just lucky that there was only a handful of scrums, if it wasn’t for Wales hitting early it could of been messy (in the scrum at least )
) outside of the scrum the Aussies had the upper hand but at set peice Wales were on top!
June 15th 2012 @ 10:59am
jeznez said | June 15th 2012 @ 10:59am | Report comment
I’m with you Flobby. I think the failure to return Palmer to the squad and the persistence with no specialist lock on the bench – and indeed two less than ideal scrummaging locks in the starting pack is a worry. The Welsh scrum was well on top but didn’t quite get the reward they’d earnt.
In good news for the Wallabies, they’ll be playing under a closed roof so no weather issues to interrupt handling and there may be not too many scrums again.
June 15th 2012 @ 3:39pm
Justin2 said | June 15th 2012 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
Its always a questionable surface Jez, closed roof or not. Been bits of rain throughout the week and fair to say most grounds would have moisture in them.
I will eat my hat if we dont see plenty of guys losing their feet during the match. It will look nice but most of the players should wear longer stops than they think they need.