SUMMER TOURS NEWS:SCOTT WILLIAMS was charged with filling the big shoes of Jamie Roberts in the Welsh midfield as the Six Nations champions named a powerful side for the first Test against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday.
British and Irish Lion Roberts was ruled out for six months after having an operation on a troublesome knee injury in April, but Wales will not miss the physicality he brings to the centres as his 12-cap replacement is a similarly robust 101 kgs.
Openside flanker Sam Warburton will lead Wales for tomorrow’s Test at Lang Park after being forced from the field against France in the Six Nations decider in March with a nerve problem in his shoulder.
With the Wallabies suffering numerous injury problems, the tourists are expected to challenge for the series but they have a poor record in the Southern Hemisphere and have not beaten their opponents in Australia since 1969.
To break that losing run, caretaker coach Rob Howley, in charge after Warren Gatland injured his legs in an accident at home, has made three changes to his pack for their first Test since they beat France in March.
Locks Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies pack down in the secondrow, with British and Irish Lion Alun Wyn-Jones dropping to the bench and Ian Evans unavailable because he is getting married.
Scarlets hooker Ken Owens takes over from Matthew Rees in the frontrow in a strong pack that is likely to attack Australia in their traditional Achilles heel, the scrum, which was wobbled by Scotland in a 9-6 defeat on Tuesday.
Australia coach Robbie Deans has been forced to make another change to his starting line-up. Brumbies wing Joe Tomane turned his ankle in training yesterday and has been ruled out of the contest at Suncorp Stadium. Tomane’s place in the side goes to Cooper Vuna.
Deans had already reacted to the surprise loss to Scotland by making eight changes from that match. The all-Waratahs frontrow of Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Benn Robinson will start the match, with second-rower Rob Simmons and number eight Wycliff Palu also returning to the starting XV. Scott Higginbotham moves to blindside flanker to accommodate Palu’s inclusion.
Deans has also reshuffled his backline, including Adam Ashley-Cooper at fullback and partnering Rob Horne and Pat McCabe in the centres. Forwards Joe Marler and Tom Johnson will make their England debuts in the first of three Tests against South Africa this weekend after head coach Stuart Lancaster announced his side to face the Springboks yesterday.
WALES(v Austrailia): L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, J Davies, S Williams, G North; R Priestland, M Phillips; G Jenkins, K Owens, A Jones, B Davis, L Charteris, D Lydiate, S Warburton, T Faletau. Replacements: M Rees, P James, A Wyn Jones, R Jones, L Williams, J Hook, A Beck.
AUSTRALIA(v Wales): A Ashley-Cooper; C Vuna, R Horne, P McCabe, D Ioane; B Barnes, W Genia; B Robinson, T Polota Nau, S Kepu, R Simmons, N Sharpe, S Higginbotham, D Pocock, W Palu. Replacements: S Moore, B Alexander, D Dennis, M Hooper, N White, A Fainga'a, M Harris.
ENGLAND(v South Africa): M Brown; C Ashton, M Tuilagi, B Barritt, B Foden; O Farrell, B Youngs; J Marler, D Hartley, D Cole, M Botha, G Parling, T Johnson, C Robshaw, B Morgan. Replacements: L Mears, P Doran Jones, T Palmer, P Dowson, L Dickson, T Flood, J Joseph.
