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Last Updated: Wednesday, 7 June 2006, 15:37 GMT 16:37 UK
Ospreys pair handed Wales debuts
Alun Wyn Jones and Ian Evans with the Wales squad in Argentina
Wyn Jones and Evans have broken through at the Ospreys this season

Raul Conti Stadium, Puerto Madryn
Sunday, 11 June
Kick-off: 1840 BST
Live on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and this website

Ospreys youngsters Ian Evans and Alun Wyn Jones will make their Wales debuts in Sunday's first Test in Argentina.

Evans, 21, will play in his usual role at lock, but 20-year-old Wyn Jones has been moved from his accustomed second- row spot to play at blind-side flanker.

Only eight players remain from the side that started Wales' last match as coach Gareth Jenkins takes charge of his first match with an injury-hit squad.

Prop Duncan Jones will lead his country for the first time in Puerto Madryn.

Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees will pack down alongside prop Jones in the front row at Raul Conti Stadium in only his second appearance since his debut against the USA last summer.

Blues half-back pair Mike Phillips and Nicky Robinson will start a Wales game together for the first time, and centre Jamie Robinson will play alongside his younger brother for only the second time in a Test match.

The Robinsons became the 28th pair of brothers to play together for Wales when they lined up against Ireland three years ago.

Wales captain Duncan Jones (right) with Gavin Thomas and Richard Hibbard
Duncan Jones (right) shares a joke during training in Argentina

Wyn Jones has broken through to the Ospreys side this season, but only one of his 15 regional appearances has come at blind-side flanker.

But Jenkins has been impressed by his athleticism in training this week, and at 6ft 5in and 17 stone, Wyn Jones will certainly beef up Wales' back row as well as providing an invaluable extra line-out option.

Evans was twice an unused replacement in Wales' autumn internationals, but his eight-week ban for stamping in December effectively ruled him out of contention for the Six Nations campaign.

Further new caps could come in the form of hooker Richard Hibbard, prop Rhys Thomas and fly-half James Hook who are among the replacements.

Captain Jones, fellow prop Adam Jones, lock Ian Gough, number eight Alix Popham, scrum-half Phillips, wing Shane Williams, centre Matthew Watkins and full-back Lee Byrne are the only survivors of the team that started in the final Six Nations match against France last March.

Some 20 leading players are unavailable for the two-Test tour because of injury or rest.


Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Jamie Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues); Duncan Jones (Ospreys, captain), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Gavin Thomas (Llanelli Scarlets), Alix Popham (Llanelli Scarlets).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Gareth Delve (Bath Rugby), Andy Williams (Bath Rugby), James Hook (Ospreys), Chris Czekaj (Cardiff Blues).



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