Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Friday, 14 November Kick-off: 1930 GMT Coverage: Live on BBC Two Wales, Radio Wales, & online. Highlights on Scrum V, BBC Two (Sunday, 1700-1750 GMT)
Advertisement
No Henson conspiracy - Gatland
Wales coach Warren Gatland has made 12 changes to his starting side for Friday's Test with Canada in Cardiff.
Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts, 22, is handed his debut, while the uncapped Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar and Sale prop Eifion Roberts are on the bench.
Skipper Ryan Jones, Leigh Halfpenny and Tom Shanklin are the three retained after the 20-15 loss to South Africa.
There are recalls for Blues prop John Yapp, and Dragons forwards Rhys Thomas, Ian Gough and Luke Charteris.
Yapp, who comes in to cover for foot-injury victim Duncan Jones, lines up alongside Thomas and hooker Richard Hibbard in a revamped front row.
In the back row, skipper Jones moves back to number eight with the Scarlets' Dafydd Jones and the Blues' Robin Sowden-Taylor on the flanks.
Behind the scrum, wing Mark Jones returns from a knee injury and there are call-ups for Scarlets full-back Morgan Stoddart and Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop, while James Hook starts at fly-half.
Stoddart was declared fit on Tuesday after he had been in doubt with an ankle injury.
If Stoddart had been ruled out, the Blues' Tom James - already called into the squad - would have played on the wing and Halfpenny, who impressed on the right wing on his debut against the Springboks, would have switched to full-back.
Gatland said on Monday: "We have a short turnaround before we face Canada and this was always going to be a game in which we tried to utilise our squad.
Canada are hoping to cause an upset
"We have a chance to put defeat against South Africa behind us and really try to build some momentum before the All Blacks and the Wallabies come to town so we know what we need to achieve against Canada.
"It's a real boost to have someone of Mark Jones's credentials back available to us and we are also pleased to give Leigh Halfpenny a chance to get another cap under his belt, with places still very much up for grabs in those positions.
"Tom Shanklin again gets the opportunity for further game time after coming in at a late stage last week and doing a great job and we are keen to see how that partnership goes with Andrew Bishop.
"Up front Duncan Jones has been carrying a foot injury so that has opened the door for John Yapp to join us, and the likes of Luke Charteris and Robin Sowden-Taylor also have the chance to wear the red shirt and show us what they can do.
"There are lots of changes from last week but we have maintained consistency by keeping Ryan in there as captain and we have some experience and impact players too on the bench."
Canada were beaten 55-0 by Ireland in Limerick on Saturday.
Wales: Morgan Stoddart (Scarlets); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Mark Jones (Scarlets); James Hook (Ospreys), Martin Roberts (Scarlets); John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Rhys Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), Ian Gough (Ospreys) , Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt). Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Eifion Lewis Roberts (Sale), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues), Dwayne Peel (Sale), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues).
Bookmark with:
What are these?