USA v WALES
Venue: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Chicago Date: Saturday, 6 June May Kick-off: 1910 BST Coverage: Live on S4C, full commentary on BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, plus Sunday highlights on Scrum V (BBC TWO Wales & online, 1830-1920 BST)
 Dwayne Peel last started for Wales against Italy in February, 2007 |
Dwayne Peel believes Wales' experienced players have to lead from the front against the United States on Saturday. The Sale scrum-half makes only his second Wales start in two years as one of five changes from the side which beat Canada 32-23 last weekend. He partners Nicky Robinson at half-back and also drafted in are Ian Gough, Mark Jones and Gareth Williams. "The guys who have come in have got a lot of caps behind their name, so it's up to us to stand up," said Peel. "With the experience it's invaluable. You can't buy that. So I'm sure Nicky [Robinson], Mark [Jones] and myself will be able to bring some experience to the team and hopefully we can make that show.  | If we can put in a good performance I think the result will take care of itself |
"I'm very much looking forward to it to be honest. It's only my second [Wales] start in [14 Tests]." But Peel is refusing to take the Eagles lightly even though Wales hammered them 77-3 in the US four years ago. "They played extremely against Ireland [last week] and pushed them all the way," warned Peel. "So we are expecting a very hard Test match and that's what we prepare for. "They have similar traits [to Canada]. They are physical up front and like to take the game to you so it's important for us to stand up to that. "Hopefully we will be able to express ourselves with the ball and be a bit more clinical than we were last week. "As a squad I think we were pretty disappointed we didn't finish off more tries but I'm sure we will be able to put that right this Saturday. "We have worked extremely hard over the last two or three weeks since we have been together. This is all about putting in a good performance. If we can put in a good performance I think the result will take care of itself. | 606: DEBATE |
"I think the US have come on a long way since [2005] and we are expecting a tough game." Peel and Robinson replace Gareth Cooper and Dan Biggar at half-back while Mark Jones takes Chris Czekaj's wing spot. Up front Gough is in for injured Bradley Davies and Richard Hibbard makes way for Gareth Williams. Luke Charteris is included on the replacements bench after flying in to replace Bradley Davies, who is out of action for up to six weeks with a chipped bone in his neck. Charteris was drafted in after helping Newport Gwent Dragons qualify for next season's Heineken Cup after defeating Calvisano 42-17 in last week's play-off last week. The USA clash will be Wales' 600th Test match and their second tour Test.
USA: tbc Wales: Daniel Evans (Scarlets); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom James (Cardiff Blues); Nicky Robinson (Gloucester), Dwayne Peel (Sale); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Gareth Williams (Cardiff Blues), John Yapp (Blues), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Deiniol Jones (Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Robin Sowden-Taylor (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Craig Mitchell (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues), Gareth Cooper (Blues), Daniel Biggar (Ospreys), Jonathan Spratt (Ospreys).
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