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Page last updated at 20:17 GMT, Thursday, 18 November 2010

Ryan Jones returns as Wales captain against Fiji

WALES v FIJI
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Date: Friday, 19 November Kick-off: 1930 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC TWO Wales and the BBC Sport website; listen on BBC Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and updates on BBC Radio 5 Live; text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles


Ryan Jones in action against South Africa
Ryan Jones retuns to captain Wales in his first international start this season

Ryan Jones returns to captain Wales against Fiji on Friday in Cardiff as Matthew Rees is rested.

Jones is named at blind-side flanker in one of nine changes - with open-side Dan Lydiate passed fit - to the side which lost to South Africa on Saturday.

Dan Biggar and Richie Rees form a new half-back pairing, Aled Brew starts on the wing and Andrew Bishop joins fellow Osprey James Hook at centre.

Ian Gough and Deniol Jones start in the second row and Huw Bennett at hooker.

Gatland goes for 'balanced' team

Bennett takes over from Rees, who is rested after leading Wales against Australia and New Zealand, in an all-Ospreys front row.

Gough and Deiniol Jones are paired together at lock with Bradley Davies moving to the replacements' bench and Alun Wyn Jones rested.

Jonathan Thomas is retained at number eight alongside Ryan Jones, with Lydiate starting at open-side after passing a fitness test on an ankle injury.

On the bench, Wales have selected 20-year-old Tongan-born 'Toby' Faletau.

Teenage wing George North is retained on the right wing after his two-try debut against the Springboks.

On the other wing, Brew wins his fifth cap after last featuring on the international stage against England at Twickenham in 2007.

Gatland has gone for a mixture of experience and youth in a line-up he hopes will give him his first win of the autumn series.

Wales wing George North crosses for his second try on a remarkable debut in the 29-25 defeat to South Africa

Scrum V analysis: Wales 25-29 SA

"We must maintain our focus this week, if we even cast an eye beyond Fiji on Friday night, to the World Cup or even just to the game a week later [against New Zealand] we could be left counting the cost," said Gatland.

"We know all too well that the Fijians bring an extra dimension to their game when they face Wales and there is no doubt they will have targeted us this weekend as a game think they can win.

"We have been self-critical this week about our failure to close out matches when the finishing line may be in sight, no less than was evident against South Africa on Saturday.

"We need to be ruthless against Fiji and, with a few changes made to the starting line-up, more organised than ever.

"A couple of players, like Richie Rees and Huw Bennett, get their chance to show what they can do from the start of a game rather than off the bench.

"And on the bench too we have a wealth of experience to call upon, should we need it, alongside a young man originally from Tonga who now qualifies for Wales who, at just 19, is already quite a prospect."


Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); George North (Scarlets), James Hook, Andrew Bishop (both Ospreys), Aled Brew (Dragons); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Richie Rees (Blues); Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Ian Gough (all Ospreys), Deiniol Jones (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys - capt), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys).
Replacements Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), John Yapp, Bradley Davies (both Blues), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues).

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see also
Wales now 'better' than Slam side
16 Nov 10 |  Welsh
Williams injury concern deepens
18 Nov 10 |  Welsh
North can be new Bevan - Davies
15 Nov 10 |  Welsh
Anglesey's North has great debut
15 Nov 10 |  People and Places
Wales 25-29 South Africa
13 Nov 10 |  Welsh
Wales 16-25 Australia
06 Nov 10 |  Rugby Union
Wales v Fiji: Full record
29 Sep 06 |  Rugby Union
Wales v Tonga: Full record
10 Aug 07 |  Rugby Union
Wales' rugby fixtures
26 Jun 07 |  Welsh
Wales rugby results archive
15 Oct 03 |  Welsh


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