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| | Thursday, 6 June, 2002, 11:46 GMT 12:46 UK Owen set for historic debut Owen has impressed coach Steve Hansen this season South Africa v Wales, first Test at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, Saturday 8 June (kick-off 1400 BST). Pontypridd's Michael Owen will make a little bit of history on Saturday when he becomes the 1,000th player capped by Wales. Owen was the surprise inclusion in the Wales team named by coach Steve Hansen on Thursday to play the first Test against South Africa. The 21-year-old, who usually plays at number 8 for his club, has been selected to play at blindside flanker. Experienced internationals Colin Charvis and Martyn Williams will keep him company in the back-row.
Owen said: "I don't think it's going to sink in for a while yet because it's obviously been a lifelong dream to play for Wales. "It's a really proud moment for me. I was hoing to push for selection for the Test team, but it's just fantastic to have been picked." He added: "It's a nice place to win your first cap as well because South Africa has got such a proud rugby tradition." No other changes have been made to the starting XV which took on the Barbarians in Cardiff last week. Charvis, who captains the side for the third time, and Rhys Williams are the two survivors from the last time the teams met in Cardiff two years ago. Uncapped Pontypridd trio Mefin Davies, Richard Parks and Robert Sidoli take their place on the substitutes bench alongside world-record points scorer Neil Jenkins. Hansen says he is expecting a battle of the packs when his tourists clash in Bloemfontein. Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli has given special attention to the scrummage during behind-closed-doors training sessions. "He (Straeuli) has got a side up front that is commendable - it's very, very big," Hansen said. "Quite obviously they're going to have a crack at us up front and then try and use the ball wide."
Loosehead prop Daan Human will win his first cap for South Africa at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday. But the Western Province player will have the experience of hooker James Dalton and Willie Meyer alongside him in the front row. "Most games are won in the tight five and that's where we have to start winning ours," Hansen added. "It'll be a battle the whole way through." South Africa especially will lack experience and much will depend on the old campaigners to give guidance to the international rookies. Straeuli named four other new caps in his starting line-up, with flanker Warren Britz, scrum-half Johannes Conradie, fly-half Andre Pretorius and fullback Ricardo Loubscher all looking to stake a claim. Tour itinerary: 15 June: Second Test at Newlands, Cape Town (kick-off 1605 BST). South Africa: Ricardo Loubscher (Sharks); Stefan Terblanche (Sharks), Marius Joubert (WP), Andre Snyman (Sharks), Breyton Paulse (WP); Andre Pretorius (Lions), Johannes Conradie (WP); Daan Human (WP), James Dalton (Falcons), Willie Meyer (Lions), Victor Matfield (Bulls), Jannes Labuschagne (Lions), Bob Skinstad (WP, capt), AJ Venter (Sharks), Warren Britz (Sharks). Wales: Kevin Morgan (Swansea); Rhys Williams (Cardiff), Mark Taylor (Swansea), Andy Marinos (Newport), Craig Morgan (Cardiff); Stephen Jones (Llanelli), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli); Iestyn Thomas (Llanelli), Robin McBryde (Llanelli), Ben Evans (Swansea), Steve Williams (London Irish), Gareth Llewellyn (Neath), Michael Owen (Pontypridd), Martyn Williams (Cardiff), Colin Charvis (Swansea, capt). | |
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