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Wales primed for warm-up game

Thursday 15th May 2008

Tight call: Williams had a tough job selecting the Wales team for Saturday

Shane Williams' team for his testimonial match against Justin Marshall's World XV has been selected.

The game, whilst a tribute to one of Wales' best wingers, will serve as a warm-up game for Wales ahead of their two-Test tour to South Africa.

Warren Gatland unveiled his 27-man tour party on Wednesday and the Williams' side is selected exclusively from that squad. And despite Gatland picking the tour squad he handed over selection duties to the Ospreys wing for the day.

Rather than waiting anxiously to see if he had been selected Williams turned selector and admitted it was the hardest thing he had ever had to do in rugby.

Williams has gone for James Hook over Stephen Jones admitting his take on the 'great fly-half' debate that has gripped many national Wales selectors was "pretty tough".

But the Grand Slam-winning Six Nations Player of the Season revealed the contributing factor in his choice of Hook over Jones avoided any of the traditional talk about the varying mercurial talents of each - it was simply that he plays more often with Hook.

"When Warren told me he wanted me to pick the team for the weekend it was the worst thing he could of done to me, it's been pretty tough and very stressful," said Williams.

"I went for James basically because I play with him more often with us both being at the Ospreys, although I've played in many great games alongside Stephen for Wales in the past. But I certainly don't envy Warren when it comes to making tough decisions at selection time and I hope I never have to do it again - ever!

"I'm avoiding the players who aren't starting rather than having it out with them. My tactic is to go into hiding and hope they don't hold it against me.

"The game is supposed to be a fun day out for everyone involved, players and spectators alike, so the boys on the bench won't be disappointed. I'm trying to argue that I haven't picked a starting XV, it's just two teams with everyone getting the chance to get involved in what should be a spectacle of a game."

Elsewhere Williams has stuck with the majority of Gatland's Grand Slam-winning Six Nations side which featured in the triumphant game against France at Millennium Stadium in May.

The pack has one change with Dafydd Jones joining a back row alongside Wales captain Ryan Jones and Jonathan Thomas, who switches to the specialist flanker position vacated by the injured Martyn Williams.

In the backs Andy Williams partners Hook at scrum-half in the absence of Dwayne Peel and Mike Phillips, and Sonny Parker comes in at inside centre alongside Tom Shanklin, replacing Gavin Henson.

The latest new face in Gatland's South Africa tour party, Morgan Stoddart, starts at full-back and Tom James joins Williams on the wing.

"I wanted to stick as much as possible to the Grand Slam winning side so the team picked itself really, but full-back was the other position which gave me a headache with Lee Byrne ruled out," said Williams.

"I could've gone for Jamie Roberts, but I've decided to leave him on the bench for purely selfish reasons, I need someone there who can come on for me when my legs go."

The Justin Marshall World XV is littered with high profile names from world rugby and has a strong All Black theme.

Williams' Ospreys team-mates Marty Holah and Filo Tiatia add their considerable experience to Marshall's and the likes of Ollie Smith, Freddie Tuilagi and Elvis Seveali'i provide the back-line flare.

Marshall's team also has the added draw of a famous ex-Wales coach pulling the strings with 2005 Grand Slam winner Mike Ruddock at the helm, but Wales' latest Grand Slam boss Warren Gatland will also be much more than an interested observer.

"Shane's had an interesting experience selecting his squad and he has given me the opportunity to have a look at all the players available to go to South Africa," added Gatland.

"Everyone will be getting a run-out and Shane has been a great servant to the game in Wales so there should be plenty of support out there for him and for his squad."

Shane Williams' Wales: 15 Morgan Stoddart, 14 Tom James, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Sonny Parker, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Andy Williams, 8 Ryan Jones, 7 Jonathan Thomas, 6 Dafydd Jones, 5 Ian Gough, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: (from) Warren Fury, Andrew Bishop, Jamie Roberts, Stephen Jones, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Matthew Rees.

Justin Marshall's World XV:

Forwards: Deacon Manu (Scarlets), Allan Jacobson (Scotland), Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), Ed Shervington (Ospreys), Kevin Yates (England), Justin Va'a (Samoa), Justin Harrison (Australia), Maama Molitika (Tonga), Opeta Palepoi (Samoa), Hale T Pole (Tonga), Marty Holah (New Zealand), Filo Tiatia (New Zealand), Isaac Feaunati (Samoa).

Backs: Justin Marshall (New Zealand), Ryan Powell (Wales), Ceri Sweeney (Wales), Ben Foden (Sale Sharks), Elvis Seveali'i (Samoa), Ollie Smith (England), Lome Fa'atau (Samoa), Uche Oduoza (England 7s), Paul Emerick (USA), Freddie Tuilagi (Samoa).

Date: Saturday 17 May, 2008
Kick-off: 13:15 BST (12:15 GMT)
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff