Tavis Knoyle: Gets the nod
Wales interim head coach Rob Howley has selected youngster Tavis Knoyle ahead of Mike Phillips for Saturday's clash with Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.
The 22-year-old Scarlet has been in impressive form for his region lately and gets a chance at scrum-half with Phillips dropping to the replacements' bench.
Aaron Jarvis will make his Wales debut in the place of Lions prop Adam Jones, who is recovering from knee trouble, while flanker Josh Turnbull makes his second start for his country in place of ankle injury victim Dan Lydiate.
Another Scarlet, Scott Williams, starts at centre instead of his club-mate Jonathan Davies, who has failed to shake off the groin problem he sustained against Clermont in time.
Perpignan playmaker James Hook will be hoping to see some action from the bench alongside young full-back Liam Williams, while the likes of Justin Tipuric, Paul James and Rob McCusker provide forwards cover.
"One or two injuries have forced our hand in certain areas in terms of selection but the fact that we are still able to field a side packed with Grand Slam experience shows that we have been able to develop some depth in recent years," said Howley.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Josh Turnbull,5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones,3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Paul James, 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 James Hook, 23 Liam Williams.
Date: Saturday, 10 November
Venue: Millennium Stadium
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Comments
melkdave says...
Have to admit ,not feeling very confidant about Wales chances in this match tbh.I think Howley is takining a gamble with Warburton ,Rees and Preistland .Warburton imo has done enough to even be in the squad let alone captain and starting ,because of injuries.M.Rees has just been dreadfull so far this season ,and Preistland atm ,lacks form and confidance.I would have replaced them with Tipric ,Hibbard,and Bigger.And no offence to Turnbull ,but id have played A.Shingler at 6,and Owens replaces Hibbard on the bench
@Jontheref
Sorry but the site wont let me post cyber beers lol,ive tried lol
Posted 19:28 08th November 2012
SkinnyProp says...
Great comment RugbyLocos. I too am a Hook fan, always have been and his defence work is much stronger than Priestlands but maybe the 'whats he going to do next' style doesn't work in the Welsh game strucutre.
Glad to see Tavis get the nod, I've been a big fan of his since he burst into the U21 side, Lloyd Williams must have had a dip in form as at the end of last season he was almost first choice.
I think Biggar will be relegated to the Friday night game (as he always is) and will have massive Islanders running down his channel all night. A real shame for an in form 10. I've not been the biggest support of Biggar, often acts like a petulant child and has a nasty kicking habit but he seems to have worked on that this season with Ospreys.
The ball needs to go wide for North and Cuthbert to enjoy themselves. Love the November tests and can't wait for it to all kick off this weekend!!!
Posted 12:37 07th November 2012
rugbybutten says...
TAVIS................Spelling....see me!
Posted 20:08 06th November 2012
rugbybutten says...
Trouble with Priestland is that he's not that bright. He has recently kicked Scarlets and Wales to defeat with some shocking decisions to give possession away in the final minutes of a game where the opposition are throwing the kitchen sink at the winning side.
Previous comments about "last chance saloon" really must apply.
I do not think Wales will get past Argentina on Saturday, but I really hope I am wrong as I will, as usual, be putting my £10 on Wales.
As I have posted here before..... PLEASE send the ball wide, the prop as centre taking the ball back into a ruck just to reset for the same thing again is not going to win matches at this level.
One last point, Box Kicker Howley, I hope this does not rub off on Travis......it has to be the single most pointless and under achieving ploy in Rugby union..
Posted 20:07 06th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
One thing Howley can surely do is select his no9 well. Otherwise Wales are in dire doodoos.
Posted 17:24 06th November 2012
RugbyLocos says...
Howley is basically going with the scarlets 9 and 10 partnership, beleiving that it will help Priestland settle into his game, and in the light that Phillips is currently off-form. Makes sense really, although this should be the last chance saloon for Priestland. However, but it probably won't turn out like that as he suits Gatland's slightly one-dimensional game plan.
Going on form, Biggar should have been given a chance, and he must be left wondering what the hell he must do to get his name on the team sheet. Personally I'm a Hook fan when it comes to the Nş10 shirt, but I seem to be banging my head against the wall on that one, as he is a bit too ¨maverick¨ for Gatland's formula-style of rugby.
Has to be said though, we are in strange times when Welsh rugby is struggling to find a sure bet for the Nş10 shirt !!!.
Posted 16:53 06th November 2012
PontySurrey says...
Strong bench but I doubt Wales will bowl em over, atg77.
Posted 15:42 06th November 2012
heathy says...
Argentina will visit on the back of a hardened Rugby Championship series where they managed to hold their own. The Argies will be battle hardened and a different prospect to what Wales may usually expect (that is if they can keep up the momentum from their last games). Wales on the other hand, man for man, have not been that impressive so far this season and many are not playing well. Clearly, on their day Wales have a lot of talent and should normally see this as a win to get the November campaign off to a good start. Somehow, I don't think it is going to be that easy. Wales had a poor series against the Australians where the Welsh just didn't turn up until it was too late. Expectation was high and they failed to deliver. Another factor is that they don't seem to have quite the same intensity under Howley. Unless Wales have had some good preparation and the players have suddenly found their A game then it is Argentina by 5 for me. I hope I'm wrong and the Welsh pull it out the bag. Good luck boys.
Posted 15:09 06th November 2012
jontheref says...
Not bad considering the injuries.
melkdave owes me a few pints, I said even Howley would not follow his selection suggestions!
What has Priestland done to be selected?
is he Howlers nephew or something?
As I said yesterday, Howlers will pick Biggar for the Samoa game, and that is the end of biggar.
Such a waste of an inform player.
Posted 14:24 06th November 2012
atg77 says...
Decent selection, should bowl over the Argies without too much problem.
Posted 13:54 06th November 2012
Kent says...
That is one big back line
Posted 13:42 06th November 2012