Wales call-up: Aaron Jarvis
Ospreys prop Aaron Jarvis is the only uncapped player named in a 35-man squad for Wales' November Tests against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.
Wales interim head coach Rob Howley has also included centre Jamie Roberts, who missed the June tour to Australia due to injury.
Howley, in charge while Warren Gatland prepares to head up the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, has selected six players who did not figure in his original 34-man group Down Under.
Scarlets pair Rob McCusker (flanker) and Tavis Knoyle (scrum-half) both also return to the fold alongside Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar, whilst Blues flanker Sam Warburton is retained as captain.
Knoyle returns in place of Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb. Biarritz wing Aled Brew misses out.
Three players - Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate (ankle), Exeter prop Craig Mitchell (biceps) and Scarlets prop Rhodri Jones (shoulder) - were not considered because of injury.
Wales begin their campaign against Argentina on Saturday 10th November, before facing Samoa the following Friday evening.
The arrival of New Zealand in Cardiff ahead of their clash with Wales on Saturday 24th November will coincide with Gatland's return to the national squad coaching staff.
"We are really pleased with the strength and depth of the squad with some pleasing individual performances over the last three or four weeks, but we all understand and realize the skill, physicality and intensity will go up over the next five weeks," said Howley.
"This is one of the reasons we are going back to our training camp in Poland to sharpen minds and bodies.
"Argentina are first up and after the experience they have gained in the rugby championship they will be a challenging and tough opponent, but this is a challenge we will look forward too.
"We know how important momentum is going into any Series and the bigger picture is the Rugby World Cup draw at the beginning of December and how we perform against the Pumas, Samoa, the All Blacks and the Wallabies will have a direct effect on our seeding in that draw.
"We need a successful November to back up our performances at the RWC in New Zealand and the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year and we are determined to achieve it."
The Wales squad will begin their preparations with a week's training camp in Spala, Poland - beginning this weekend - the same Olympic training village which they visited prior to the 2011 RWC.
Wales squad:
Backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Scarlets), Harry Robinson (Cardiff Blues), Ashley Beck (Ospreys), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), James Hook (Perpignan), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Tavis Knoyle (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues).
Forwards: Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Toulon), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Rob McCusker (Scarlets), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Josh Turnbull (Scarlets), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt).
Comments
melkdave says...
OK looks like im going to be first to post a team for the Argentina match lol
15( L.Halfpenny
14)G.North
13)J.Davies
12)J.Roberts
11)A.Cuthbert
19)D,Bigger
9)T.Knoyle
8)R.McCusker
7)J.Tipric
6)S.Warburton(c)
5)A.W.Jones
4)I.Evans
3)R.Bevington
2)R.Hibbard
1)P.James
16)A.Jarvis
17)K.Owens
18)B.Davies
19)A.Shingler
20)Lloyd.Williams
21)R.Preistland
22)S.Williams
This is assumiomg the french contingent having missed the Poland trip and joining the squad next week arnt up to speed or available .Going to be a very hard match imo,and i dont think Wales will be tempted to try any new or untested combinations tbh.
Posted 13:23 25th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Good squad, good Ospreys core to build around. They won't be jaded after a good bit of Poland cryotherapy. Maybe it's that that makes them peak for nation but then half baked after its worn off. Perhaps Lance Armstrong can advise on how to maintain the high?
Posted 14:20 24th October 2012
rico says...
The whole of welsh rugby looks jaded at the moment...apart from when they all pull that red jersey on, it's like the "5th Region".... king of all the other regions WRU have set it up so well so that all that matters is playing for your country, v.similar to NZ mantra that All Blacks is everything, creating same aura with Wales at the mo..v.good for International future, gloomy for regional rugby who are performing dismally in HC & Amlin....
Posted 11:48 24th October 2012
sirtidychris says...
Shame for Duncan jones, don't suppose he has been getting much game time but the scrum looked solid when he came on for the sin binned Bevington, would have thought a better option.
I hope its movember in the photo that tache is straight up nasty !
Posted 22:25 22nd October 2012
makemehappy says...
@Melkdave - it doesn't harm to introduce youngsters (and I'd much prefer Mitchell there too), but he just isn't good enough. I agree with your other concerns at the moment. Mind you, playing for poor teams makes many look jaded.
Posted 18:12 22nd October 2012
three6three6 says...
That is a reasonable squad.... the real question, is can all of these players put it all together for Wales whilst being unable to win the key matches with their Regional / Club Teams? Wales should do well against in the four fixtures..... will they finally beat the All Blacks, after so long?
Posted 17:35 22nd October 2012
melkdave says...
~@makemehappy
I think Andrews is there because C.Mitchel is injured ,and it never does any harm to have a young player train wth the natinal squad ,and for the coaches to have a look see at his potential.Myself im surprised S.Warburton is in the squad and named as captain ,given his recent spate of injuries and lack of form.As captain you do expect him to be a starter in the XV ,and imo J.Tipric is the choice openside in Wales atm,thats more of a worry for me than S.Andrews..Also a slight concern is G.North and A.Cuthbert look a little jaded atmwhile J.Roberts is undercooked after comming back from injuey.Hopefully a hard weeks training in Poland will revigorate them ,for the aurtum tests.Apart from those niggles of mine i feel its a its a good squad ,hopefully capable of wining all the forthcomming tests .
Posted 15:20 22nd October 2012
makemehappy says...
Why pick Scott Andrews? Back up regional prop at best.Can't argue too much otherwise.
Posted 13:08 22nd October 2012