Wales Team

Wales team to play Samoa in World Cup Pool D in Hamilton on Sunday (Kick-off 4.30am BST)
J Hook (Perpignan); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); P James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), AW Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A Powell (Sale Sharks), T Knoyle (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets), L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues).




The Wales coach Warren Gatland has named an unchanged team for Sunday's World Cup encounter with Samoa in Hamilton. Gatland has predictably retained the side that pushed the world champions South Africa to the brink of defeat in Wellington last weekend.

But one switch on the replacements' bench sees a potential return to action for the Cardiff Blues prop Gethin Jenkins, who takes over from Ryan Bevington.

The British and Irish Lions Test loosehead Jenkins has not played for Wales since they faced New Zealand in Cardiff 10 months ago. A calf muscle injury has sidelined him throughout this year, but Gatland opted to select him in his 30-man World Cup squad given Jenkins' proven pedigree and vast experience of 76 caps.

The 30-year-old has trained with the squad this week and his presence considerably enhances Wales's front-row options as they approach their pivotal Pool D games with Samoa, Namibia and Fiji.

The 17-16 loss to the Springboks means Wales are now in a knockout situation, knowing another defeat would effectively rule them out of contention for the quarter-finals.

But Gatland will hope Wales can reproduce the quality of their display against South Africa, when big-name players such as Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and the captain Sam Warburton all delivered world-class performances.

Continuity is good but this time it's imperative we come away with a result.

Same team, glad to see it. Bit disappointed that Stevo isn't on the bench, reckon we could do with his experience in the final 15mins but Gats must really trust in these guys.

Hope they can put in as good a performance as they did against SA, but this time with a much, much better result!

you can't argue with keeping the same team after the performance against the boks but I would have liked to have seen Brew or Halfpenny in the team and Stevie on the bench. But these are little things and it looks like a strong team and fingers crossed Jenkins can get some gametime and start getting back to his best.

Dewch Ma'n Cymru!

Bench looks pretty decent as well

Stephen Jones isnt on the bench because Hook covers 10, with Halfpenny covering 15.

The bench does look a lot better (though it would look even better with Turnbull/Tupric in there instead of Powell)

Thats about the team I would have picked, perhaps with some more robust defenders in your back three, would have like 1/2p to have started (but I can see the risk of bringing him in at 15 for such an important game). I am worried for you after Steyn's oh so easy try last week, gracious if there was ever a moment to have Stoddart, Barry Davies, or even an on form Byrne. You need Hook/Williams/North to crank it up this weekend.

You are going to face
15 Williams (Stade Fr) 6' 2" 15st 6lb
14 Tagicakibau (Lon Ire) 6' 3" 15st 10lb
11 A Tuilagi (Leicester) 6' 1' 18st 8lbs

and thats just the back three!

Are you to assume that Byrne is injured?............. or just off form?

The key for a Welsh victory is your front 5, control the set pieces and you will prevail.

All the best guys, I am sure you can nick this one

Phillips needs to get into their face and at the same time keep his own aggression under control.

flyhalffactory four of our backs are 16st + so they should give as good as they get.

Cymroglan wrote:flyhalffactory four of our backs are 16st + so they should give as good as we get.

Understand that buddy, but they will have enough on their plate without having to worry about your last line of defence

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Wales will probably wear black arm bands tomorrow due to the sad events unfolding in Pontardawe - The team and Gatland have sent their condolensces - Good luck to all in that area, a tragic event - god bless

I hope this time they use the bench and not just B.Davies, a fresh pair of legs and a quicker scrum half against a tired Samoa might work well.

tuilagi vs north will be interesting- feel sorry for tuilagi though

RubyGuby wrote:Wales will probably wear black arm bands tomorrow due to the sad events unfolding in Pontardawe - The team and Gatland have sent their condolensces - Good luck to all in that area, a tragic event - god bless

Totally agree, all our thoughts are with those who are suffering today.

Cymroglan wrote:flyhalffactory four of our backs are 16st + so they should give as good as they get.

Roberts, Davies North and.....?

North counts as two anyway doesnt he?

Gatts wrote:

Cymroglan wrote:flyhalffactory four of our backs are 16st + so they should give as good as they get.

Roberts, Davies North and.....?

Mike Phillips But depends what stats you look at

Good team. Played extremely well against South Africa so it makes a lot of sense to go for continuity. The Namibia game gives Wales the chance to rotate the squad.

Don't get preoccupied about the size of their backs. Wales have big backs as well and better footballers throughout the side. Wales are better drilled and will have the stronger and more techical scrum. The Welsh defence will give Samoa nothing like the space that the Namibians did. Apples and oranges.

Wales to win by 10 points.

I must say i am very suprised that Gatland as picked the same team again.
I know that continuity is a good thing, for the team and the players.

I would of thought that Gatland would of rested some players and gave others a chance.

It as been said that if Wales lose this week end they could well be out of the RWC. If that is true then i can understand why Gatland as picked the same team.

I think Samoa will adopt the same tactic as SA in defending very tight to prevent Wales getting the ball wide, except they aren't SA and i expect our back 3 to have a much more productive day at the office

A bit disappionted Bryne is not in the team I can only assume he is playing poorly in practice or injured. Why only take one fullback to the RWC who has not been in the best of form and then replace him with Hook? Hook showed his class against England and had a very good game against Argentina, in both games Wales had little ball unlike SA game. The bench looks better this week with more experience, I see no point in putting S Jones on the bench as stated above as we have better cover for 10 on the park.

Gatts:

I agree with you, we will not get so punished by kicking and not hitting touch, I felt we kicked too much against SA, throwing away possession as they kicked it back with interest. If we are going to kick, we must hit touch and our wings must chase, against SA AWJ was the first Welsh player to a long kick from Hook!

We definitley need to find touch on our kicks...Sam back 3 will tear us a new Samoan sized a hole