Wales Team for Saturday

Wingers Craig & Rhys
By Andrew Collins
June 2 2005

4 of Cardiff's European heros and 1 new Blue are announced in the Wales team for Saturdays clash with the USA. There are 4 backs in new boy Mike Phillips, Nicky Robinson, Rhys Williams and the suprise start carig Morgan. Uncapped Rhys Thomas starts on the bench.

15 Kevin Morgan (N-G Dragons)
14 Rhys Williams (Cardiff Blues)
13 Mark Taylor (Sale, captain)
12 Ceri Sweeney (N-G Dragons)
11 Craig Morgan (Cardiff Blues)

10 Nicky Robinson (Cardiff Blues)
9 Michael Phillips (Cardiff Blues)

1 Duncan Jones (Ospreys)
2 Matthew Rees (Scarlets)
3 Adam Jones (Ospreys)
4 Brent Cockbain (Ospreys)
5 Luke Charteris (N-G Dragons)
6 Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys)
7 Colin Charvis (Newcastle, vice-captain)
8 Ryan Jones (Ospreys)

Replacements

16 Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues)
17 Ben Broster (Saracens)
18 Ian Gough (N-G Dragons)
19 Richie Pugh (Ospreys)
20 Andrew Williams (Bath Rugby)
21 Matthew Watkins (Scarletts)
22 Tal Selley (Scarlets)

 

Craig Morgan is the suprise of the starting line-up. The former    17-try-a-season winger has had a succession of poor seasons and is low in the rankings after Shane Williams, Kevin Morgan, Rhys Williams and Hal Luscombe. Ruddock has stated that this is Morgan's last chance, but it is clear he's giving him a real chance to show what he can do. Morgan scored for the Blues in their Italian play-off on the weekend and looked in good form before heading out the following day.

 

Rhys Thomas will be hoping to get his first cap following a good season with Cardiff. He makes the bench with Mefin Davies pulling out injured and Scarletts Matthew Rees getting the no.2 spot.

 

Yapp is likely to be rested after picking up a knock on Sunday, while other Blues who miss out are Sowden-Taylor, Sidoli and hopeful Chris Czekaj. The Blues contingent (without Czekaj and Phillips) arrived on Monday evening and are likely to have been rested following a long season and flight.

 

Alot of Blues will also have their eye on the half back patnership of Phillips and Robinson. The youthful duo will both be hoping to make 9 and 10 their own for the Blues next season which also improves their chances of Wales elcetion behind Peel and Steven Jones, a pair who spent many years together at Strady.

 

Phillips will have to contend with Ryan Powell for the 9 shirt next year while Robinson has made the Blue 10 spot his own already.

 

The partnership of the 2 22 year olds is an exciting prospect for both wales and Cardiff and dai will be looking to see how they link up on Saturday.

 

News for the USA camp is that Kort Schubert will captain the side form No.8 knowing Xavier Rush will be looking for the Blues 8 when he arrives in November following the close of the super 12 season.