Six Nations - Double boost for Wales team

Fri, 03 Feb 18:33:00 2012

Wales have received a significant double boost ahead of Sunday's RBS 6 Nations opener against Ireland, with World Cup stars Rhys Priestland and Jamie Roberts both declared fit.

Jamie Roberts - Wales - 0

Fly-half Priestland and centre Roberts have recovered from knee injuries to take their places in coach Warren Gatland's starting line-up at the Aviva Stadium.

But the team announced by Gatland does not include flanker Dan Lydiate, who is sidelined by an ankle problem, while Saracens prop Rhys Gill makes his first Six Nations start.

Lydiate joins Gethin Jenkins (knee), Luke Charteris (wrist), Alun-Wyn Jones (toe), Matthew Rees (calf strain) and Lloyd Burns (neck) in missing the Dublin trip.

Roberts, meanwhile, has not played since Christmas, while Priestland was hurt during the Scarlets' Heineken Cup victory over Castres a fortnight ago.

But their recoveries provide a huge lift for Gatland as Wales look to repeat their World Cup quarter-final victory of just four months ago over Ireland.

There are five changes from that game in Wellington, with Alex Cuthbert replacing retired wing Shane Williams, Gill taking over from Jenkins, Bradley Davies and Ian Evans teaming up at lock and Ryan Jones in for Lydiate.

Hooker Huw Bennett will win his 50th cap - only the second Wales hooker to achieve that feat after Garin Jenkins - with Cuthbert starting on the right wing and George North switching wings to wear the number 11 shirt.

Gatland said: "We have been able to retain continuity in some key areas. We have been working hard, and we feel we are approaching this match with the right attitude and with some good preparation work done.

"We are two sides who know each other well. Ireland will not have enjoyed losing to us in New Zealand. They will want to redress the balance in Dublin this weekend, but they will find us in just as determined a mood."

Wales: L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, J Davies, J Roberts, G North; R Priestland, M Phillips; R Gill, H Bennett, A Jones, B Davies, I Evans, R Jones, S Warburton (capt), T Faletau.

Replacements: K Owens, P James, A Powell, J Tipuric, L Williams, J Hook, S Williams.

News 6 nations - Ireland

PA Sport

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. terry the inbred turd what aload of shyte you speak­ ,your knowledge of rugby is laughable ,you­ hypocritical,two faced sad little boy ,how is your­ uncle oh i mean your dad.,you turd­ ,hahahhahahahahahahahaha

    From YAHOO, on Sun 5 Feb 4:36

  2. Well how would you like it being forced at school to­ learn a dead language that is really useful when you go­ on holiday to ......Patagonia. Time we got over this­ chip on our shoulder singing about ooggie & bread­ products from Devon. Good at least we don't have a­ stupid regional anthem that keeps going on about King­ Edward. The land of my fathers is dear unto me old land­ where the minstrels are honoured and free. Minstrals­ what the tasty chocolate in a crispy coating. Let ships­ secure the land so pure and let the old language endue.­ Ships really weren't much use when the English came­ and kicked our a rses over a land border in 13th Cent.

    From David, on Sun 5 Feb 4:16
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    pink pig see what i mean this david turd must takes it­ up the a rse

    From TERRY, on Sun 5 Feb 1:46

  4. Went to cardiff for semi final & was gutted when­ dirty cheat cost us the game. Place was full although I­ was ashamed at the amount of litter people left on the­ floor. Then where did all the so called fans go for the­ 3rd 4th play off. Just back from Dunedin where I saw­ the new ground & if I was a betting man I'll­ never see South Wales ( no googgs wanted from soccer­ north please )win a match there in the next 20 years. 6­ nations is just a plate competition compared to World­ Cup where a 3rd & 4th place isn't much of a­ track record.

    From David, on Sun 5 Feb 0:36

  5. Hoping we beat the Jocks today. About Henson, I­ guarantee you Henson would be first choice as England­ centre if he was eligible to play for England. I wish­ he was English because Barritt and Phil Dowson are­ jokes at internation level.

    From Rhihfdrs Rhihrgs, on Sat 4 Feb 21:46
  6. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Pink Pig, I have noticed that David comment 3 ,­ Is one of yours trying to make out he one of ours again­ ,the idiot is lost ,and i think you should help him­ out bless his little heart .

    From TERRY, on Sat 4 Feb 20:04

  7. Terry, you love England, thats why you even talk about­ England on a page that doesn't even concern England­ lol. Your slipping mate too, as of 11:20 this morning­ you had only thumbed yourself up 11 times! problems­ signing in???? On a serious note i bet the Welsh are­ pleased to have priestland fit so Jones can stay away­ from the stadium, its a huge blow for Ireland.

    From Pink Pig, on Sat 4 Feb 19:25

  8. Greatest tournament in the world. Enjoy it all

    From mike, on Sat 4 Feb 18:11

  9. JUST WATCH THE BBC NEW THEY RECKON THAT THE SCOTS HATE­ THE ENGLISH ,BUT THEY ARE SO WRONG BECAUSE THE WHOLE­ WORLD HATES THE ENGLISH AND SOME OF THEM SHOULD BE­ CLEVER ENOUGH TO HAVE WORKED THAT OUT BY NOW .

    BUT­ ON A MORE SERIOUS NOTE
    ( COME ON SCOTLAND­ )
    SCOTLAND BY 30 POINTS EASY

    From TERRY, on Sat 4 Feb 17:03
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    A full welsh team should guarantee a nice new Wooden­ Spoon !!

    From richardcollins66, on Sat 4 Feb 7:30

  11. ble mae gav ???????????????

    From Gareth, on Sat 4 Feb 6:13

  12. i just hope its better fare than what was on show in­ the under 20 game.

    From Raymond, on Sat 4 Feb 5:40

  13. Shut up David you clown.

    From ciaran, on Sat 4 Feb 5:36
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Amazing -- all those so called rugby experts who­ bleated for Henson seem to have vanished -- just be­ grateful that the lunatics are now back in the asylum.

    From b, on Sat 4 Feb 5:33
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    We don't want to see that Dirty Cheat Warburton­ playing. Cost us the semi final. Never want him­ disgracing the shirt again.

    From David, on Sat 4 Feb 5:26

  16. no sign of henson. Thank God!

    From Vic, on Sat 4 Feb 4:18

  17. Cant wait..

    From tulip, on Sat 4 Feb 3:49
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