6 Nations - Wales recall Henson and Phillips

Eurosport - Thu, 05 Feb 11:58:00 2009

Ospreys stars Gavin Henson and Mike Phillips will return to Test rugby when Wales launch their Six Nations title defence against Scotland on Sunday.

Gavin Henson - Wales - 0

Neither player has featured for Wales since last season's Six Nations Grand Slam-clinching victory over France in Cardiff.

Injuries sidelined both players last summer when Wales toured South Africa and for the four-game autumn series which culminated in a thrilling win against Australia.

Henson (pictured) is back in his familiar number 12 shirt, while Phillips reclaims the scrum-half role he performed so effectively last term.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made three changes to the side which defeated Australia 21-18 in November - all behind the scrum.

Henson replaces Tom Shanklin with Jamie Roberts moving to outside centre, while Phillips takes over from the injured Gareth Cooper, who is due to undergo minor knee surgery.

Gloucester star Cooper is expected to be sidelined for a fortnight, meaning he could also miss the Millennium Stadium appointment with England on Saturday week.

Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, makes a Six Nations debut on the wing.

The 20-year-old Cardiff Blues prospect, one of Wales' autumn stars, starts with Mark Jones still recovering from appendix surgery.

Shanklin and fit-again Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett are on the bench, where their colleagues will include Sale Sharks scrum-half Dwayne Peel, who was initially omitted from Gatland's 28-man Six Nations squad but then called up when Cooper succumbed to injury.

The starting XV features five survivors from Wales' last Murrayfield trip two years ago which resulted in a 21-9 defeat - captain Ryan Jones, fly-half Stephen Jones, prop Adam Jones, lock Alun-Wyn Jones and flanker Martyn Williams.

Gatland said: "We have tried to select on form and are particularly keen to get a look at the partnership in midfield of Gavin Henson and Jamie Roberts, which we have been able to select for the first time.

"But we have had close calls to make throughout the squad, and selection is always down to a matter of opinion. Now we wait and see if these players selected can prove those options correct.

"Teams have gone to Scotland in the past and been over-confident and expected a result.

"But the Scots will be looking forward to taking us on, and if we take the challenge lightly we will be playing straight into their hands.

"They are a much-improved outfit over the last 12 months, and they have the talent and the ability to turn teams over."

Wales: 15-Lee Byrne; 14-Leigh Halfpenny, 13-Jamie Roberts, 12-Gavin Henson, 11-Shane Williams; 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Mike Phillips; 1-Gethin Jenkins, 2-Matthew Rees, 3-Adam Jones, 4-Ian Gough, 5-Alun Wyn Jones, 6-Ryan Jones (capt), 7-Martyn Williams, 8-Andy Powell.

Replacements: 16-Tom Shanklin, 17-James Hook, 18-Dwayne Peel, 19-John Yapp, 20-Huw Bennett, 21-Luke Charteris, 22-Dafydd Jones.

SportingLife / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 15 of 15

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. Henson will not be there mate !

    From gethin, on Thu 5 Feb 12:34PM

  2. Pretty good team by the looks of it. Not sure­ they'll manage the grand slam again but I can see­ victory in their future.
    Personally, I'd have Hook­ starting and Jones on the bench. I know he can be hit­ and miss at times but generally I think that Hook is a­ more exciting fly half. Mind you, I rate Nicky Robinson­ over Steve Jones too.

    From zigi, on Thu 5 Feb 6:39AM

  3. It is all down to opinion! but my opinion is that we­ never (apart from the first half of that game in 2004­ or 5) play well at murryfield. I think we should do it­ but the scots have a better team than people credit­ them with! it will be a tight game but with the player­ wales have to come off the bench i think we should see­ it through? and if we don't we can always get­ drunk! wales 37 scotland 22

    From gareth, on Thu 5 Feb 12:07AM

  4. Henson & Roberts or Jauzion & Fritz? tough­ call!
    Looking forward to Henson performing as he can­ and very exciting with Roberts outside - be good to see­ them swap over to Roberts at 12 vs Australia was great­ while it lasted and certainly made the Ozzies think!!­ Not sure about leaving Hook on the bench though, I­ reckon Hook starts better than when he comes on later,­ whreas Jonesy is always steady and generally performs­ well as a replacement.
    Just need to generate the Welsh­ passion in Murrayfield now, and my money si still on­ Cymru

    From Mark B, on Wed 4 Feb 9:32PM

  5. wales has not lost a game in the 6 nations that henson­ has started

    From alan, on Wed 4 Feb 5:54PM

  6. This is all over now

    From taff, on Wed 4 Feb 4:55PM

  7. Wales have lost games that Henson has started, the stat­ is they've never lost when Henson and Shanklin were­ playing together. I don't think it means a lot. As­ a Cardiff Blues fan I can't wait to see Roberts­ charging at defences. Apart from England's.

    From Ask, on Wed 4 Feb 4:34PM

  8. This looks like a very strong starting 15! The pairing­ of Henson and Roberts is full of promise, there are two­ electric wingers and a full back who no other team in­ the 6 nations wants to kick to! It bodes very well.

    From Lee R, on Wed 4 Feb 4:00PM

  9. gonna be close but wales will pull it off 25/21 i­ recon, wales has so much depth in there squad this year­ and with the new boys from­ cardiff(powell,halfpenny,roberts) making there 6nations­ deput,cant effin wait.also wales have never lost a game­ that henson started

    From matthewschris55, on Wed 4 Feb 3:55PM

  10. its a good balanced team. good to see henson and­ roberts having a go together.if it doesnt work out­ shanklin will come off bench wales by 5 for me

    From alan, on Wed 4 Feb 3:44PM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    I had no interest in watching the games at present....I­ found a hot place, you guys should try it ___Meetrich­ Co m_____a great place for rich people to meet their­ soul mates....

    From Marry C, on Wed 4 Feb 3:16PM

  12. GOOD LUCK WALES, YOUR GONNA NEED IT

    From paul, on Wed 4 Feb 2:29PM

  13. A slightly more positive XV than the one published by­ Jonno yesterday.

    From David, on Wed 4 Feb 2:27PM

  14. Can't wait to see how Henson and Roberts link up in­ midfield. Looks like the best centre pairing in the 6N­ to me.

    From bob_e_s, on Wed 4 Feb 2:08PM

  15. Looks good to me. Unlucky for Shanks but let's go­ Cymru.

    From richard, on Wed 4 Feb 1:57PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account