Wales head coach Warren Gatland has named George North at outside centre for this weekend’s game against Australia, partnering Jamie Roberts in a powerful centre pairing. Liam Williams and Alex Cuthbert start on the wings, with Leigh Halfpenny at fullback.
Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar are rewarded for their good form for the Ospreys and start as the half-backs, while the back-row sees the familiar trio of Lydiate, Warburton and Faletau reunited. Jake Ball is picked to partner Alun Wyn Jones in the engine room, while Samson Lee and Paul James pack down either side of Richard Hibbard.
“We have spoke a lot about this autumn and the year ahead and we are really excited to kick off the campaign this weekend,” said Gatland. “We have had a couple of very hard weeks at training, the squad have been put their paces but come have come through well.
“It’s good to be able to bring back a number of players who missed the last two tests and they add to what is a very experienced side. Injuries in the midfield means we get to see Jamie and George line-up together there again and we were pleased with how that went earlier in the year.
“We have been impressed with the form of Rhys and Dan at half-back for the Ospreys so it will be good to see hem together on this stage again. Paul James and Jake Ball have impressed as well so they get the nod to start.
“The last few outings against Australia have been extremely tight, we are expecting the same this weekend and its going to be another huge battle but it’s a challenge we are really looking forward to.”
WALES TEAM TO PLAY AUSTRALIA:
Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Unattached), Sam Warburton (Capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (London Wasps), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues).
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
10 replies on “Autumn Internationals 2014: Wales team to play Australia”
Like the look of this team. Hard on Baker to not make the squad but it makes sense.
I was genuinely worried we might have Phillips and Priestland starting. Glad Jake Ball gets a start, he’s a beast. On form front row too, maybe Gatland has actually seen the light. Gethin is a good bench warmer.
I’m not too worried about George North in the centre to start, he’s athletic enough to defend and he wont finish the game there with Cory Allen to come on.
It seems like a team well thought out, as long as there aren’t any early injuries. Tipuric at 7, Warburton at 6 to finish the game as a sub for a Lydiate without recent match fitness.
10th time lucky is it? Perception I have from the media is that Oz are the ‘pushover’ of the SH 3. Yet Ox are a wily, resilient bunch, so it should be an intense (what else?) interesting encounter. 50/50 call? Or it may come down to the ref’s call… or not. I don’t know some of this Welsh team as well as others, but it’ll also be interesting to see how the new prop & new lock go, as it will the 1/2 & centre, Liam Williams. I’m usually a believer of players being played in ‘posi’ & esp @ Int’al level, so I wonder if North will make the same impact further infield. The rest of the team looks pretty sound, altho I really like Justin Tuperic. Still recall THAT try v England when HE set North (?, I think) up in the rh corner. Handled like a centre, altho it seemed GN got all the credit. Also how Hookey isn’t even on the bench beggers belief for me. Exp & so versatile (a drawback?). Will Wales need a cool head @ fly1/2? Mmmm, we’ll see.
Think Kuridrani may cause North some problems in the centre – its not that North hasn’t got the talent to deal with him but he is being thrown into this first match in a relatively unfamiliar position opposite a man who seems to be on top form
Liam Williams I’ve never been sold on – don’t think he’s that great a player and he seems to have a bit of an attitude problem. Somewhat of a liability
Good looking pack – though personally I’d play Warburton and Tipuric together, especially against the Aussies
Last time I saw a quality international wing moved to centre was Hassler for the Ospreys, against Northampton. That went really badly. So I’m also concerned that North is going to need to learn to defend both of his shoulders, no touchline to help, trust man inside/outside, etc. Very different defence. Having one of the best defensive captains around on his inside should help but still a concern.
I love Williams. He does seem to have curbed the psycho attitude a little but not too much – it’s key to his counterattacking.
I love watching Liam Williams, he plays with passion, pride and flair and just a little bit of crazy every now and again. He has surely learnt something from SA in the summer
So does Farrell (well, minus the flair) but I bet you don’t have the same opinion about him!
I’ll be interested to see whether or not the Aussies play Speight. Watching the Baa-Baas game it seemed to me that he had a few positional problems in defence – as did Folau. If they play both together it could be an area Wales can really exploit
Farrell definately has the passion and pride. Flair is overrated for English 10, look where it got Toby Flood.
Also looking forward to seeing the new pitch, from watching a few games of the blues I can see it working for Wales. The old pitch was poor and always cutting up at scrums and had backs slipping and falling when changing direction
Lukov
Lancaster seems to agree with you in respect of flair & Farrell, expressing similar sentiments, i.e., ‘Rugby’s not all about the flash stuff’… or words to that effect.
I never particularly saw Flood as a flair player either, altho I did see Cipriani as such. It’s why I feel for the guy. What a waste… but this is getting of the subject here.