Wales have said 'same again' to the side so narrowly defeated by reigning world champions South Africa five days ago for the second round Rugby World Cup 2011 Pool D clash with Samoa on Sunday.
?Head coach Warren Gatland and his coaching team have named the same starting XV who claimed a bonus point as they went down 17-16 to the Springboks in Wellington, meaning the Ospreys again lead the way with five players in the starting line-up.
?One change appears on the bench with 76-times capped British & Irish Lions prop Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) completing his return from a calf injury to be named in place of Ospreys front row forward Ryan Bevington.?
Meanwhile, Samoa havemade just the one change from the team that defeated Namibia 49-12 in midweek, with Ofisa Trevaranius taking over from injured Tasina Tuifua (ribs) in the back row. That means the Ospreys in the Wales team will come up against their new team-mates, Kahn Fotuali’i, who scored Samoa’s first try of the competition, and George Stowers, who was IRB man of the match in the win over Namibia.
“We were extremely disappointed to lose last week against the Springboks, but we did maintain momentum with aspects of the performance providing a host of positive points to take into Sunday’s match against Samoa,” said Gatland.?
“We have re-grouped and the players are looking forward to getting back out on the pitch to largely pick up where they left off last weekend.?
“There are one or two areas we know we need to work on but we are looking for much of the same from all involved.?
“We could not fault the effort, passion and commitment of the players last week and we have simply said we are looking for the same again against Samoa on Sunday.”?
WALES: James Hook; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Rhys Priestland, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones, Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton (captain), Toby Faletau
?REPLACEMENTS: Lloyd Burns, Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Andy Powell, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Leigh Halfpenny.
SAMOA: Paul Williams; Sailosi Tagicakibau, George Pisi, Seilala Mapusua, Alesana Tuilagi; Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali'i; Sakaria Taulafo, Mahonri Schwalger (c), Anthony Perenise, Daniel Leo, Kane Thompson, Ofisa Treviranus, Maurie Faasavalu, George Stowers.
REPLACEMENTS: Ti'i Paulo, Census Johnston, Joe Tekori, Manaia Salavea, Jeremy Sua, Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, Tasesa Lavea.
WALES??
15 James HOOK (PERPIGNAN – Cap No 1,047)? DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs? International record: 55 caps (W 23, L 30, D 2; 314 pts – 12T, 40C, 54PG, 4DG)
14 George NORTH (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,078)? DoB: 13.04.92. 6’4” / 1.92m. 16st 5lbs / 104kgs? International record: 9 caps (W 2, L 6, D 1; 30 pts – 6T)
13Jonathan DAVIES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,066)? DoB:05.04.88. 6’1” / 1.86m. 16st 3lb / 103kgs? International record: 15 caps (W 7, L 8; 10 pts – 2T)
12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)? DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs? International record: 33 caps (W 15, L 18; 10 pts – 2T)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)? DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7” / 1.71m. 12st 1lb / 77kgs? International record: 82 caps (W 39, L 41, D 2; 270 pts – 54T)
10 Rhys PRIESTLAND (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,080)? DoB: 07.01.87 1.82m / 6’0”. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs? International record: 5 caps (W 2, L 3; 10 pts – 2C, 2PG)
9 Mike PHILLIPS (BAYONNE – Cap No 1,022)? DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 15st 10lb / 101kgs? International record: 55 caps (W 25, L 28, D 2; 30 pts – 6T)
1 Paul JAMES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,021)? DoB: 13.05.82. 6’1” / 1.86m. 18st 2lbs / 115kgs? International record: 27 caps (W 10, L 16, D 1)
2 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)? DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 16st 8lbs / 105kgs? International record: 43 caps (W 20, L 22, D 1)
3 Adam JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)? DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 18st 12lb / 120kgs? International record: 71 caps (W 32, L 36, D 3; 10 pts – 2T)
4 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)? DoB: 09.03.83. 6’9” / 2.06m. 19st 10lbs / 125kgs? International record: 26 caps (W 12, L 14)
5 Alun Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046)? DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 18st 10lbs / 119kgs? International record: 53 caps (W 21, L 32; 30 pts – 6T)
6 Dan LYDIATE (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,071)? DoB: 18.12.87. 1.93m / 6’4”. 17st 10lbs / 112kgs? International record: 15 caps (W 6, L 8, D 1)
7 Sam WARBURTON (CARDIFF BLUES, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,070)? DoB: 05.10.88. 1.88m / 6’2”. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs? International record: 18 caps (W 8, L 10; 5 pts - 1T)
8 Toby FALETAU (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,082)? DoB: 12.11.90. 1.88m / 6’2”. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs? International record: 4 caps (W 1, L 3; 5 pts – 1T)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Lloyd BURNS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,085)? DoB: 09.12.84. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 0lbs / 108kgs? International record: 3 caps (W 1, L 2)
17 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006)? DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs? International record: 76 caps (W 33, L 41, D 2; 15 pts – 3T)
18 Bradley DAVIES (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,065)? DoB: 09.01.87. 6’6” / 1.98m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs? International record: 25 caps (W 10, L 14, D 1)
19 Andy POWELL (SALE SHARKS – Cap No 1,061)? DoB: 23.08.81. 6’4” / 1.94m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs? International record: 18 caps (W 9, L 9; 5 pts – 1T)
20 Tavis KNOYLE (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,076)? DoB: 02.06.90. 6’1” / 1.85m. 14st 5lbs / 91kgs? International record: 5 caps (W 2, L 3)
21 Scott WILLIAMS (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,084)? DoB: 10.10.90. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 3lbs / 97kgs? International record: International record: 4 caps (W 2, L 2)
22 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,060)? DoB: 22.12.88. 5’10” / 1.77m. 13st 2lbs / 83kgs? International record: 20 caps (W 8, L 12; 62 pts – 7T, 9PG)?