THE WALES coach, Warren Gatland, has opted for all-out attack in the World Cup quarter-final against Ireland on Saturday by selecting three wingers, leaving James Hook on the bench and omitting Lee Byrne and Stephen Jones from the match-day 22.
More than half the team is 24 or under and Gatland has resolved which two of his three in-form wings, Shane Williams, George North and Leigh Halfpenny, to pick by selecting all of them and moving Halfpenny to fullback at the expense of the returning Hook.
The 2009 Lion Byrne will watch the game from the stands as will Stephen Jones, Wales’s most capped player. Ryan Jones, is on a bench that includes the 21-year-old Lloyd Williams and the 20-year-old Scott Williams.
“This was probably the longest selection meeting we have ever had,” said Gatland. “We went through every possible permutation for us and it was tough. It is a great position to be in when you are struggling to find a place for players in the squad and the starting line-up instead of having to think who can make up the numbers, as has sometimes been the case.”
Gatland was bolstered by the return to fitness of Shane Williams, Hook and the flanker Dan Lydiate, who all missed the final two group matches. With the Wales captain Sam Warburton celebrating his 23rd birthday yesterday, the average age of the backrow rose to 22.
“The side has done well in the absence of Shane, Dan and James and we had big decisions to make,” said Gatland. “We have gone with the side we feel has the best chance of winning a game against an Ireland team that not only topped their group but beat the Wallabies.”
Guardian Service
WALES:L Halfpenny (Cardiff); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff), Shane Williams (Ospreys); R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Toulon); G Jenkins (Cardiff), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys); L Charteris (Cardiff), AW Jones (Ospreys); D Lydiate (Cardiff), S Warburton (Cardiff, c), T Faletau (Dragons). Replacements: Burns, James, B Davies, R Jones; L Williams, J Hook, Scott Williams.
