INTERNATIONAL TEAM NEWS:JAMES HOOK will start at full-back for Wales in their autumn Test opener against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday. Wales boss Warren Gatland has turned to the versatile Hook as replacement for his fellow British and Irish Lion Lee Byrne, who misses the November schedule because of a foot injury.
In the forwards, Gatland has decided to keep Gethin Jenkins at loosehead prop – handing Ospreys forward Paul James the number three shirt for his second Welsh cap six years after his international debut.
Elsewhere, there is a recall at scrumhalf for Gareth Cooper, who takes over from the injured Mike Phillips, while wing Leigh Halfpenny also gains a start.
Scarlets Mark Jones, who had been expected to make the starting line-up, has been ruled out of the entire Test programme with a knee injury. Jones is awaiting a consultant’s verdict but is likely to require keyhole surgery.
Gatland said: “We wanted Gethin Jenkins to start, so it was a case of seeing which of the other three props stood out in training this week.
“Paul has edged it, and we know he won’t let us down.
“Elsewhere, the coaches have looked for consistency of selection.
“We have asked James to play at fullback before, and it is a boost for any side to be able to have someone of his calibre on the field – in whatever position that may be.
“We have an experienced pairing at centre, two exciting wingers and the Lions playmaker running the back line at outhalf – so we think we have a pretty good side out there.”
Meanwhile, Martin Johnson has been forced to delay his England team announcement for the Investec Challenge match against Australia until mid-day tomorrow.
England’s plans for Saturday have been thrown into chaos by an injury crisis which has cost Johnson a third of his senior elite squad, including seven guaranteed starters.
Johnson had to make 11 changes to his squad last week and then allowed seven players to return to their clubs for Guinness Premiership duty.
As a result, Johnson and the England management team are yet to finalise their team – and have pushed their announcement back by 24 hours.
Johnson explained: “Due to a number of players joining and leaving the squad over the last few days, we have not reached a final decision on our 22 for Saturday’s Investec Challenge match against Australia.
“Therefore we have decided to delay naming the Test side until Wednesday.”
Chris Paterson is expected to train with his Scotland team-mates this week after being put on a drip to treat a foot infection.
The Edinburgh fullback missed his side’s Magners League defeat by Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday despite undergoing three days of hospital treatment.
The 31-year-old spent Thursday, Friday and Saturday in hospital having antibiotics pumped into his system, although he was allowed home each night.
However, the Scotland camp expect their record points scorer to recover from the injury to his right foot in time to train at St Andrews this week, after assessing his condition today.
All 35 players in the squad for the three-day session to prepare for this month’s autumn Tests reported for duty on Sunday morning.
As well as playing Fiji on November 14th, Scotland also host Australia and Argentina this month.
WALES (team to play New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday):J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport-Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, captain).
Replacements:H Bennett (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), M Roberts (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), T James (Cardiff Blues).
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