Qantas Wallabies for Wales 2

[Shaun]

Bullshit that Stanners is not in!

[WF2404]

Unbelievable that spanner has been dropped totally - maybe he need to drop a few balls and he'll get run. His jersy must be the wrong shade of blue!

the worst of it he has constantly been caught in the cracks of the system really. He'd have been better off having a run with Australia A- at least he would have the opportunity to shine.

For the life of me I do not understand why he has not got a decent run at 12 either in the super 14 season or the international series so far. He must be finding it hard when a bloke who hasn't played in the position gets in ahead of him!!

Well I'll always be a fan and for the record - HE'S BEEN RIPPED!!! AGAIN!!!

[inactive]

im glad to see i aint the only one who thinks that

[Darren]

Actually I think Evie summed it up perfectly in a totally unrelated post:

[Burgs]

Welsh make five changes

May 31, 2007 - 7:46am
Story by: Sportal

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has made five changes, two positional, to his starting side for Saturday night's second Test against the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane.

Skipper Gareth Thomas will earn his 94th cap by taking over at fullback for Lee Byrne. Chris Czekaj switches from left to right wing to fill Thomas' spot, with Aled Brew coming in at No.11.

In the forwards, 37-Test veteran Mefin Davies takes over at hooker from Matthew Rees, who has returned home for the birth of his child, while Michael Owen replaces Brent Cockbain at lock after the Australian-born second-rower suffered heavy concussion in last week's last-gasp loss to the Wallabies in Sydney.

The other changes see back-rower Robin Sowden-Taylor given his first chance on tour with a bench spot along with scrumhalf Andy Williams, and the still uncapped Scott Morgan.

"Gareth (Thomas) will be able to get more involved in the action from a more central role at full-back and the move also gives us the opportunity to look at Aled Brew who is a hot prospect for us on the wing, said Jenkins.

"Michael Owen deserves his chance to start after impressing from the bench last week when Brent (Cockbain) picked up his knock to the head and his ability to play in the second row allows us to keep the back row unit together.

"Mefin will use all his international experience to slot into the front row and pick up where Matthew left off, we are fortunate to be able to call on someone of his international stature.

"We have a group of players on the bench who will be able to come on and make an impact if necessary with Robin Sowden-Taylor and Andy Williams adding to a good mix including the Gavin Henson and Ceri Jones, who both impressed when given game-time last week," added the Welsh coach.

Jenkins believes the team that shocked the Wallabies by taking a 17-0 lead in the first Test and getting within 30 seconds of victory, can go one better this Saturday and beat Australia on home turf for the first time in 38 years.

"There were many positives for us to take out of our performance last week and the players will have renewed self belief on Saturday night," said Jenkins.

"Australia too will have undoubtedly learnt lessons and will come after us, but we know now that we do not fear them and we have proved that we have something to offer as well.

"We should have beaten them last week and the only thing that will make that easier for us to bear is to go one better this week and make sure we have more points on the board than them, not just when the hooter goes at the end of the game, but right up until that ball goes dead!"

Wales skipper switches to No.15

May 30, 2007

GARETH Thomas will lead Wales from full back and veteran Mefin Davies returns at hooker as the tourists look to level the Test series against Australia at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Thomas' move from the wing as he wins his 94th cap means no place for Neath-Swansea Ospreys' Lee Byrne in Brisbane, with coach Gareth Jenkins giving Newport-Gwent Dragons' Aled Brew the chance to lose the one-cap-wonder tag from his career record while Chris Czekaj switches to the right wing.

But up front Brent Cockbain's expectations of being fit to play against the country of his birth in his home state of Queensland have been dashed as he failed to recover from the head injury that forced him off in the 29-23 first Test defeat.

Michael Owen continues in the second row after taking over from Cockbain in the 35th minute at Telstra Stadium while Leicester-bound Davies comes in for Matthew Rees, who has returned home to be with wife Becky for the birth of their first child.

Press Association

Wales v Australia 2:

1. Iestyn Thomas,
2. Mefin Davies,
3. Adam Jones,
4. Michael Owen,
5. Rob Sidoli,
6. Colin Charvis,
7. Gavin Thomas,
8. Jonathan Thomas;

9. Mike Phillips,
10. James Hook,
11. Aled Brew,
12. Sonny Parker,
13. Jamie Robinson,
14, Chris Czekaj,
15. Gareth Thomas (C).

16. Ceri Jones,
17. Richard Hibbard,
18. Scott Morgan,
19. Robin Sowden-Taylor,
20. Andy Williams,
21. Ceri Sweeney,
22. Gavin Henson