Owen looking for fresh start

Owen takes over the captain’s armband from Gareth Thomas, who returned to club duty in France with Toulouse, just as he did during Wales triumphant RBS Six Nations. But this time he must lift the Grand Slam champions their eight-game winning streak wash brought to a halt by New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium.

“After a defeat like that I just want to get back out there and exorcise the demons from last week” said Owen. “It will not be hard to lead the team tomorrow night because all the players are desperate to get out there and put things right.

“We were one per cent off in everything we did and against New Zealand you just can’t afford to do that. Some of the guys coming in have big points to prove.”

Owen is one of only four survivors from the 41-3 loss to start against face Fiji with Shane Williams, Brent Cockbain and Kevin Morgan also kept in. Among the 11 new faces is British Lion scrum-half Gareth Cooper who was surprisingly left on the bench by coach Mike Ruddock last week despite the absence of Dwayne Peel.

“I hadn’t played that much rugby because of an ankle problem after the Lions but now I feel good,” said Cooper. “Just like every player I want to hold onto my place and I’ve got the chance to press my case to play Australia and South Africa later this month.

“But first we must concentrate on Fiji and sort out what went wrong against the All Blacks. Fiji are a dangerous side who are naturally athletic and you cannot give them space. If you miss your first tackles and give them time they will burn any team in world rugby.”