Gatland throws guantlet down to Scarlets wing

Jones has been recalled to face the Wallabies after watching teenage sensation Leigh Halfpenny hit the headlines with two tries in three games this autumn. 

Now Wales coach Gatland has thrown the gauntlet down to the Scarlets flyer to stand up and be counted in Saturday’s clash at the Millennium Stadium. 

Gatland said: “Mark has the opportunity to restake his claim. We wanted to give him a run-out as he was not that sharp against Canada. We want to put pressure on him to perform and I’m sure he will rise to that challenge.” 

Jones, who will win his 43rd cap, knows he has to come up with the goods to fend off the fight for a spot ahead of 19-year-old Halfpenny. 

Jones, 29, said: “Every time you put the shirt on you have to perform. You are always under pressure. I have been under no illusions about that from the first time I played for Wales. At this level, if people can’t handle the pressure, they are in the wrong job. It’s up to me to deal with that pressure and try and produce a good performance.” 

A famous victory for Wales over the Wallabies could see them rise above England into the top seedings in the IRB world rankings. 

If Wales win by 15 points or more and England lose to New Zealand at Twickenham, Gatland’s men could leapfrog Argentina into fourth place ahead of the 2011 World Cup draw in London next Monday. 

Gatland said: “We want to achieve consistency, and any rise up the world rankings is a reflection that we’re heading in the right direction. 

“We have got a big opportunity to achieve something special against the Wallabies. The statistics say they are a better team and they are rightly favourites. But it’s a chance we do not want to miss.” 

Wales: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Mark Jones (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues).
Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), John Yapp (Cardiff Blues), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), Martin Roberts (Scarlets), James Hook (Ospreys), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys).

Australia: Drew Mitchell (Western Force); Peter Hynes (Queensland Reds), Ryan Cross (Western Force), Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, capt), Digby Ioane (Queensland Reds); Matt Giteau (Western Force), Luke Burgess (NSW Waratahs); Benn Robinson (NSW Waratahs), Stephen Moore (Queensland Reds), Al Baxter (NSW Waratahs), Mark Chisholm (Brumbies), Nathan Sharpe (Western Force), Hugh McMeniman (Queensland Reds), Phil Waugh (NSW Waratahs), Richard Brown (Western Force).
Replacements: Adam Freier (NSW Waratahs), Matt Dunning (NSW Waratahs), Dean Mumm (NSW Waratahs), George Smith (Brumbies), Sam Cordingley (Queensland Reds), Quade Cooper (Queensland Reds), Lote Tuqiri (NSW Waratahs)/Adam Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies).