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A double change in the backline sees try-scoring super sub against the Azzurri, Tom Shanklin, return to reform his 2005/2008 Grand Slam winning partnership with Gavin Henson at centre and fly-half Stephen Jones replaces James Hook.
Up front it’s all change in the front row with props Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones packing down either side of hooker Matthew Rees and Ian Gough returns to the second row to partner his Ospreys colleague and last week’s captain Alun-Wyn Jones.
Squad captain Ryan Jones resumes his position as team leader and he welcomes Martyn Williams back alongside him in the back row with Andy Powell retained at No8.
Six starters from last week are on bench duty with John Yapp, Huw Bennett, Luke Charteris and Dafydd Jones providing cover for the forwards and Hook and Jamie Roberts joined by Warren Fury to cover for the backs.
“I don’t mind admitting we have left ourselves with a lot to do to win the Championship, but on the other hand the 13 point deficit is by no means insurmountable,” said Gatland.
“There is also a Triple Crown at stake and we know only too well in Wales that Grand Slams don’t come cheaply – we’ve won two in the last decade and so all the pressure will be on Ireland to grab only the second in their history.
“With a healthy head start you have to say Ireland are probably favourites to take the title, but we are confident we can come up with a win and who knows what will happen if we can get ourselves ahead in the game and that Millennium Stadium factor begins to kick in.”
WALES: Lee Byrne; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones (Capt), Martyn Williams, Andy Powell
Replacements: Huw Bennett, John Yapp, Luke Charteris, Dafydd Jones, Warren Fury, James Hook, Jamie Roberts
WALES
15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,041)
DoB: 01.06.80. 6’3″ / 1.91m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 26 caps (W 12, L 13, D 1; 35 pts – 7T)
14 Mark JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 984)
DoB: 07.11.79. 6’2” / 1.88m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 45 caps (W 21, L 22, D 2; 60 pts – 12T)
13 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 993)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6’2” / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 62 caps (W 30, L 31, D 1; 100 pts – 20T)
12 Gavin HENSON (OSPREYS – Cap No 990)
DoB: 01.02.82. 6’0” / 1.83m. 15st 10lbs / 100kgs
International record: 30 caps (W 17, L 12, D 1; 130 pts – 3T,29C,18PG,1DG)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS – Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5’7” / 1.71m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: 64 caps (W 32, L 30, D 2; 230 pts – 46T)
10 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 966)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6’1” / 1.86m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 79 caps (W36, L41, D2; 678 pts – 6T,117C,134PG,4DG)
9 Michael PHILLIPS (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,022)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3” / 1.91m. 16st 4lbs / 103kgs
International record: 37 caps (W 20, L 16, D 1; 20 pts – 4T)
1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 13lbs / 120kgs
International record: 67 caps (W 29, L 36, D 2; 15 pts – 3T)
2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 14, L 14, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
3 Adam Rhys JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0” / 1.83m. 19st 10lb / 125kgs
International record: 55 caps (W 29, L 24, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)
4 Ian GOUGH (OSPREYS – Cap No 964)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6′ 6″ / 1.98m. 18st 9lbs / 118kgs
International record: 58 caps (W 27, L 28, D 3; 5 pts – 1T)
5 Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5” / 1.96m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 30 caps (W 13, L 17; 20 pts – 4T)
6 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN – Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5” / 1.96m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 30 caps (W 17, L 12, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)
7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 944)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6’0″ / 1.83m. 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: 87 caps (W 41, L 43, D 3; 73 pts – 14T, 1DG)
8 Andy POWELL (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,061)
DoB: 23.08.81. 6’4” / 1.94m. 17st 6lbs / 111kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 5, L 3)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,017)
DoB: 11.06.83. 6’0” / 1.83m. 17st 0lbs / 108kgs
International record: 22 caps (W 14, L 8)
17 John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,031)
DoB: 09.04.83. 6’2” / 1.88m. 18st 8lbs / 118kgs
International record: 12 caps (W 10, L 2)
18 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS – Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6’9” / 2.06m. 19st 9lbs / 125kgs
International record: 12 caps (W 7, L 5)
19 Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS – Cap No 1,008)
DoB: 24.06.79. 6’3” / 1.90m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 38 caps (W 17; L 21; 10 pts – 2T)
20 Warren FURY (LONDON IRISH)
DoB: 10.12.85. 6’0” / 1.82m. 13st 7lbs / 86kgs
International record: 2 caps (L 2)
21 James HOOK (OSPREYS – Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0” / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 33 caps (W 14, L 18, D 1; 209 pts – 6T,34C,35PG,2DG)
22 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES – Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6’4” / 1.93m. 16st 10lbs / 107kgs
International record: 11 caps (W 6, L 5; 5 pts – 1T)
