Wales coach Steve Hansen has produced a couple of surprises for Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final against England.
Hansen has made several changes for the mouth-watering clash in Brisbane as he looks to take the English by surprise. Jonathan Thomas, Shane Williams and Brent Cockbain have been rewarded for their stunning performances against the All Blacks last weekend, as has makeshift full-back Gareth Thomas.
It was the success of Thomas’ shift in position – as cover for the injured Garan Evans – that has allowed Hansen to include the pint-sized but fleet-footed Williams, who stole the show against New Zealand.
The inclusion of Thomas, Williams and Cockbain leaves experienced campaigners Gareth Llewellyn, Kevin Morgan and most notably Martyn Williams on the bench in what Hansen admitted was the most difficult selection during his Wales reign.
For flanker Williams it appears his luck ran out after scooping the team sweepstake on the Melbourne Cup on Tuesday. The British Lion has undoubtedly been Wales’ most consistent performer over the past two years but will start on the bench in what he described in the week as the biggest game of his life.
‘It was a really difficult decision to leave out Martyn just as it was to leave out Alix Popham from the entire 22 after his performance against the All Blacks,’ said Hansen.
‘But when people perform as well as some of the boys did then they have to come into contention.
‘We have got a plan in mind and Ginge (Williams) understands his role in that and is happy to be doing that.’
Williams, who came off the bench to score a crucial try and drop goal in the pool game against Tonga, is the unfortunate victim for the inter-galactic rise of 20-year-old Thomas.
Described as a ‘special talent’ by Hansen, he emerged through the ranks at Swansea under Charvis.
‘I first saw him when he was 18 and it was obvious then that he was a very skilful player who liked to run with the ball,’ said the Wales skipper. ‘What set him apart from other forwards in Wales was his angles of run and the way he hit the ball.’
Stephen Jones won the battle for the No 10 jersey ahead of Ceri Sweeney with Hansen describing the Llanelli points-machine as their clear first choice fly-half.
Mark Taylor lines-up outside Iestyn Harris in the centre for only the third time after Sonny Parker failed to recover in time from the bruised shoulder.
Wales: G Thomas; M Jones, M Taylor, I Harris, S Williams; S Jones, G Cooper; I Thomas, R McBryde, A Jones; B Cockbain, R Sidoli; D Jones, C Charvis (capt), J Thomas.
Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, G Llewellyn, M Williams, D Peel, C Sweeney, K Morgan.
England: J Lewsey; J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen; J Wilkinson, M Dawson; J Leonard, S Thompson, P Vickery, M Johnson (capt), B Kay, L Moody, N Back, L Dallaglio.
Replacements: D West, T Woodman, S Shaw, J Worsley, K Bracken, M Catt, I Balshaw.
