“There are five enforced changes in selection, but it is possible we could have made many of these changes in personnel anyway,” said Ruddock. “On the basis of the workload we have taken on this month and working from the principle that we want to develop a panel of players to take forward into the Six Nations and the Rugby World Cup changes had to be made.
“We have stuck to our selection policy utilising our whole squad and rotating certain members, there is now a real opportunity for those players facing Fiji on Friday to put their hands in the air and force us to pick them for the rest of the Invesco Perpetual Series.
“We lost our last game, so the new faces in the starting line up have a chance to push for selection for the next two games by performing well on the day.”
Matthew Watkins, Sonny Parker, Martyn Williams and John Yapp are the four players starting the Fiji game chosen from outside the match 22 selected for the New Zealand loss. Watkins comes in for the absent Taylor at centre to partner Parker with Ceri Sweeney moving to the bench. Adam Jones also joins the replacements with Chris Horsman brought in at tight-head prop for his first full appearance in a Welsh jersey. Williams returns in place of Charvis in the back row.
The rest of the front row is made up of Rhys Thomas, in for the absent Davies at hooker, and John Yapp for Duncan Jones, who is rested. In the second row, Brent Cockbain retains his place and is joined by Luke Charteris. Robert Sidoli drops to the bench.
Michael Owen, who assumes the captaincy in the absence of Thomas, will have Williams and Dafydd Jones alongside him in the back row. Jones returns to international action as a replacement for Jonathan Thomas.
Nicky Robinson starts at fly-half in place of the French-based Jones and he is joined by Gareth Cooper at scrum-half. Mike Phillips moves to the bench. Kevin Morgan and Shane Williams retain their places on the wings and Huw Bennett joins the bench as replacement hooker.
“We wanted to get a look at Sonny Parker at 12 and John Yapp in the front row in particular,” said Ruddock. “John offers a height advantage which we want to see in his lineout lifting and Sonny is returning to form after a long lay off.
“Dafydd Jones would probably have figured anyway, but the decision was made easy by a hamstring fatigue injury which has meant Jonathan Thomas will benefit from a rest.
“Both Lee Byrne and Chris Horsman acquitted themselves well when they came on against New Zealand last weekend and we are looking for them to step up and show us they can be consistent at this level.
“Fiji have recently beaten both Tonga and Samoa in World Cup qualifying games and they warmed-up for their game against us with a match against a New Zealand Divisional side. That means they should be a more cohesive side than we showed ourselves to be last weekend.
“They are dangerous opponents and we will show them the utmost respect, but this weekend is about us and we are looking to emulate the sort of form and intensity in our game that produced such a wonderful campaign for us last season.
“We need to ensure we get the basics right – our passing, tackling, lineout and tackle area play all need to be improved – and we need to recreate the kind of quality rugby we know we are capable of.”
WALES (v Fiji)
15 Lee BYRNE (SCARLETS)
Full Back
DoB: 01.06.80
6’3″. 14st 4lbs
International record: 1 cap (L 1)
14 Kevin MORGAN (DRAGONS)
Wing
DoB: 23.02.77
5’10”. 13st 4lbs
International record: 35 caps
(W21, L14: 50 pts – 10T)
13 Matthew WATKINS (SCARLETS)
Centre
DoB: 02.09.78
6’0″. 13st 11lbs
International record: 8 caps (W 4, L 4)
12 Sonny PARKER (OSPREYS)
Centre
DoB: 27.08.77
6’1″. 14st 4lbs
International record: 15 caps
(W 7, L 8; 25 pts – 5T)
11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS)
Wing
DoB: 26.02.77
5’8″. 12st 13lbs
International record: 30 caps
(W 16, L 14; 120 pts – 24T)
10 Nicky ROBINSON (BLUES)
Outside Half
DoB: 03.01.82
6’1″. 14st 7lb
International record: 8 caps
(W 4, L 4; 10 pts – 2T)
09 Gareth COOPER (DRAGONS)
Scrum Half
DoB: 07.05.79
5’7″. 13st 4lbs
International record: 27 caps
(W 13, L 14; 30 pts – 6T)
01Â John YAPP (BLUES)
Loose Head Prop
DoB: 09.04.83
6’2″. 19st 3lbs
International record: 6 caps (W 6)
02 Rhys THOMAS (BLUES)
Hooker
DoB: 23.04.82
6’0″. 16st 6lbs
International record: 3 caps (W 2, L 1)
03Â Chris HORSMAN (WORCESTER WARRIORS)
Tight Head Prop
DoB: 02.02.78
6’3″. 17st 6lbs
International record: 1 cap (L 1)
04 Brent COCKBAIN (OSPREYS)
Lock
DoB: 15.11.74
6’8″. 18st 11lb
International record: 21 caps
(W 12, L 9; 5 pts – 1T)
05 Luke CHARTERIS (DRAGONS)
Lock
DoB: 09.03.83
6’9″. 17st 3lbs
International record: 5 caps (W 3, L 2)
06 Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS)
Flanker
DoB: 24.06.79
6’3″. 16st 8lbs
International record: 27 caps
(W 11, L 16; 10 pts – 2T)
07 Martyn WILLIAMS (BLUES)
Flanker
DoB: 01.09.75
6’0″. 15st 8lbs
International record: 54 caps
(W 24, L 29, D 1; 38 pts – 7T, 1DG)
08 Michael OWEN (DRAGONS, CAPTAIN)
No. 8
DoB: 07.11.80
6’5″. 18st 2lbs
International record: 25 caps
(W 13, L 12; 5 pts – 1T)
Replacements
16 Huw BENNETT (OSPREYS)
DoB: 11.06.83
6’0″. 15st 10lbs
International record: 9 caps (W 5, L 4)
17 Adam JONES (OSPREYS)
Prop
DoB: 08.03.81
6’0″. 19st 0lbs
International record: 23 caps
(W 14, L 9; 5 pts – 1T)
18 Rob SIDOLI (BLUES)
Lock
DoB: 21.06.79
6′ 6″. 18st 2lbs
International record: 27 caps
(W 12, L 15; 5 pts – 1T)
19 Alix POPHAM (SCARLETS)
Back Row
DoB: 17.10.79
6’3″. 17st 4lbs
International record: 11 caps
(W 6, L 5; 10 pts -2T)
20 Robin SOWDEN-TAYLOR (BLUES)
Back Row
DoB: 09.06.82
6’1″. 15st 5lbs
International record: 3 caps (W 2, L 1)
21 Michael PHILLIPS (BLUES)
Scrum Half
DoB: 29.08.82
6’3″. 14st 0lbs
International record: 7 caps
(W 5, L 2; 10 pts – 2T)
22 Ceri SWEENEY (DRAGONS)
Outside Half/Centre
DoB: 21.01.80
5’10”. 13st 7lbs
International record: 24 caps
(W 11, L 13; 56 pts – 1T, 18C, 4PG, 1DG)
