Showing posts with label Wales vs New Zealand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wales vs New Zealand. Show all posts

Harlequins v Scarlets Sunday November 8, live from 1.30pm

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Nigel Davies has named a youthful 22 for his team's LV= Cup opener against Harlequins at The Stoop on Sunday with a new captaincy role for Welsh centre Rob Higgitt.

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Davies has chosen to rest player coach Simon Easterby and Scarlets stalwart David Lyons and who remarkably has played every competitive game for the Scarlets since he joined last season.

New faces on the starting team sheet include 24-year-old North Wales born winger Andy Fenby, signed this season from Newcastle Falcons as well as back rowers Josh Turnbull and North Walian Rob McCusker.

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Ruthin-born centre Higgitt, 28 is handed the captaincy for the game. Alongside the new faces, plenty of talent and experience comes in the form of Deacon Manu, Vernon Cooper, Ken Owens, Richie Pugh, Morgan Stoddart and Phil John.

Davies said: "There are only limited opportunities for many of our younger players to get a start with the first team and so a tournament like the LV= Cup will give many of these squad players their first opportunities. And I think people will be pleasantly surprised by what they see.

"It is a test of our strength and depth as a squad and we invested in a lot of youngsters last year.

"A lot of those have come up to the mark already this season and this game we will be about giving opportunities to a number of new Scarlets faces that I am very excited about.

"We'll get to see some of the new wave of young Scarlets that are coming through. There will be one or two new faces in our line-up on Sunday that I think will raise a few eyebrows - for all the right reasons.

"The players are all clearly aware that if they play well at this level, they will be pushing for a place in our first team - this is their chance to put their hands up ahead of our next big game in the Heineken Cup against Leinster at Parc y Scarlets in December.

"And I am expecting a lot from them. Many of the players have been going very well for the premiership clubs and are really itching to have the opportunity to prove themselves on the bigger stage."

Watch Wales vs New Zealand Live From The Millennium Stadium

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Wales lock Alun-Wyn Jones insists his team-mates have a big opportunity to end more than half-a-century of hurt against New Zealand on Saturday.

Wales have not toppled the All Blacks since their 13-8 victory at Cardiff Arms Park in 1953.
And after a run of 20 defeats against the tourists, Jones believes the tide is finally turning - particularly after they pushed New Zealand all the way last season.





"Sometimes as a nation, or a group of players, we can fear being in front or being so close in games," he said. "It's a fear of winning.

"Last year against New Zealand, it was 9-9 after 45 minutes, and they then scored scored a try when we had two players down injured.




"I think we have more of a positive edge about us now, and less of a nervous one.
"We've been there before against them. We know we can do it for 40 or 45 minutes - it's about doing it now for 80 minutes.

"It's a difficult 'ask', but it is also a big opportunity."

The Welsh will be without British and Irish Lions trio Mike Phillips, Lee Byrne and Adam Jones - however 10 other members of the squad that went down 2-1 to South Africa are included.