Wales

Peel back in Wales starting XV

Tuesday, November 24 Dwayne Peel returns to Wales’ starting line-up for the crunch Test against the Wallabies at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

The experienced Peel replaces Gareth Cooper, who was released to play for Cardiff Blues against Australia on Tuesday evening. Martin Roberts comes onto the bench as halfback cover, while Jonathan Thomas replaces the injured Bradley Davies in the only other change to the matchday 22.

Thomas will win his 50th cap if he features off the bench and No 8 Ryan Jones will become the fifth player to captain Wales on 20 occasions.

"We were pretty pleased with the performance against Argentina, we matched them up front, our defence held up well and we are starting to show a more clinical edge in attack," Welsh coach Warren Gatland said at the team announcement on Tuesday.

Gatland added: "There is still improvement left in us and we feel we need to go up a couple more gears if we are to achieve what we want against Australia, but we are coming to the end of the Series and the players feel they are starting to get into their stride.

"The level of performance is improving throughout the squad as we spend more and more time together and we hope to get a little nearer the peak of our powers at the weekend."

Wales have beaten Australia twice and registered one draw in their last six meetings, although Gatland acknowledged that the tourists will have a point to prove following their unexpected 9-8 defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

"They will be gunning for us but this Wales squad hasn't feared Australia, has had some success in recent history and enjoys playing them in what are always tough encounters," Gatland added.

"The Wallabies were incredibly unlucky last weekend and they won't want a repeat of that losing experience in Cardiff. They may be coming to the end of a long and gruelling tour, but they won't allow themselves to have one eye on that plane back to the Australian summer, until they have thrown everything at us and emptied the tank at the Millennium Stadium.

"They are one of the top three teams in world rugby and we have no right to expect anything other than the sternest of tests - both physically and mentally - on Saturday, but we feel we are up to it."

Wales: 15 James Hook, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Jamie Roberts, 12 Jonathan Davies, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Martyn Williams, 6 Andy Powell, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Paul James, 3 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Jonathan Thomas, 19 Dan Lydiate, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Andrew Bishop, 22 Tom James

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