2011年10月4日星期二

Wales unchanged to tackle Samoa

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Venue: Waikato Stadium, HamiltonDate: Sunday, 18 SeptemberKick-off: 0430 BST / 1530 NZCoverage: Scores and reports on the BBC Sport website plus live text commentaries on selected games including all home nations matches; updates on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC Radio Wales; watch live on ITV1/ITV4 & S4C; listen on talkSPORT radio & BBC Radio CymruWarren Gatland with Sam Warburton in the background Wales coach Warren Gatland says Wales must work on "one or two areas" Coach Warren Gatland has named an unchanged Wales starting line-up to to face Samoa in the World Cup on Sunday.

Loose-head prop Gethin Jenkins could make his return from the bench having not played since January because of toe and calf problems.

But there is no place for fly-half Stephen Jones, who had hoped to make a record 101st Wales appearance.

Samoa make only one change with Ofisa Trevaranius taking over from injured Tasina Tuifua (ribs) in the back row.

Gatland resisted calls to move James Hook from full-back to fly-half.

Veteran Jones returned to training ahead of the Samoa match having missed Wales' August warm-up Tests because of a calf injury.

But with Rhys Priestland starting at 10 and Hook capable of moving there from full-back, Jones also misses out on a bench role.

Gatland was pleased with his side's performance, if not the result, following their dramatic opening 17-16 defeat against South Africa.

That left him confident in the players who kicked off Wales' campaign.

Gatland said: "We were extremely disappointed to lose last week against the Springboks, but we did maintain momentum with aspects of the performance providing a host of positive points to take into Sunday's match against Samoa.

"We have regrouped and the players are looking forward to getting back out on the pitch to largely pick up where they left off last weekend.

"There are one or two areas we know we need to work on but we are looking for much of the same from all involved.

"We could not fault the effort, passion and commitment of the players last week and we have simply said we are looking for the same again against Samoa on Sunday."

Gethin Jenkins trains ahead of the clash with Samoa Prop Gethin Jenkins returns to the Wales bench to face Samoa

Prop Jenkins, 30, has not played since 7 January after toe surgery and suffered a calf injury that prevented him playing in the August Tests against England, twice, and Argentina.

The Cardiff Blues star takes over from 22-year-old Osprey Ryan Bevington.

Ahead of the team announcement, Gatland said: "We know what a world-class player Gethin is and it's perhaps thinking how much game time do you try to give him before the quarter-final stage?"

Gatland said there were plenty of positives for Wales to take from the defeat against South Africa in their opening game.

But the New Zealander added that his players had to forget about the Hamilton disappointment and look ahead to Sunday's match against old foes Samoa.

"We came into that game absolutely believing we were good enough to win," said Gatland of Sunday's defeat against the Springboks.

"The stats in terms of territory and possession put us in a position that we were able to win the game, unfortunately we lost by a point.

"But we've got to pick ourselves up from that and start thinking about Samoa and the latter stages of this tournament.

"We've got to build from last week. We started well in terms of good performance [although] not a good result for us.

"One of the things that we have been able to demonstrate in the past is that we have been able to get better as a team as games and tours have gone on.

"We've got to make sure we get better this week in Hamilton on Sunday - kick your drop-goal and kick your penalty.

"That's how close the games are these days. That's how tight things are."

Flanker Tuifua came off in Samoa's opening tournament win, 49-12 against Namibia on Wednesday.

Fly-half Tusi Pisi also hurt his hamstring in that match, but Samoa coach Titimaea Tafuaha hopes he will be fully fit by Sunday.

"He's 80% fit according to our medical team, and they say he'll be 99% tomorrow, so then we still have one more day," Tafua said.

Wales: James Hook (Perpignan); George North (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Paul James, Huw Bennett, Adam Jones (all Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Dragons), Sam Warburton (Blues, capt), Toby Faletau (Dragons).

Replacements: Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies (both Blues), Andy Powell (Sale Sharks), Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams (both Scarlets), Leigh Halfpenny (Blues).

Samoa: Paul Williams; Sailosi Tagicakibau, George Pisi, Seilala Mapusua, Alesana Tuilagi; Tusi Pisi, Kahn Fotuali'i; Sakaria Taulafo, Mahonri Schwalger (c), Anthony Perenise, Daniel Leo, Kane Thompson, Ofisa Treviranus, Maurie Faasavalu, George Stowers.

Replacements: Ti'i Paulo, Census Johnston, Joe Tekori, Manaia Salavea, Jeremy Sua, Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, Tasesa Lavea.


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