Wales names 1st Test team

[Burgs]

Wales names Test team

May 24, 2007 - 9:33am
Story by: Sportal

Gareth Thomas will become Wales' most capped player after he was named at skipper for the first Test against the Wallabies at Telstra Stadium, Sydney on Saturday night.

Thomas will earn his 93rd cap in the contest for the James Bevan Trophy, named after Wales' first player, the Melbourne-born, Welsh-raised Bevan who was captain for the inaugural international against England in 1881.

"It's a fantastic achievement, Gareth's been a great example for all players and is the epitome of a quality professional," said head coach Gareth Jenkins.

"He is a significant selection, his experience and enthusiasm is on display for everyone to see in training and he has a renewed sharpness and edge to his game that can only benefit this Wales team.

"You wouldn't bet against him breaking through the 100-caps barrier with two games on this tour, three summer matches and then the Rugby World Cup just around the corner.

"He was inspirational after missing the first four matches of the Six Nations this year and he leads a team bubbling with international experience into a match we are looking to win."

Thomas leads the charge from the right wing, with Chris Czekaj guarding the other flank, and the captain will be followed into battle by the new half-back pairing of scrum-half Mike Phillips and James Hook. Jamie Robinson and Sonny Parker form the centre partnership, with Robinson playing outside his New Zealand born colleague.

Colin Charvis is following fast on Thomas' heels with a similarly impressive 84-caps, and more than 10-years international experience, which he adds to a forward pack formed entirely from 20-cap plus players - save hooker Matthew Rees who has 10 appearances to his name.

Adam Jones and Iestyn Thomas make up the front row, alongside Rees, and Aussie native Brent Cockbain partners Rob Sidoli in the second row.

Gavin Thomas - the only other player apart from the captain to have scored a try against the Wallabies - joins blind-side flanker Charvis and No8 Jonathan Thomas to complete the back row.
Prop Ceri Jones and lock/back row Scott Morgan are the only uncapped players in the match-day squad and both provide cover from the bench.

"With Colin it's a case of us looking to him to reproduce his regional form on the international stage," said Jenkins.

"We are looking for players of his versatility, like Jonathan Thomas he is capable of covering each position in the back row and he is without doubt a player of outstanding ability who could put his hand up on this tour.

"Gavin (Henson) is another player we will need to have a close look at.

"We felt we needed to introduce him slowly, but he his likely to play a part in the game at some stage and we can further assess his progress.

"He simply has to play rugby sooner or later and he has been going well in training, full of smiles and really helping to energise the squad.

"On a final note it was sad to find out Gareth Williams has to leave the tour, he too has made an impact with everyone and he will be bitterly disappointed to miss out.

"We now look forward to welcoming two hookers Mefin Davies and Steve Jones to the squad this Friday.

"This team has a huge incentive with Rugby World Cup squad places up for grabs.

"And both sides will be looking for victory in order to gain psychological advantage before we meet in the World Cup."

Wales

1. Adam Jones,
2. Matthew Rees,
3. Iestyn Thomas,
4. Brent Cockbain,
5. Rob Sidoli,
6. Colin Charvis,
7. Gavin Thomas,
8. Jonathan Thomas,

9. Mike Phillips,
10. James Hook,
11. Chris Czekaj,
12. Sonny Parker,
13. Jamie Robinson,
14. Gareth Thomas (Capt),
15. Lee Byrne,

16. Richard Hibbard,
17. Ceri Jones,
18. Michael Owen,
19. Scott Morgan,
20. Gareth Cooper,
21. Ceri Sweeney,
22. Gavin Henson.

Wales are looking in good hands with four Thomas' and two Jones' however purists are a little concerned as to how a Sidoli and a Czekaj managed to slide into the Squad...

[Thequeerone]

Only 4 Thomas's the commentators will be disappointed

[Sagerian]

Wales are looking in good hands with four Thomas' and two Jones' however purists are a little concerned as to how a Sidoli and a Czekaj managed to slide into the Squad...

[chook]

And only one Jones? Reminds me of the Rowan Atkinson skit '' Nobody called Jones'' !!!

[Burgs]

Cockbain tempted by land of his father

Rupert Guinness
Friday, May 25, 2007

WELSH forward Brent Cockbain admits the temptation will be there to sing both national anthems before tomorrow's Test against the Wallabies.

After all, Cockbain, with 23 caps for Wales, was born in Australia and this is his first Test against his country of birth.

"I could sing them both," joked the 119-kilogram, 204-centimetre brother of Matt Cockbain, who earned 69 Test caps for the Wallabies.

Of course, Cockbain won't. The emotions of national allegiance will be the last thing on his mind as he stands alongside his Welsh teammates. (more's the pity, isn't that what an International is meant to be about...)

For Cockbain, the pre-match singing of anthems is a time for inner peace and calm - no matter that the scream of crowds as they sing their hearts out is ear piercing.

"It's not something I'll probably think about. I'll be focused on the game. I'm very performance-orientated, thinking about my job," Cockbain said yesterday.

"Even at Millennium Stadium with the roof closed and 74,000 people yelling and screaming as the Welsh do, it's a bit of quiet time just to reflect on what is about to happen, to get excited and make sure all the butterflies are heading in the same direction."

However, Cockbain, 30, who debuted for Wales against Romania in 2003, is relishing the opportunity to finally play Australia after missing out twice before.

He was due to play the touring Wallabies in November 2005 but in a game against Fiji the week before he hyper-extended his knee which tore the ligament off his hip.

It was a cruel end to a year that reached the dizzy heights of Wales - including Cockbain - winning the Grand Slam. It left him sidelined for a season, even retirement was mooted.

Then last November, Cockbain was due to play the Wallabies again, but in the preceding week he was suspended for two weeks for a Heineken Cup game incident.

"I have played [for Wales] 23 times and haven't had a chance to play against Australia," he said. "It will add some spice to play for Wales against your country of birth."

Cockbain admits that some of his Welsh teammates believe that he has lost the plot wanting to play in Wales, especially after having experienced the sunnier climes of Terrigal on the Central Coast recently.

But he wouldn't swap his experience as a Red Dragon for the world. From the highs of playing for them in the 2003 World Cup, the winning 2005 Grand Slam to tomorrow night.

The passion for rugby in Wales, he says, is beyond comprehension, especially for Australians divided in their following between union, league, Australian football and soccer.

It wasn't until Wales won the Grand Slam that he really understood rugby's religious reckoning for the Welsh.

"You only really understand how passionate they are when a 70-year-old with tears in his eyes says: 'I never thought I would see another Grand Slam win'," Cockbain said. "You think, 'Whoa … wow.' For some it means more to them than anything."