Jones set for 101st rugby cap for Wales - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Jones set for 101st rugby cap for Wales

04/08/2011 10:48:24 PM Comments (0)

Stephen Jones is set to becomes Wales's most-capped player after being named in the starting line-up for the side to play England at Twickenham in their opening World Cup warm-up match on Saturday.

But controversial centre Gavin Henson did not make it into the matchday 22 selected by coach Warren Gatland.

Scarlets five-eighth Jones will win his 101st cap at Twickenham, putting him one ahead of Gareth Thomas.

Elsewhere Gatland has 1st XV places to fullback Rhys Priestland, 19-year-old right wing George North and Huw Bennett at hooker instead of injured captain Matthew Rees.

Flanker Sam Warburton will captain the side in Rees's absence.

Henson, replaced by Jamie Roberts, will have to wait to press his claims for a place in Wales's 30-man World Cup squad, with New Zealander Gatland saying in a Welsh Rugby Union statement: "These are the men in possession of the jersey at the moment and it is now up to them to hold on to it and they will only do that with a performance at Twickenham at the weekend.

"The stakes are high for individuals, but as a team it is also important for us to create some momentum as we head for the World Cup in New Zealand.

"We have made changes but we have some pretty established combinations coming back with Jamie Roberts returning to the midfield and Alun-Wyn (Jones) and Bradley (Davies) in the second row."

Wales assistant coach Robert Howley, himself a former Test scrum-half, praised Stephen Jones's record-breaking achievement but jokingly suggested Alun-Wyn Jones deserved all the attention this weekend for winning his 50th cap.

"It is a tremendous achievement for Stephen, but he had all the well deserved accolades when he won his 100th cap and the spotlight this weekend should really go to Alun-Wyn on winning his 50th," Howley said.

After Twickenham, Wales host England in Cardiff on Saturday week before concluding their warm-up campaign at home to Argentina, who finished third at the 2007 World Cup in France, seven days later.

Gatland plans to name the Wales squad that will travel to New Zealand for the World Cup on August 22.

Wales failed to make it to the knockout stages of the World Cup four years ago after a dramatic 38-34 group loss to Fiji in Nantes.

England beat Wales 26-19 when the teams last met, during the Six Nations, in Cardiff in February.

Wales

Rhys Priestland; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate; Alun-Wyn Jones, Bradley Davies; Craig Mitchell, Huw Bennett, Paul James. Res: Lloyd Burns, Ryan Bevington, Luke Charteris, Ryan Jones, Tavis Knoyle, Scott Williams, Morgan Stoddart.

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