SA tour: Wales' best unveiled

 

Rob Howley and Robin McBryde have named their respective Probables and Possibles sides ahead of the two-Test tour to South Africa.

 

If coach Warren Gatland is to mount a serious challenge against South Africa it can be expected most of the touring squad should come from Howley's XV.

 

Howley's Probable XV features just one uncapped player in Scarlets wing Jordan Williams, who joins an experienced backline.

 

British and Irish Lions quartet Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Alex Cuthbert also line-up alongside Pro12 Players' player of the year Dan Biggar and Scarlets fullback Liam Williams.

 

The front row is made up of 223 Wales caps in the form of Gethin Jenkins (105), Ken Owens (24) and Adam Jones (94).

Captain Alun Wyn Jones partners Luke Charteris in the second row and in the loose trio Scarlets pair Josh Turnbull and Aaron Shingler feature alongside Taulupe (Toby) Faletau.

 

However, in true trials style, McBryde's underdog team will be highly motivated to snap up some of the places left by injuries to key figures.

 

The Possibles feature a few players with some valuable experience, none more so than flyhalf James Hook and captain Matthew Rees.

 

"Friday is a huge opportunity for players and a chance for us to see them go up against each other for the Wales jersey,” said Howley.

 

"It's something we haven't been able to do for the last decade, but it will be a big night for the players, we want to see them in a pressured environment and that's what we will get on Friday.”

 

"It's been great to have the squad together, we only have a short time to prepare, but we are up for the challenge and excited by it," McBryde added.

 

"We have always said that the door is always open in international rugby and this is an opportunity that doesn't come round very often and the players know it's their chance to impress on a big public stage in front of all the coaches.”

 

Probables team: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Jordan Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Aaron Shingler, 6 Josh Turnbull, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Alun Wyn Jones (captain), 3 Adam Jones, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Gethin Jenkins.  

Replacements: 16 Scot Baldwin, 17 Aaron Jarvis, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Lewis Evans, 20 Josh Navidi, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Dafydd Hewitt.

 

Possibles team: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Kristian Phillips, 13 Cory Allen, 12 Steven Shingler, 11 Harry Robinson, 10 James Hook, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Ellis Jenkins, 6 Andrew Coombs, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Rhodri Jones, 2 Matthew Rees (captain), 1 Rob Evans.   

Replacements: 16 Kristian Dacey, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Macauley Cook, 20 James Davies, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Matthew Morgan, 23 Jonathan Spratt.