Four new Welshman to tour Oz
Wales caretaker head coach Rob Howley today named four uncapped players in a 38-man squad for the Barbarians match at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, June 2, before embarking on a three-Test tour of Australia.
Howley will officially gather his troops for the first time on Monday, May 21, with the exception of Ospreys players who will have the full weight of the Wales national squad behind them as they bid for Pro12 glory in the competition final against Ulster the following Sunday.
Scarlets players’ player of the year, fullback, Liam Williams, his regional teammate, prop Rhodri Jones, Ospreys centre Ashley Beck and Blues wing Harry Robinson (promoted from the Wales Under-20 squad) are the four uncapped players named.
Back in contention – called up from outside of this season’s all conquering Six Nations squad – are Ospreys backs Dan Biggar and Andrew Bishop, Scarlets flank Josh Turnbull and Dragons wings Aled Brew and Will Harries, alongside Blues flank Martyn Williams who is set to win his 100th cap against the BaaBaas.
“The Ospreys will have our full backing in their bid for silverware, so we will not be asking them to join us until a week after everyone else,” said Howley.
“They are playing very well at the moment, a win in the final would be a great starting point for our own campaign and the call ups for both Dan (Biggar) and Andrew (Bishop), in particular, reflect the good form the Ospreys are in.
“Elsewhere we have been pretty consistent with selection, it’s now down to these players to pick up where we left off in the Six Nations and prove to us that they should be on that plane to Australia.
“We hope to get off to a winning start against the BaaBaas and everyone who figures in that game will be playing for a place on the tour.”
Whilst Wales’ Ospreys contingent will not be in camp until Monday, May 28 – Howley is confident he will have a full strength squad to choose from by the time he comes to select his side to face the BaaBaas, with his overseas contingent available and fitness worries over certain players abating.
“Both Mike (Phillips) and James (Hook) will be with us from the start, Sam (Warburton) is still on track and we are optimistic that both Jonathan Davies and Scott Williams will have reached full fitness and be able to play their part in the tour,” added Howley
“We have a tough series ahead of us with five matches in four weeks and two games in two separate hemispheres in the space of seven days, but we are fully focussed on the prize of that elusive southern hemisphere scalp.”
Clermont fullback Lee Byrne is not selected as he is still likely to be involved in domestic competition in France right up to the date the tour party leaves (the Top 14 players Final, for which his club are still in contention, will be held on June 9), however, he will remain on standby for the tour.
Unavailable due to injury are Blues centre Jamie Roberts and Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett.
Wales will play a capped meeting with the Barbarians and a mid-week tour match against the Brumbies in addition to the three tests against Australia.
Extended Training Squad For BaaBaas & Australian Tour 2012
Forwards: Ryan Bevington, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Ian Evans, Toby Faletau, Rhys Gill, Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Alun Wyn Jones, Rhodri Jones, Ryan Jones, Dan Lydiate, Ken Owens, Matthew Rees, Aaron Shingler, Justin Tipuric, Josh Turnbull, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams.
Backs: Ashley Beck, Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, Aled Brew, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Will Harries, James Hook, George North, Mike Phillips, Rhys Priestland, Harry Robinson, Rhys Webb, Lloyd Williams, Scott Williams, Liam Williams.
