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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Wales prefer Parker over Henson | Wales prefer Parker over Henson |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Wales have selected Sonny Parker ahead of Gavin Henson for Saturday's Test with New Zealand in Cardiff. | Wales have selected Sonny Parker ahead of Gavin Henson for Saturday's Test with New Zealand in Cardiff. |
| Parker will partner Tom Shanklin in the midfield, with Henson on the bench after recovering from a toe infection. | Parker will partner Tom Shanklin in the midfield, with Henson on the bench after recovering from a toe infection. |
| Gareth Thomas has been ruled out with a knee injury so Kevin Morgan starts at full-back, but fly-half Stephen Jones returns to captain the side. | Gareth Thomas has been ruled out with a knee injury so Kevin Morgan starts at full-back, but fly-half Stephen Jones returns to captain the side. |
| Duncan Jones and Rhys Thomas come into the pack as the only other changes to the side that started against Canada. | |
| Loose-head prop Duncan Jones, who captained the side to victory over the Pacific Islanders earlier this month, replaces Gethin Jenkins, while Thomas is preferred to Matthew Rees at hooker. | Loose-head prop Duncan Jones, who captained the side to victory over the Pacific Islanders earlier this month, replaces Gethin Jenkins, while Thomas is preferred to Matthew Rees at hooker. |
| James Hook makes way at fly-half for Stephen Jones to return for the first since he was injured against Australia in the opening match of the autumn series. | James Hook makes way at fly-half for Stephen Jones to return for the first since he was injured against Australia in the opening match of the autumn series. |
| Parker comes into an exciting back line with the kind of pace and power which can hopefully match New Zealand Wales coach Gareth Jenkins | Parker comes into an exciting back line with the kind of pace and power which can hopefully match New Zealand Wales coach Gareth Jenkins |
| But emerging Ospreys star Hook has won a place on the bench to cover the inside centre and fly-half positions ahead of Ceri Sweeney. | But emerging Ospreys star Hook has won a place on the bench to cover the inside centre and fly-half positions ahead of Ceri Sweeney. |
| Ian Gough and Ian Evans have fought off competition from Brent Cockbain to continue as the lock partnership. | Ian Gough and Ian Evans have fought off competition from Brent Cockbain to continue as the lock partnership. |
| Cockbain, available again after his 20-day suspension, has been released back to the Ospreys despite Wales losing lock Rob Sidoli, who was on the bench against Canada, to a shoulder injury. | Cockbain, available again after his 20-day suspension, has been released back to the Ospreys despite Wales losing lock Rob Sidoli, who was on the bench against Canada, to a shoulder injury. |
| Parker returned to the international stage for the first time in a year a fortnight ago after ending his international retirement to face the Pacific Islanders. | Parker returned to the international stage for the first time in a year a fortnight ago after ending his international retirement to face the Pacific Islanders. |
| 606 DEBATE: Give your views on the Wales squad against the All Blacks | 606 DEBATE: Give your views on the Wales squad against the All Blacks |
| The 29-year-old duly won the man-of-the-match award for his performance in the 38-20 victory and followed that up with another outstanding performance last week against Canada. | The 29-year-old duly won the man-of-the-match award for his performance in the 38-20 victory and followed that up with another outstanding performance last week against Canada. |
| Henson had been set to face the Canadians - and was pencilled in to face the All Blacks - before an infected toe forced him to pull out at the last minute. | Henson had been set to face the Canadians - and was pencilled in to face the All Blacks - before an infected toe forced him to pull out at the last minute. |
| But Wales coach Gareth Jenkins said Parker's form has made it impossible for him to overlook the Kiwi-born centre. | But Wales coach Gareth Jenkins said Parker's form has made it impossible for him to overlook the Kiwi-born centre. |
| "Sonny very much played himself into the selection debate with two solid performances since coming out of retirement, against Canada and the Pacific Islanders," said Jenkins. | "Sonny very much played himself into the selection debate with two solid performances since coming out of retirement, against Canada and the Pacific Islanders," said Jenkins. |
| "He comes into an exciting back line with the kind of pace and power which can hopefully match New Zealand and enable us to take our game-plan to them." | "He comes into an exciting back line with the kind of pace and power which can hopefully match New Zealand and enable us to take our game-plan to them." |
| Wales have not beaten the All Blacks for 53 years, but Jenkins claims this set of players are capable of etching their names into the history books. | Wales have not beaten the All Blacks for 53 years, but Jenkins claims this set of players are capable of etching their names into the history books. |
| "We go into this game with a huge amount of self-belief. We know we are playing the number one team in world rugby, but we also know they are human beings," he said. | "We go into this game with a huge amount of self-belief. We know we are playing the number one team in world rugby, but we also know they are human beings," he said. |
| Wales: Kevin Morgan; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Sonny Parker, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones (capt), Dwayne Peel; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones.Replacements: Mathew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Alix Popham, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Gavin Henson. | Wales: Kevin Morgan; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Sonny Parker, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones (capt), Dwayne Peel; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones.Replacements: Mathew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Alix Popham, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Gavin Henson. |