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| Thomas back for Australia tester | Thomas back for Australia tester |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Gareth Thomas returns to the Wales side for the first time in nine months for Saturday's Test against Australia. | Gareth Thomas returns to the Wales side for the first time in nine months for Saturday's Test against Australia. |
| The former captain is named along with Shane Williams at wing, with Kevin Morgan claiming the full-back berth. | The former captain is named along with Shane Williams at wing, with Kevin Morgan claiming the full-back berth. |
| Scarlets tyro Gavin Evans must wait for his Wales debut, as Gavin Henson will partner Tom Shanklin at centre. | Scarlets tyro Gavin Evans must wait for his Wales debut, as Gavin Henson will partner Tom Shanklin at centre. |
| Gethin Jenkins is preferred to Duncan Jones at loose-head prop alongside Matt Rees and Adam Jones, while Ryan Jones is passed fit to start at number eight. | Gethin Jenkins is preferred to Duncan Jones at loose-head prop alongside Matt Rees and Adam Jones, while Ryan Jones is passed fit to start at number eight. |
| Thomas last played for his country in February, leading Wales to a 28-18 Six Nations win over Scotland and scoring a try in the process. | Thomas last played for his country in February, leading Wales to a 28-18 Six Nations win over Scotland and scoring a try in the process. |
| But the Toulouse three-quarter then suffered a mini-stroke that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. | But the Toulouse three-quarter then suffered a mini-stroke that ruled him out for the remainder of the season. |
| The health scare, which saw Thomas rupture arteries in his neck, came during the stressful period in which former coach Mike Ruddock made his controversial departure from the post. | The health scare, which saw Thomas rupture arteries in his neck, came during the stressful period in which former coach Mike Ruddock made his controversial departure from the post. |
| Although he has lost the captaincy to Stephen Jones, who partners Scarlets team-mate Dwayne Peel at half-back on Saturday, Thomas is at least back in the starting line-up. | Although he has lost the captaincy to Stephen Jones, who partners Scarlets team-mate Dwayne Peel at half-back on Saturday, Thomas is at least back in the starting line-up. |
| WALES XV v AUSTRALIA Select your own Wales XV | WALES XV v AUSTRALIA Select your own Wales XV |
| Ospreys back-row Ryan Jones was Wales' major injury doubt for the match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. | Ospreys back-row Ryan Jones was Wales' major injury doubt for the match at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. |
| He hurt a rib in the Ospreys' loss to Stade Francais but lines up in a back-row with regional colleague Jon Thomas and Blues open-side Martyn Williams. | He hurt a rib in the Ospreys' loss to Stade Francais but lines up in a back-row with regional colleague Jon Thomas and Blues open-side Martyn Williams. |
| Ian Evans and Ian Gough get the nod at lock, with Robert Sidoli (ribs) and Brent Cockbain the men to miss out. | Ian Evans and Ian Gough get the nod at lock, with Robert Sidoli (ribs) and Brent Cockbain the men to miss out. |
| Cockbain may well have been named in the squad, but is likely to be ruled out as he faces a disciplinary panel on Tuesday for a stamp against Sale Sharks. | Cockbain may well have been named in the squad, but is likely to be ruled out as he faces a disciplinary panel on Tuesday for a stamp against Sale Sharks. |
| On the bench, Alun Wyn Jones covers both lock and back-row, as Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has gone with three front-row replacements. | On the bench, Alun Wyn Jones covers both lock and back-row, as Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has gone with three front-row replacements. |
| One of those is Worcester loose-head Chris Horsman, who it was feared could miss out over a row on Test dates. | One of those is Worcester loose-head Chris Horsman, who it was feared could miss out over a row on Test dates. |
| Because the Wallabies match falls outside the International Rugby Board's official Test window, Horsman's club Worcester was not obliged to release him. | |
| England are playing New Zealand on Sunday, but were only able to have their players available after the Rugby Football Union agreed a compensation package with the English clubs. | England are playing New Zealand on Sunday, but were only able to have their players available after the Rugby Football Union agreed a compensation package with the English clubs. |
| That is thought to be more than £45,000 per man, but Worcester are understood to have been willing to release Horsman in return for his availability in mid-November. | |
| The Welsh Rugby Union is understood to still be in negotiations with the Warriors and umbrella organisation Premier Rugby Limited. | The Welsh Rugby Union is understood to still be in negotiations with the Warriors and umbrella organisation Premier Rugby Limited. |
| French club Toulouse were happy to give permission for three-quarter Thomas to be available to face Australia and win his 89th Wales cap. | French club Toulouse were happy to give permission for three-quarter Thomas to be available to face Australia and win his 89th Wales cap. |
| Henson and Shanklin were the midfield choice in Wales' march to the 2005 Grand Slam, but injury and suspension have kept that partnership apart until now. | Henson and Shanklin were the midfield choice in Wales' march to the 2005 Grand Slam, but injury and suspension have kept that partnership apart until now. |
| After they kick off their autumn campaign against Australia, Wales then face Pacific Islands, Canada and New Zealand on successive weekends. | After they kick off their autumn campaign against Australia, Wales then face Pacific Islands, Canada and New Zealand on successive weekends. |
| Wales team v Australia (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff):Kevin Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons); Gareth Thomas (Toulouse), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jon Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).Replacements: Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Chris Horsman (Worcester Warriors), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets). | Wales team v Australia (Millennium Stadium, Cardiff):Kevin Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons); Gareth Thomas (Toulouse), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), Dwayne Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Matthew Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jon Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys).Replacements: Rhys Thomas (Cardiff Blues), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Chris Horsman (Worcester Warriors), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Cardiff Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Mark Jones (Llanelli Scarlets). |