RUGBY:WALES HAVE failed to make the knockout stage at three of the past five World Cups but they travel to New Zealand next week with their coach, Warren Gatland, telling his players he expects them to top a group that includes the holders, South Africa.
Unlike his predecessors, Gatland will not feel a sense of achievement in coming second in a pool that also includes Samoa and Fiji, victors over Wales in past World Cups. He said he has noticed a sea-change in attitude in recent months and, while the squad he announced yesterday contained only eight players who went to France four years ago, a noticeable difference was that then the task was to find 30 players; this year the dilemma was whom to leave out.
The most notable casualty was the flanker Martyn Williams, who led Wales against Argentina on Saturday when he won his 99th cap. Once Gatland decided on Sunday night to take 16 forwards and 14 backs, rather than a 17-13 split, the 35-year old openside, who was looking to play in his fourth World Cup, was condemned to the stand-by list.
“Martyn has been a great servant to Wales,” Gatland said. “The last issue to be resolved was the split between forwards and backs and we felt that our back three needed bolstering and so we included Aled Brew. Had we gone for 17 forwards, we would have taken a second openside flanker. I do think sides should be allowed to take 32 players.”
Wales, who did not tell their players who was in the squad before the official announcement, opted for three number eights, Toby Faletau, Ryan Jones and Andy Powell, whose cause a month ago looked forlorn. He took advantage of an unexpected start against Argentina to force his way in. Six of their forwards are 24 or under and Gatland says youth has given the squad a fresh impetus.
Gavin Henson will not, as was first thought, be an option if Wales reach the quarter-finals and need a replacement for an injured midfielder. His broken wrist will take 12 weeks to heal, not the eight first forecast.
GuardianService
BACKS: A Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons), L Byrne (Clermont Auvergne), J Davies (Scarlets), L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Perpignan), S Jones (Scarlets), T Knoyle (Scarlets), G North (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne), R Priestland (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Shane Williams (Ospreys).
FORWARDS: H Bennett (Ospreys), R Bevington (Ospreys), L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), P James (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), C Mitchell (Exeter), K Owens (Scarlets), A Powell (Sale Sharks), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt).
