Howley names Wales Test side

Skipper Warburton back for Australia opener

Last Updated: June 7, 2012 9:49am 

Sam Warburton: Back to boost Wales as they take on Australia

Wales head into the first of their three Tests against Australia in Brisbane on Saturday with 11 of the team that clinched Grand Slam glory.

Despite seeing a fringe side beat the Barbarians 30-21 last week, caretaker coach Rob Howley has picked a completely different team to that which played at the Millennium Stadium.
A total of 16 players were sent Down Under early for acclimatisation purposes, with all but Ashley Beck named to start the series opener.
Fit again Sam Warburton will return to lead the side after an 11-week break since leaving the field at half-time in the 16-9 win over France.

Only six of the players who figured in the Baa-Baas win are asked to act as replacements, with Matthew Rees, Paul James, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones, Lloyd Williams and James Hook all joining Beck on the bench.
The only other changes from the Grand Slam winning team see Scarlets centre Scott Williams take over from the injured Jamie Roberts at centre, hooker Ken Owens replace his Scarlets team-mate Matthew Rees and Blues lock Bradley Davies pack down with ex-Dragons skipper Luke Charteris in the second row.
Davies has not played for Wales since picking up a six-week ban for a dangerous tackle in the opening victory over Ireland in February. He replaces Wyn Jones, while Charteris moves up off the bench to take over from Ian Evans, who is getting married.
"We are well prepared and looking forward to the challenge this weekend," said Howley.
"We have created some winning momentum, we have a recent home win against the Barbarians to take into this game and have built a certain amount of confidence within the squad."

Changes

Meanwhile, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans has made eight changes after his side lost 9-6 to Scotland on Monday.
With two Tests in a week Deans was always going to make changes and there are five newcomers in the pack, including an all-new Waratahs front row, and three more behind the scrum.
The versatile Adam Ashley-Cooper returns to the starting side at full-back while Melbourne Rebels winger Cooper Vuna makes his debut, replacing Joe Tomane on the wing after the Brumbies winger hurt his left ankle in training.
Pat McCabe also steps up from the bench to replace Mike Harris at inside centre in a midfield partnership with Rob Horne with hard-tackling Anthony Fainga'a relegated to the replacements.
Rob Simmons replaces the injured Sitaleki Timani in the second row, while Scott Higginbotham moves to the troublesome blindside flanker position to make way for Wycliff Palu to come in at number eight.
Loosehead prop Benn Robinson makes a welcome return to the Test arena after an 18-month absence.
Wales: 15-Leigh Halfpenny, 14-Alex Cuthbert, 13-Jonathan Davies, 12-Scott Williams, 11-George North, 10-Rhys Priestland, 9-Mike Phillips; 8-Toby Faletau, 7-Sam Warburton (captain), 6-Dan Lydiate, 5-Luke Charteris, 4-Bradley Davies, 3-Adam Jones, 2-Ken Owens, 1-Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16-Matthew Rees, 17-Paul James, 18-Alun Wyn Jones, 19-Ryan Jones, 20-Lloyd Williams, 21-James Hook, 22-Ashley Beck.
Australia: 15-Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14-Joe Tomane, 13-Rob Horne, 12-Pat McCabe, 11-Digby Ioane, 10-Berrick Barnes, 9-Will Genia; 8-Wycliff Palu, 7-David Pocock (captain), 6-Scott Higginbotham, 5-Nathan Sharpe, 4-Rob Simmons, 3-Sekope Kepu, 2-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1-Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16-Stephen Moore, 17-Ben Alexander, 18-Dave Dennis, 19-Michael Hooper, 20-Nic White, 21-Anthony Fainga'a,