Hook fills in at full-back

Prop James wins second cap six years after making debut for Wales

Last updated: 2nd November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Hook fills in at full-back

Hook: Starts at full-back

We have an experienced pairing at centre, two exciting wingers and the Lions playmaker running the back line at fly-half - so we think we have a pretty good side out there

Warren Gatland
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James Hook will start at full-back for Wales' opening autumn Test against New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium.

Coach Warren Gatland has opted to use the versatile Osprey to fill the void created by the absence of Lee Byrne through injury.

Scrum-half Mike Phillips is also sidelined and with Dwayne Peel unavailable this weekend, Gareth Cooper gets the chance to impress at number nine.

Stephen Jones is at fly-half while fellow British and Irish Lion Jamie Roberts is paired with fellow Cardiff Blue Tom Shanklin in the centres.

With Adam Jones ruled out, Ospreys prop Paul James wins his second cap six years after making his international debut against Romania.

Gethin Jenkins remains at loosehead next to hooker Matthew Rees. Ospreys duo Duncan Jones and Huw Bennett have been named on the bench.

Consistency

"We wanted Gethin Jenkins to start, so it was a case of seeing which of the other three props stood out in training this week," said the former Wasps boss. "Paul has edged it, and we know he won't let us down.

"Elsewhere, the coaches have looked for consistency of selection.

"We have asked James to play at full-back before, and it is a boost for any side to be able to have someone of his calibre on the field - in whatever position that may be.

"We have an experienced pairing at centre, two exciting wingers and the Lions playmaker running the back line at fly-half - so we think we have a pretty good side out there."

The squad has been dealt a further injury blow with the news that Mark Jones will miss the entire Test programme with a knee injury.

The Scarlets winger, who had been expected to be included in the starting XV, is awaiting a consultant's verdict but is likely to require keyhole surgery.

Wales team to face New Zealand:
J Hook (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), P James (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport-Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt)
Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), M Roberts (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), T James (Cardiff Blues).