Lydiate gets Wales call

Lions duo Jenkins and Williams fit for November fixtures

Last updated: 26th October 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lydiate gets Wales call

Lydiate: Only uncapped player in squad

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Flanker Dan Lydiate has been named in Wales' 29-man squad for the upcoming autumn internationals.

The Newport-Gwent Dragons forward is the only uncapped player selected by Warren Gatland for the games against New Zealand, Samoa, Argentina and Australia.

Ospreys flanker Ryan Jones retains the captaincy but club colleagues Andrew Bishop and Ian Gough have both been left out.

Despite being unavailable for the All Blacks game, scrum-half Dwayne Peel - the only player picked not to ply his trade in Wales - is included.

The Sale Shark cannot play in the fixture on November 7 due to the release policy at his Guinness Premiership club.

Phillips missing

Fellow number nine Mike Phillips is a major absentee due to injury but fit-again duo Gethin Jenkins and Martyn Williams are back in the fray.

Gatland has also chosen centre Jonathan Davies, prop Craig Mitchell and flanker Sam Warburton. The trio all made their international debuts during the summer tour of the USA and Canada.

"The selection process has been relatively simple for us," Gatland said.

"Generally, we have gone for the incumbents in their positions at regional level, and selection reflects the good form our Welsh sides have shown already so far this season.

"Dan Lydiate is a good example of someone who has let his form do the talking, and he deserves his chance, as does Sam Warburton, who also impressed the coaches on tour this summer.

"Craig Mitchell keeps his place after making his debut on that tour, and as a recognised tighthead, he is definitely someone we are looking to develop, although both Gethin Jenkins and Paul James are in consideration as props who can play on both sides of the scrum.

"It's ironic that we will have Dwayne to train with us for three days in Test week, but that he will have to go back to Manchester on match-day, but it is something we have long been made aware of, accepted a long time ago and have made allowances for."

Phillips is not the only British and Irish Lion on the sidelines - full-back Lee Byrne and prop Adam Jones are also currently out of action.

After starting out against New Zealand, Wales face Samoa on November 13, Argentina eight days later and then finish against Australia on November 28.

Wales squad:
Backs: D Biggar, G Cooper, J Davies, T James, L Halfpenny, J Hook, M Jones, S Jones, D Peel, J Roberts, M Roberts, T Shanklin, S Williams.
Forwards: H Bennett, L Charteris, B Davies, P James, G Jenkins, A-W Jones, Duncan Jones, Dafydd Jones, R Jones (capt), D Lydiate, C Mitchell, A Powell, M Rees, J Thomas, S Warburton, M Williams.