5 Nov 2010

Wales name youthful side to face Wallabies

5:47 am on 5 November 2010

The Wales rugby team have named flanker Sam Warburton in a young starting line-up that includes just three players over the age of 30 to face Australia in Cardiff on Sunday morning.

The 22-year-old replaces veteran Martyn Williams in the side and will be joined in an injury-hit back row by Dan Lydiate and Jonathan Thomas.

Dragons wing Will Harries comes into the starting 15 for the first time in place of the injured Leigh Halfpenny while James Hook has been moved to fullback from centre.

Winger Shane Williams, centre Tom Shanklin and first five Stephen Jones, the three over-30s in the team, form an experienced backline which retains only halfback Mike Phillips from that side which last faced New Zealand in June.

Team: 15-James Hook, 14-Will Harries, 13-Tom Shanklin, 12-Andrew Bishop, 11-Shane Williams, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Mike Phillips; 8-Jonathan Thomas, 7-Sam Warburton, 6-Dan Lydiate, 5-Alun Wyn-Jones, 4-Bradley Davies, 3-Adam Rhys-Jones, 2-Matthew Rees, 1-Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16-Huw Bennett, 17-Paul James, 18-Deiniol Jones, 19-Martyn Williams, 20-Richard Rees, 21-Dan Biggar, 22-Chris Czekaj