Cardiff Blues : News : Gatland recalls Springbok XV for All Blacks

Wales Under 20 head coach Danny Wilson has made one change and two positional for his side's Junior World Championship semi-final against South Africa tomorrow (Vannes, 5.15pm UK time, S4C).

Teams Connacht v Blues Teams Connacht Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Connacht Rugby (A) Opposition Connacht (A) 9-13 HT 0-13 Match Report Opposition Connacht Rugby Venue Sportsground Time KO 17:00 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Connacht Form L W L D L Teams Blues v Edinburgh Teams Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh Rugby Opposition Edinburgh Rugby (H) Opposition Edinburgh (H) 19-21 HT 9-8 Match Report Opposition Edinburgh Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Edinburgh Form W W L L W Teams Dragons v Blues Teams Newport Gwent Dragons v Cardiff Blues Opposition Newport Gwent Dragons (A) Opposition Dragons (A) 5-16 HT 5-3 Match Report Opposition Newport Gwent Dragons Venue Rodney Parade Time KO 18:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Dragons Form L L L W L Teams Blues v Treviso Teams Cardiff Blues v Benetton Treviso Opposition Benetton Treviso (H) Opposition Treviso (H) 34-18 HT 17-3 Match Report Opposition Benetton Treviso Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 18:30 Referee Fitzgibbon Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Treviso Form W L W D W Teams Blues v Ulster Teams Cardiff Blues v Ulster Rugby Opposition Ulster Rugby (H) Opposition Ulster (H) 19-48 HT 9-17 Match Report Opposition Ulster Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Ulster Form W W W W L Teams Blues v Glasgow Teams Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors Opposition Glasgow Warriors (H) Opposition Glasgow (H) 3-18 HT 3-12 Match Report Opposition Glasgow Warriors Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 18:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Glasgow Form W L W W L Teams Sharks v Blues Teams Sale Sharks v Cardiff Blues Opposition Sale Sharks (A) Opposition Sharks (A) 34-33 HT 12-24 Match Report Opposition Sale Sharks Venue Salford City Stadium Time KO 12:45 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Sharks Form W D W L W Teams Blues v Toulon Teams Cardiff Blues v Toulon Opposition Toulon (H) Opposition Toulon (H) 14-22 HT 8-6 Match Report Opposition Toulon Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 12:45 Referee Clancy Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Toulon Form W L W W W Teams Leinster v Blues Teams Leinster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Leinster Rugby (A) Opposition Leinster (A) 59-22 HT 40-3 Match Report Opposition Leinster Rugby Venue Royal Dublin Society Time KO 18:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Leinster Form W W W W W Teams Blues v Munster Teams Cardiff Blues v Munster Rugby Opposition Munster Rugby (H) Opposition Munster (H) 18-24 HT 3-10 Match Report Opposition Munster Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Munster Form W L L L W Teams Blues v Wasps Teams Cardiff Blues v London Wasps Opposition London Wasps (H) Opposition Wasps (H) 22-17 HT 7-14 Match Report Opposition London Wasps Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Wasps Form L L L L L Teams Scarlets v Blues Teams Scarlets v Cardiff Blues Opposition Scarlets (A) Opposition Scarlets (A) 22-16 HT 13-13 Match Report Opposition Scarlets Venue Parc y Scarlets Time KO 18:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Scarlets Form W W W L L Teams Zebre v Blues Teams Zebre v Cardiff Blues Opposition Zebre (A) Opposition Zebre (A) 7-14 HT 7-5 Match Report Opposition Zebre Venue Stadio XXV Aprile Time KO 15:00 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Zebre Form L L L L L Teams Ospreys v Blues Teams Ospreys v Cardiff Blues Opposition Ospreys (A) Opposition Ospreys (A) 33-12 HT 16-6 Match Report Opposition Ospreys Venue Liberty Stadium Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Ospreys Form W W W L L Teams Blues v Montpellier Teams Cardiff Blues v Montpellier Opposition Montpellier (H) Opposition Montpellier (H) 24-35 HT 15-19 Match Report Opposition Montpellier Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 12:45 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Montpellier Form W W W W L Teams Montpellier v Blues Teams Montpellier v Cardiff Blues Opposition Montpellier (A) Opposition Montpellier (A) 34-21 HT 17-8 Match Report Opposition Montpellier Venue Time KO 19:00 Referee Garner Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Montpellier Form W W W W L Teams Blues v Scarlets Teams Cardiff Blues v Scarlets Opposition Scarlets (H) Opposition Scarlets (H) 6-9 HT 3-9 Match Report Opposition Scarlets Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Scarlets Form W W W L L Teams Blues v Dragons Teams Cardiff Blues v Newport Gwent Dragons Opposition Newport Gwent Dragons (H) Opposition Dragons (H) 12-10 HT 9-0 Match Report Opposition Newport Gwent Dragons Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 14:05 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Dragons Form L L L W L Teams Munster v Blues Teams Munster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Munster Rugby (A) Opposition Munster (A) 6-17 HT 3-3 Opposition Munster Rugby Venue Musgrave Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Owens Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Munster Form W L L L W Teams Toulon v Blues Teams Toulon v Cardiff Blues Opposition Toulon (A) Opposition Toulon (A) 45-25 HT 19-8 Match Report Opposition Toulon Venue Stade Mayol Time KO 14:35 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Toulon Form W L W W W Teams Blues v Sharks Teams Cardiff Blues v Sale Sharks Opposition Sale Sharks (H) Opposition Sharks (H) 26-14 HT 9-7 Match Report Opposition Sale Sharks Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 15:40 Referee Fitzgibbon Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Sharks Form W D W L W Teams Saracens v Blues Teams Saracens v Cardiff Blues Opposition Saracens (A) Opposition Saracens (A) 19-11 HT 6-8 Opposition Saracens Venue Allianz Park Time KO 15:00 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Saracens Form W L L W L Teams Blues v L Irish Teams Cardiff Blues v London Irish Opposition London Irish (H) Opposition L Irish (H) 10-6 HT 7-3 Match Report Opposition London Irish Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L L Irish Form W D L W L Teams Blues v Leinster Teams Cardiff Blues v Leinster Rugby Opposition Leinster Rugby (H) Opposition Leinster (H) 11-26 HT 3-23 Match Report Opposition Leinster Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Fitzgibbon Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Leinster Form W W W W W Teams Edinburgh v Blues Teams Edinburgh Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Edinburgh Rugby (A) Opposition Edinburgh (A) 16-17 HT 6-14 Match Report Opposition Edinburgh Rugby Venue Murrayfield Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Edinburgh Form W W L L W Teams Blues v Connacht Teams Cardiff Blues v Connacht Rugby Opposition Connacht Rugby (H) Opposition Connacht (H) 22-26 HT 8-15 Match Report Opposition Connacht Rugby Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Connacht Form L W L D L Teams Glasgow v Blues Teams Glasgow Warriors v Cardiff Blues Opposition Glasgow Warriors (A) Opposition Glasgow (A) 29-13 HT 10-13 Match Report Opposition Glasgow Warriors Venue Scotstoun Time KO 19:35 Referee Clancy Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Glasgow Form W L W W L Teams Treviso v Blues Teams Benetton Treviso v Cardiff Blues Opposition Benetton Treviso (A) Opposition Treviso (A) 26-17 HT 13-10 Match Report Opposition Benetton Treviso Venue Stadio di Monigo Time KO 19:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Treviso Form W L W D W Teams Blues v Ospreys Teams Cardiff Blues v Ospreys Opposition Ospreys (H) Opposition Ospreys (H) 16-23 HT 10-20 Match Report Opposition Ospreys Venue Millennium Stadium Time KO 17:15 Referee Owens Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Ospreys Form W W W L L Teams Blues v Zebre Teams Cardiff Blues v Zebre Opposition Zebre (H) Opposition Zebre (H) 28-13 HT 21-6 Match Report Opposition Zebre Venue Cardiff Arms Park Time KO 14:30 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Zebre Form L L L L L Teams Scarlets v Blues Teams Scarlets v Cardiff Blues Opposition Scarlets (A) Opposition Scarlets (A) 24-6 HT 10-6 Match Report Opposition Scarlets Venue Parc y Scarlets Time KO 18:30 Referee Owens Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Scarlets Form W W W L L Teams Ulster v Blues Teams Ulster Rugby v Cardiff Blues Opposition Ulster Rugby (A) Opposition Ulster (A) 37-13 HT 10-13 Opposition Ulster Rugby Venue Ravenhill Time KO 19:45 Referee Previous Meeting Blues Form L L W L L Ulster Form W W W W L Teams v Teams v Opposition () Opposition () Ticket Information Tickets {FixBroadcast} Opposition Venue Referee Previous Meeting Form Form

Gatland's Wales went down 20-15 to the World Champions but after making 12 changes before disposing of Canada last weekend he has now said 'same again' to the side which faced the Springboks meaning debutants Leigh Halfpenny and Andy Powell are set to win their third successive caps.

Captain Ryan Jones again features at blindside flanker, switching from No 8 to accommodate the in-form Powell and Halfpenny fends of the challenge of fit again wing Mark Jones to keep his place in a back three alongside Lee Byrne and Shane Williams.

Tom Shanklin, who was a late call-up for the injured Gavin Henson against the Springboks, partners his Blues colleague Jamie Roberts in the midfield and half-backs Stephen Jones and Gareth Cooper retain their starting spots to complete the backline.

Up front Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones pack down either side of hooker Matthew Rees and Ospreys pair Alun-Wyn Jones and Ian Evans form the second row, with Martyn Williams providing the missing link in the back row.

On the bench Gatland has made three confirmed changes from the squad who faced South Africa. Blues prop John Yapp is rewarded for his man-of-the-match showing against Canada and Dragons second row Luke Charteris is also selected on form along with Ospreys centre Andrew Bishop. A knee injury means James Hook is named alongside Dan Biggar with one of them to be named on the bench following medical advice nearer to matchday.

"The coaches, the fans, the players and everyone involved in the game in Wales knows exactly how big a game this is for us," said Gatland. "The All Blacks are the team to beat in the world game, they are the yardstick by which every nation measures themselves and we are no different, but we are relishing the opportunity presented to us.

"I've often said that it is only by playing the best teams in the world that we can improve ourselves and we have a chance to show some big improvements on Saturday. In selection we have said 'same again' to the side which took on South Africa in our opening match of the series. We were critical in-house of aspects of that performance a fortnight ago and that side now has a chance to respond to that criticism.

"For the likes of Andy Powell and Leigh Halfpenny who both had impressive debuts our message is the also the same - both players need to simply enjoy the experience and have nothing to fear. For some of the more senior heads in the side we know we are looking for stand-out performances from each and everyone of them if we are to be able to match the opposition.

"Whilst we have shown loyalty to some in the starting line-up there are three changes on the bench with Andrew Bishop, Luke Charteris and in particular John Yapp who put in a man-of -the-match performance all impressing against Canada last time out.

"James Hook has shown signs of improvement in the knee injury that forced his withdrawal against Canada and, although he will not train today, we will be looking for him to run out later in the week to prove his fitness. If he is not available on Saturday his Ospreys colleague Dan Biggar will provide the fly-half cover from the bench."

WALES: Lee Byrne; Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Gareth Cooper; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Alun-Wyn Jones, Ian Evans, Ryan Jones (capt), Martyn Williams, Andy Powell
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, John Yapp, Luke Charteris, Dafydd Jones, Dwayne Peel, James Hook/Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop

WALES

15 Lee BYRNE (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,041)
DoB: 01.06.80. 6'3" / 1.91m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 20 caps (W 8, L 11, D 1; 25 pts - 5T)

14 Leigh HALFPENNY (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,060)
DoB: 22.12.88. 5'10" / 1.77m. 13st 1lb / 83kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1; 13 pts - 2T, 1PG)

13 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 993)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6'2" / 1.88m. 15st 9lbs / 99kgs
International record: 56 caps (W 26, L 29, D 1; 90 pts - 18T)

12 Jamie ROBERTS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,057)
DoB: 08.11.86. 6'4" / 1.93m. 16st 10lbs / 107kgs
International record: 5 caps (W 2, L 3; 5 pts - 1T)

11 Shane WILLIAMS (OSPREYS - Cap No 976)
DoB: 26.02.77. 5'7" / 1.71m. 12st 13lbs / 82kgs
International record: 59 caps (W 29, L 28, D 2; 215 pts - 43T)

10 Stephen JONES (SCARLETS - Cap No 966)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6'1" / 1.86m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 73 caps (W32, L39, D2; 629 pts - 6T,115C,120PG,3DG)

9 Gareth COOPER (GLOUCESTER RUGBY - Cap No 985)
DoB: 07.05.79. 5'7" / 1.71m. 13st 6lbs / 85kgs
International record: 38 caps (W 17, L 21; 40 pts - 8T)

1 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,006)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6'2" / 1.88m. 18st 13lbs / 120kgs
International record: 61 caps (W 25, L 34, D 2; 15 pts - 3T)

2 Matthew REES (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,033)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 1lbs / 108kgs
International record: 23 caps (W 10, L 12, D 1; 10 pts - 2T)

3 Adam Rhys JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,018)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6'0" / 1.83m. 19st 10lb / 125kgs
International record: 50 caps (W 26, L 22, D 2; 5 pts - 1T)

4 Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,046)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6'5" / 1.96m. 19st 1lbs / 121kgs
International record: 24 caps (W 9, L 15; 15 pts - 3T)

5 Ian EVANS (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,045)
DoB: 04.10.84. 6'8" / 2.04m. 18st 3lbs / 116kgs
International record: 15 caps (W 6, L 8, D 1; 5 pts - 1T)

6 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS, CAPTAIN - Cap No 1,029)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6'5" / 1.96m. 18st 0lbs / 114kgs
International record: 25 caps (W 14, L 10, D 1; 5 pts - 1T)

7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 944)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 11lbs / 100kgs
International record: 82 caps (W 38, L 41, D 3; 73 pts - 14T, 1DG)

8 Andy POWELL (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,061)
DoB: 23.08.81. 6'4" / 1.94m. 17st 6lbs / 111kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1)

REPLACEMENTS

16 Richard HIBBARD (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,048)
DoB: 13.12.83. 6'0" / 1.83m. 17st 7lbs / 111kgs
International record: 7 caps (W 1, L 6)

17 John YAPP (CARDIFF BLUES - Cap No 1,031)
DoB: 09.04.83. 6'2" / 1.88m. 18st 8lbs / 118kgs
International record: 10 caps (W 8, L 2)

18 Luke CHARTERIS (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS - Cap No 1,030)
DoB: 09.03.83. 6'9" / 2.06m. 19st 9lbs / 125kgs
International record: 8 caps (W 5, L 3)

19 Dafydd JONES (SCARLETS - Cap No 1,008)
DoB: 24.06.79. 6'3" / 1.90m. 17st 5lbs / 110kgs
International record: 32 caps (W 13; L 19; 10 pts - 2T)

20 Dwayne PEEL (SALE SHARKS - Cap No 994)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5'9" / 1.76m. 13st 8lbs / 86kgs
International record: 63 caps (W 28, L 33, D 2; 25 pts - 5T)

21 James HOOK (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,047)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 14st 12lbs / 94kgs
International record: 29 caps (W 12, L 16, D 1; 196 pts - 6T,32C,32PG,2DG)

OR Dan BIGGAR (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,063)
DoB: 16.10.89. 6'2" / 1.88m. 13st 9lbs / 87kgs
International record: 1 cap (W 1; 9 pts - 3C, 1PG)

22 Andrew BISHOP (OSPREYS - Cap No 1,059)
DoB: 07.08.85. 6'0" / 1.83m. 15st 0lbs / 95kgs
International record: 2 caps (W 1, L 1)

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Gatland recalls Springbok XV for All Blacks

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