Gatland opts for youth over experience

WARREN GATLAND has kept faith with the youngsters who guided Wales into the World Cup quarter-finals for Saturday morning’s shoot-out with Ireland in Wellington.

The Wales coach had a fully fit squad to pick from following injury returns for James Hook, Shane Williams and Danny Lydiate, but has picked on form. Thus Hook starts among the replacements, as do British and Irish Lions duo Stephen Jones and Lee Byrne.

The coveted Welsh number 10 jersey remains with the 24-year-old Rhys Priestland. The understudy to the 101-time capped Jones at the Scarlets, he started against South Africa, Samoa and Fiji and gets the nod over his clubmate and Hook to go head-to-head with Ronan O’Gara.