James back as Ruddock shuffles deck

Dafydd James will win his first Wales cap in three years on Saturday after head coach Mike Ruddock announced sweeping changes for the Millennium Stadium clash with South Africa.

The 2001 Lion, who last appeared for Wales under Steve Hansen in the 2002 defeat to New Zealand, impressed Ruddock after being called into the squad as injury cover.

James starts on the right wing and is amongst 10 changes that Ruddock has made to the first-choice Wales side that was beaten by the All Blacks on November 5.

Two of those changes are injury-enforced with James replacing Kevin Morgan (ankle) and Luke Charteris starting in place of lock Brent Cockbain (hamstring).

But otherwise Ruddock has performed radical surgery on the side that was beaten 41-3 by the All Blacks.

Lee Byrne starts at full-back with captain Gareth Thomas moving to outside centre in place of Mark Taylor.

Thomas is partnered in midfield by Sonny Parker, who comes in for Ceri Sweeney, while Lions tourist Gareth Cooper takes over from Mike Phillips at scrum-half.

In the pack, Worcester prop Chris Horsman has recovered from an ankle problem to start ahead of Adam Jones and hooker Rhys Thomas has ousted Mefin Davies, while Lions flanker Martyn Williams returns with Jonathan Thomas slipping to the bench and Colin Charvis moving to the blind-side.

Ruddock explained: “Our rationale has been to go for a team that has the potential to play the exciting brand of rugby that we associate with the Welsh team and a team that can adopt a strong defensive attitude when the Springboks have the ball.

“We may have lost a few players to injuries but we believe we have an exceptionally strong team here with a good mix of experienced players and some great young prospects.

“We obviously had decisions to make at centre, full-back and wing, but we feel we have come up with the right balance for this game.

“Dafydd brings a wealth of experience to the table, along with international size and physique, he also has the kind of attack defensive qualities which are the keys to building a performance against a combative South African outfit on Saturday,” said Ruddock.

“We’ve been keeping an eye on him and, whilst we felt his time at Harlequins didn’t bring out the best in him last season, his class has shown through and he’s been more like his old self since returning to the Scarlets.

“Lee offers us a big left boot to compliment Stephen Jones as a kicking option and, most impressively, he has come into the side in difficult circumstances and slotted in extremely well to the international environment and not looked out of place.”

Thomas, the Cardiff hooker, and Dragons lock Charteris were two players Ruddock singled out for praise after a second string Wales side had edged an 11-10 win over Fiji last Friday.

“Rhys Thomas has earned a starting spot, based on some excellent performances on the summer tour, in training and in these autumn internationals we feel he has played himself into the team,” said Ruddock.

“In the second row we have gone for Charteris and Sidoli which gives us extra height and ability in the lineout, but it is a 22-man game these days and we will fully utilise the bench when necessary.”

Stephen Jones, 28, will become just the 16th Welsh player to win 50 caps and Thomas starts in midfield for the 15th time in his 85-cap Wales career.

The skipper comes in for Taylor, who has been released back to Sale after revealing he had a “holding clause” in his contract.

Wales are in discussions with the International Rugby Board and Sale over the situation but Ruddock explained: “Rather than involving ourselves in a tug of war over a player during a Test week we have taken the dignified approach and done what is best for all parties by releasing Mark back to his club for the weekend.

“It’s a difficult situation for all. Mark is a valued member of the squad and may well have figured somewhere in the selection mix, but the potential disruption and distraction of the issue was entirely unwanted.”

Wales are now without six injured players with Cockbain, who underwent surgery on Sunday to re-attach a hamstring he injured against Fiji, joining Gavin Henson, Dwayne Peel, Tom Shanklin, Ryan Jones and Gethin Jenkins on the sidelines.

Dafydd Jones’ ankle injury will also rule him out of next week’s game against Australia.

Wales team to play South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday:

L Byrne (Llanelli Scarlets); D James (Llanelli Scarlets), G Thomas (Toulouse, capt), S Parker (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), G Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons); D Jones (Ospreys), R Thomas (Cardiff Blues), C Horsman (Worcester), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), C Charvis (Newcastle), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: M Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Phillips (Cardiff Blues), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Watkins (Llanelli Scarlets).