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Wales confirm a 32-man squad minus two of last Saturday's players
By Liam Heagney
Warren Gatland has named a 32-man squad for this week’s training camp in Nice ahead of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations finale versus France in Paris. The Welsh clocked up their first win of this year’s tournament with their 29-17 victory over Italy in Rome last Saturday.
Rather than return to Wales in between the round four and five matches, coach Gatland opted to bring his squad from Rome to Nice before moving onto the French capital in a sort of mini-trial run for the World Cup later this year.
Wales will play Portugal in Nice in round two of that tournament next September and in the meantime, he has confirmed the 32-man squad that is with him by the Mediterranean. Absent are Liam Williams, the starting full-back at Stadio Olimpico, and Scott Baldwin, the sub hooker. Sam Parry, Baldwin's Ospreys club colleague, has been called up.
A WRU statement: “Wales senior men’s head coach Warren Gatland has selected a 32-player squad for a training camp in Nice ahead of the final round match against France in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations. The squad is preparing for Saturday’s game at the Stade de France.
"Scott Baldwin (Ospreys) and Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby) have both been ruled out of the game against France following injuries sustained during Italy vs Wales (Baldwin – pec, Williams – shoulder). Sam Parry (Ospreys) has been called up to the squad. Keiran Williams (Ospreys) was released following a groin injury sustained in the Ospreys vs Benetton match on March 4.”
The uncapped midfielder Williams wasn't the only surplus player released, as Exeter forward Christ Tshiunza and Cardiff lock Teddy Williams were also omitted by Gatland.
Wales squad (versus France)
Forwards (18):
Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby 20 caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 47 caps)
Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 20 caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets – 90 caps), Captain
Sam Parry (Ospreys – 5 caps)
Bradley Roberts (Dragons – 4 caps)
Leon Brown (Dragons – 23 caps)
Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 70 caps)
Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 49 caps)
Adam Beard (Ospreys – 45 caps)
Rhys Davies (Ospreys – 2 caps)
Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 5 caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys – 157 caps)
Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 99 caps)
Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 9 caps)
Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 8 caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys – 92 caps)
Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 36 caps)
Backs (14):
Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps)
Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 39 caps)
Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 44 caps)
Dan Biggar (Toulon – 106 caps)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets – 22 caps)
Owen Williams (Ospreys – 6 caps)
Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby – 2 caps)
Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 5 caps)
George North (Ospreys – 112 caps)
Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 26 caps)
Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 48 caps)
Rio Dyer (Dragons – 6 caps)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets – 98 caps)
Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby – 24 caps)
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I’m sick to death of waiting 3 years for league players to become half decent. It cripples Australian rugby in the meantime. The Reds actually looked half competent without Vunivalu not starting last week. He’s just a liability of errors. Paisami is looking better than he has in previous years but I’d have Kerevi back in a flash. A kiwi wont tho …...
Go to commentsExcellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
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