By Zippy
June 9 2005
Preview of this weekends big games as the Lions go into the unofficial 4th Test against the NZ Maori and Wales complete their North America tour vs Canada in Toronto, also the Wales U21 side to take on NZ U21 in the World Cup For details read on
Lions vs New Zealand Maori Saturday June 11th KO 810am BST
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Lions team:
J Lewsey (England); T Shanklin (Wales), B O'Driscoll (Ireland, capt), G D'Arcy (Ireland), S Williams (Wales); S Jones (Wales), M Dawson (England); A Sheridan (England), S Thompson (England), J White (England), S Shaw (England), P O'Connell (Ireland), R Hill (England), M Williams (Wales), S Taylor (Scotland).
Replacements: S Byrne (Ireland), G Jenkins (Wales), B Kay (England), M Owen (Wales), D Peel (Wales), R O'Gara (Ireland), S Horgan (Ireland).
The Welsh contingent are represented by:
Tom Shanklin He will be looking for another power packed performance as he aims to put his name amongst the potential test starters.
Shane Williams He needs to relax and play his own game, given space hell show SCW what he is all about.
Stephen Jones The "Turk Carthorse" will be looking to carry on his highly impressive club form and international form and stake his claim for the highly contested no10 shirt.
Martyn Williams A bit subdued last week but still favourite for the 7 shirt, a big game against the highly rated Marty Holah should see him in the driving seat.
Elsewhere 4 Englishmen in a huge front 5 as SCW looks to improve the set piece, a talented Irish centre pairing and the Lions will once again look to Josh Lewsey to come into the line. Simon Taylor gets to lay down his marker for the no8 shirt.
NZ Maori team: Leon MacDonald; Rico Gear, Rua Tipoki, Luke McAlister, Caleb Ralph; David Hill, Piri Weepu; Deacon Manu, Corey Flynn, Carl Hayman, Ross Filipo, Sean Hohneck, Jono Gibbes (capt), Marty Holah, Angus MacDonald.
Replacements: Scott Linklater, Greg Feek, Daniel Braid, Wayne Ormond, Craig McGrath, Carlos Spencer, Neil Brew.
Been described as the strongest Maori team in ages, several candidates for All Black jerseys, the Lions will do well to win this one as the tour steps up a few notches.
Wales vs Canada
Saturday 11th June KO 8pm BST (Live on BBC 2 Wales and Radio Wales/Cymru)
York Stadium, Toronto
Wales: K Morgan (Dragons); R Williams (Blues), M Taylor (Sale, capt), C Sweeney (Dragons), C Czekaj (Blues); N Robinson (Blues), M Phillips (Blues); D Jones (Ospreys), R Thomas (Blues), B Broster (Saracens), L Charteris (Dragons), R Sidoli (Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), C Charvis (Newcastle), R Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: M Davies (Gloucester), J Yapp (Blues), R Sowden-Taylor (Blues), A Popham (Scarlets), A Williams (Bath), M Jones (Ospreys), M Watkins (Scarlets).
Same team they destroyed the USA apart from Ben Broster comes in for Adam Jones who is rested, Chris "Check Eye" Czekaj comes in on the wing for the injured Craig Morgan and Rob Sidoli swaps with Brent Cockbain who gets a well deserved rest.
Canada squad: Aaron Abrams (Mississauga, ON; Castaway-Wanderers), Mike Burak (Vancouver, BC; U.B.C. Old Boy Ravens), Garth Cooke (Merritt, BC; Benevento), John Cannon (Abbotsford, BC; Coventry), Jamie Cudmore (Squamish, BC; Grenoble), Derek Daypuck (London, ON; Castaway-Wanderers), Pat Dunkley (Victoria, BC: James Bay AA), Ed Fairhurst (Victoria, BC; University of Victoria), Pat Fleck (Vancouver, BC; Meralomas), Quentin Fyffe (Calgary, AB; Calgary Irish), Forrest Gainer (Sherwood Park, AB; Trinity University), Josh Jackson (Nanaimo, BC; Leonessa), Matt King (Toronto, ON; Balmy Beach), Mark Lawson (Vancouver, BC; Velox-Valhallians), Stan McKeen (Vancouver, BC; Pacific Pride), Simon Pacey (Fredericton, NB; Fredericton Loyalists), Dan Pletch (Lucan, ON; Oakville Crusaders), Mike Pyke (Victoria, BC; Edinburgh Rugby), Stirling Richmond (N Vancouver, BC; Vancouver Rowing Club), Simon Rodgers (Toronto, ON; Balmy Beach), Ryan Smith (Caledon, ON; Brampton Beavers), Luke Tait (Barrie, ON; Ospreys), Kevin Tkachuk (Regina, SK; Glasgow Rugby), Dean Van Camp (Port Perry, ON; Aurora Barbarians), Mike Webb (West Vancouver, BC; Swilers), Morgan Williams (Cole Harbour, NS; Saracens), Colin Yukes (Edmonton, AB; Agen)
Canada have an injury crisis ahead of the game (from the BBC)
Captain Mark Lawson (arm) and wing Mike Pyke (hand) broke bones in the 15-10 Super Cup final win over Japan. Stade Francais forward Mike James must undergo elbow surgery, while centre Dean Van Camp has a facial injury. Personal or professional reasons have ruled out number eight Philip Murphy (London Irish) and props Jon Thiel (ex Scarlets) and Rod Snow (ex Dragons)
Wales Under-21: Ricky Williams (Newport); Aled Brew (Neath/Ospreys), Andrew Bishop (Neath/Ospreys), Dafydd Lockyer (Pontypridd), Richard Fussell (Newport Gwent Dragons); Aled Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), James Ireland (Newport Gwent Dragons); Scott Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Rhys James (Newport), Cai Griffiths (Neath/Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Swansea/Ospreys), Dominic Day (Llanelli), Chris Davies (Newport Gwent Dragons), James Merriman (Hartpury College/Gloucester, capt), Jonathan Mills (Llanelli/Llanelli Scarlets).
Replacements: Phillip Osborne (Newport), Gerwyn Price (Neath), Tom Smith (Neath), Rhys Shellard (Pontypridd), Wayne Evans (Cardiff Blues), David Flanagan (Pontypridd), Steve Ireland (Newport).
And finally an impressive looking Wales U21s side face tournament favourites New Zealand tonight in Argentina in the first game of the world cup, come on Wales!