London - AFP
Wales coach Warren Gatland has made six changes to his team for the one-off Test against Australia here at the Millennium Stadium. Saturday's international is a repeat of the World Cup third place playoff match and is set to mark the final Test for Shane Williams, Wales's record try-scorer with 57 in 86 appearances, before the 34-year-old wing's retirement from international rugby. Sam Warburton, who missed the 21-18 defeat by the Wallabies in Auckland last month after being sent off during Wales's World Cup semi-final loss to France, returns to captain the side at openside flanker. There are also starts for centre Scott Williams, half-backs Rhys Priestland and Lloyd Williams, plus lock Ian Evans and prop Scott Andrews. Injuries have ruled out centre Jonathan Davies, lock Alun Wyn Jones and props Paul James and Adam Jones. Backs James Hook and Mike Phillips are unavaliable because, as this match falls outside the International Rugby Board's approved window for Tests, they have not been released by their respective French clubs Perpignan and Bayonne. Wales coach Warren Gatland said this weekend's match would be an ideal way for Williams, who will continue to play for Welsh club side the Ospreys, to bow out of Test rugby. "It does not often happen in professional sport that a player gets the opportunity to call time on his international career, then play one last match like this one in front of his home fans and the people he has given so much joy and entertainment to," Gatland said. "Saturday is a great opportunity for the fans to show Shane what he has meant to them and we all hope to send him off on the right note," he added. However, the New Zealander was also keen to stress the value of the match as a means of helping Wales prepare for the future. "As we remember the highs and lows of New Zealand and the World Cup, the focus must now be to build for the next four years, the immediate future of the 6 Nations next year and towards the 2015 World Cup," Gatland said. "Players like Scott Andrews, Ian Evans and Lloyd Williams (have) an immediate opportunity to impress and also the likes of Justin Tipuric, Dan Biggar and Alex Cuthbert with a chance from the bench." Wales (15-1) Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Rhys Priestland, Lloyd Williams; Toby Faletua, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate; Ian Evans, Bradley Davies; Scott Andrews, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins Replacements: Matthew Rees, Ryan Bevington, Ryan Jones, Justin Tipuric, Tavis Knoyle, Dan Biggar, Alex Cuthbert