RUDDOCK LOOKING FOR SEVEN IN A ROW
Wales take on the USA in Hartford, Connecticut tonight (Saturday) at 8.00pm BST live on Sky Sports 2). Having used last summer’s three Test tour of Argentina and South Africa to blood and groom a number of younger players, Ruddock is hoping the internationals against the Eagles and Canada next week will create even more pressure within the squad for places when Wales defend their RBS Six Nations title next season.
“We will be trying out a lot of new combinations and seeing how certain players react to the Test environment,” said Ruddock. “That means every player now has a huge chance to impress ahead of what is going to be a very important season for Wales when we defend our Six Nations title.”
Despite being short of so many players, Ruddock still has 13 players in his tour party who played a part in the Grand Slam success and he will have Kevin Morgan, Rhys Williams, Mark Taylor, Ceri Sweeney, Adam Jones, Brent Cockbain and Ryan Jones in his starting line-up and Ian Gough among the replacements.
The game will also see a return to the Test arena for Ospreys prop Duncan Jones, who packs down at loose head after missing the whole of the Six Nations campaign through injury. Skipper Mark Taylor will become the 15th Welsh player to reach 50 caps.
“Despite losing 10 players to the Lions and others to injury, we have picked a strong, experienced side with just one new cap, Matthew Rees,” said Ruddock. “It is important we have a strong backbone to the side in order to build on our recent performances and we will look to gain a balance in the team during the tour.”
Scarlets hooker Matthew Rees will shoulder considerable responsibility on his Test debut. The Eagles have a huge line-out and will be seeking to pressurise Wales at the set-pieces.
The 24-year-old Rees is the only new cap in the starting line-up, although with temperatures expected to be very high there is every likelihood that the four new boys on the bench – Rhys Thomas, Ben Broster, Richie Pugh and Tal Selley – could all get a run.
“We have done our homework on the American team and the conditions so we are ready for the challenge,” said Ruddock. “America are a very settled team with some exciting runners behind including Francois Viljoen, Mike Palefau, Paul Emerick and Mike Hercus.
“They have a very big, aggressive pack and, with (Cardiff Blues No.8) Kort Schubert as captain, they will know a lot about the Wales team.”
USA:
F Viljoen
M Palefau
P Emerick
A Tuipulotu
D Fee
M Hercus
D Rowe
M MacDonald
M Wyatt
C Osentowski
A Parker
B Surgener
A Ryland
K Schubert (capt)
T Clever
Replacements:
M Griffin
M French
M Managan
T Petruzzella
P Galicz
S Sika
M Sherman
Wales:
K Morgan
R Williams
M Taylor (capt)
C Sweeney
C Morgan
N Robinson
M Phillips
D Jones
M Rees
A Jones
B Cockbain
L Charteris
J Thomas
R Jones
C Charvis
Replacements:
R Thomas
B Broster
I Gough
R Pugh
A Williams
M Watkins
T Selley
Referee:
Craig Joubert (South Africa)
