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Jones – “We must start well”

Jones – “We must start well”

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The Wales and British Lions No.8 says a near full-strength Welsh team must prove that they are on top form ahead of their clash with the seemingly-unstoppable New Zealanders a week on Saturday.

With captain and fly-half Stephen Jones ruled out of tonight’s game after succumbing to his knee injury, Gareth Thomas takes over the captaincy of the Welsh side.


Ryan Jones commented: “We can’t afford to start slowly against Canada. We have to set our stall out early and although the boys played some good stuff last week in the win over the Pacific Islanders, we are all fighting for our jerseys. We need to put on a complete performance and a resounding victory is the only way to do that.”

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Meanwhile, Canada coach Rob Suggitt says his side will punish the Welsh if they focus too much on next Saturday’s All Blacks clash. Canada are out for revenge after Wales trounced them 60-3 in Toronto in the summer of 2005.

Suggitt said: “The Welsh players will know that they can’t look ahead to the All Blacks game because if they do, it could come back to bite them on the backside. Last time we played Wales we took one on the chin and we definitely want to improve on that performance.”

Wales: Gareth Thomas (Toulouse, capt), Mark Jones (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys), James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Dragons), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys)
Replacements: Rhys Thomas (Blues), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Robert Sidoli (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Michael Phillips (Blues), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Sonny Parker (Ospreys)

Canada: Ed Fairhurst (Cardiff Blues), Mike Pyke (Edinburgh), Ryan Smith (Montauban), David Spicer (Uni of Victoria), James Prichard (Bedford), Derek Daypuck (Castaway-Wanderers), Morgan Williams (Albi, capt), Kevin Tkachuk (Glasgow), Mark Lawson (Velox-Valhallians), Forrest Gainer (Albi), Luke Tait (Overmarch Parma), Mike Burak (Pau), Mike Webb (Castaway-Wanderers), Stan McKeen (Cornish Pirates), Sean-Michael Stephen (Bezier)
Replacements: Pat Riordan (Burnaby Lake), Dan Pletch (Oakville Crusaders), Mike Pletch (Oakville Crusaders) Stu Ault (Barrhaven Scottish), Aaron Carpenter (Brantford Harlequins), Ander Monro (Edinburgh), Justin Mensah-Coker (Albi)

Referee: Tony Spreadbury (England)

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