Parker, Daies and Sidoli get Wales starts.

1 of the Ponty 4
By Webmaster
November 7 2002

Wales coach Steve Hansen has announced his squad for this Satudays match against Fiji at the Millennium Stadium. The squad contains four players from Pontypridd with three of them getting places in the Starting line up.

Starts for Parker, Davies and Sidoli

    Steve Hansen has named his squad to face Fiji which contains four Pontypridd players. Sonny Parker, Mefin Davies and Robert Sidoli retain their places in the team and Richard Parks has been called up to the bench. Michael Owen, Neil Jenkins and Gethin Jenkins have all unfortunately missed out on places in the squad although they will still be considered for the matches against Canada and New Zealand later this month.

   Hansen has handed a debut to Dafydd Jones who takes over from Owen at flanker, while Cardiff captain Martyn Williams is also called up and Colin Charvis moves to number eight instead of Scott Quinnell.

    Elsewhere,  Gareth Llewellyn will extend his record as Wales' most capped forward, replacing Northampton's Steve Williams at lock, and Iestyn Thomas and Ben Evans are handed places in the front row in place of the inexperienced pair Gethin Jenkins and Martin Madden.

Wales team

R Williams (Cardiff); M Jones (Llanelli), T Shanklin (Saracens), S Parker (Pontypridd), G Thomas (Bridgend); S Jones (Llanelli), D Peel (Llanelli); I Thomas (Llanelli), M Davies (Pontypridd), B Evans (Swansea), R Sidoli (Pontypridd), G Llewellyn (Neath), D Jones (Llanelli), M Williams (Cardiff), C Charvis (Swansea, capt).

Replacements: A Lewis (Cardiff), M Madden (Llanelli), S Williams (Northampton), R Parks (Pontypridd), R Powell (Cardiff), I Harris (Cardiff), J Robinson (Cardiff).

Fiji team

Joseph Narruhn; Norman Ligairi, Seru Rabeni/Epeli Ruivadra, Seremaia Bai, Fero Lasagavibau; Nicky Little, Jacob Rauluni; Richard Nyholt, Greg Smith (capt), Bill Cavubati, Apisai Naevo, Simon Raiwalui, Setareki Tawake, Alifereti Doviverata, Alivereti Mocelutu.

Replacements: Bill Gadolo, Paula Biu, Isaia Rasila, Sisa Koyamaibole, Samisoni Rabaka, Issac Mow, Waisale Serevi.