Wales’ Biggest Day

9.00am Saturday 15th October 2011. Could it be the day that Wales qualify to play in the Rugby World Cup final for the first time? The day of rugby reckoning is only a matter of hours away...

Warren Gatland’s kids have won many admirers along the way, with much talked about youngsters such as Sam Warburton, George North and Dan Lydiate lighting up the competition. But on Saturday, they’ll have to do it without playmaker Rhys Priestland.

The Scarlet has failed to overcome a niggling injury, leaving Gatland with either the experienced Stephen Jones or the exciting James Hook; as he has done all tournament, Gatland has taken a risk.

So the only change to Saturday’s massive semi-final showdown with France sees James Hook come in at outside half, with Steven Jones on the bench. From a Blues point of view – although this is far bigger than any regional rivalry – there are 4, starters with Bradley Davies and Lloyd Williams on the bench taking the total amount involved up to 6.

So far Wales have gone about their business quietly, confidently and efficiently, but after their 22-10 victory over Ireland, the media spotlight has been glaring on Warburton’s men.

Having now been hyped up from nearly men to contenders, the Dragons have earned the respect of the rugby viewing world. The question is, will this added pressure be too much for the largely inexperienced side, or will they make history and set up a World Cup Final with New Zealand or Australia?

While the plaudits they receive are completely deserved; this is an immensely talented, committed, professional and admirable group of players, but people will question whether they can they sustain this level of heroism?

Regardless of the score on Saturday, this group of players have achieved a remarkable thing; they’ve made the whole rugby world stand up and take note. There are big things to come from this team, and a true golden era of Welsh rugby beckons.

But the real question is, does it begin here?

Wales:

Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); George North (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); James Hook (Perpignan), Mike Phillips (Bayonne); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Dragons) Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Toby Faletau (Dragons).

Lloyd Burns (Dragons), Paul James (Ospreys), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

France:

Maxime Medard; Vincent Clerc, Aurelien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson; Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili; Jean-Baptiste Poux, William Servat, Nicolas Mas, Pascal Pape, Lionel Nallet, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Julien Bonnaire, Imanol Harinordoquy.

Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Louis Picamoles, Francois Trinh-Duc, David Marty, Cedric Heymans, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Jean-Marc Doussain.