Wales' Peel and Phillips out of Six Nations
Warren Gatland is set to give a handful of debuts to Welsh youngsters
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Monday, 18, Jan 2010 03:09
By Sam Ross.
Injuries to Dwayne Peel and Mike Phillips has forced Wales head coach Warren Gatland to leave them out of the 35-man Six Nations squad and resort to a list of potential debutants.
With the injury hit scrum-half position available, uncapped duo Richard Rees and Martin Roberts are set to battle for the number nine shirt ahead of the England game at Twickenham on February 6th along with the experienced Cardiff Blues scrum-half Gareth Cooper.
Ospreys' teenage duo Kristian Phillips and Tom Prydie could also make their senior debuts alongside Saracens prop Rhys Gill with Gatland trusting his inexperienced players to do well.
He said: !We have brought in some youngsters to put some pressure on some of our senior players and to help increase the depth we have in certain positions. We are now at the beginning of our countdown to the World Cup and this slightly larger squad reflects that."
Gatland also praised the application of 19-year-old Phillips: "Kristian is a good example of an exciting young player, he has just won the principality player of the month award and scored five tries in one match for Neath, he is skilful and very quick."
The team is not only made of youngsters though and Gatland is pleased to welcome back returning key players including Lee Bryne and Adam Jones.
He added: !Elsewhere we are very happy to welcome back the likes of Adam and Lee who were both obviously missed in the autumn, although at full-back in particular a certain James Hook provided more than ample cover."
However Gatland has stressed that both Phillips and Peel could be added to the Wales squad.
Full 35-man Wales Six Nations squad:
Backs: D Biggar (Ospreys), A Bishop (Ospreys), L Byrne (Ospreys), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), T James (Cardiff Blues), S Jones (Scarlets), K Phillips (Ospreys), T Prydie (Ospreys), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), M Roberts (Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys).
Forwards: H Bennett (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport-Gwent Dragons), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), R Gill (Saracens), I Gough (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), AW Jones (Ospreys), D Jones (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (captain), E Lewis-Roberts (Sale), D Lydiate (Newport-Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets), J Thomas (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), G Williams (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues).