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Gough Back for Wales

Newport Gwent Dragons lock Ian Gough is back in the Welsh starting XV for Friday night's Invesco Perpetual match against Canada but there are no places for Kevin Morgan, Ceri Sweeney or Michael Owen.

Kath McCarthy | 14/11/2006

Newport Gwent Dragons lock Ian Gough is back in the Welsh starting XV for Friday night's Invesco Perpetual match against Canada but there are no places for Kevin Morgan, Ceri Sweeney or Michael Owen.

Gough replaces fellow Dragons team mate Michael Owen at lock while Sweeney is replaced by James Hook and Morgan by Gareth Thomas who will skipper the side in place of the injured Stephen Jones.

Speaking on his selection Wales coach Gareth Jenkins said, "Ceri Sweeney went well at fly-half last week, but we felt James Hook would benefit from another 80 minutes or so at international level, plus we get another chance to assess how he fits into the set-up.

"We have selected a side to beat Canada and there are other players in the squad who impressed against the South Sea Islanders who may yet come into the equation this series as the shadow of the New Zealand match looms over us.

"We had a healthy debate this week about selection and are another step closer to finding the 22 players who will represent Wales against the All Blacks.

"There is pressure in a number of positions and the jury is still out on what our best selection is, but that's a great problem for us to have as coaches.

"The real pressure now is on the players selected to perform and for the rest of the squad to get behind them. We are about creating a team environment with the right conditions for this squad to grow and get better and better and the next step is to turn it on against Canada."

Wales:
Gareth Thomas (c); Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Gavin Henson, Shane Williams; James Hook, Dwayne Peel; Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Adam Jones, Ian Gough, Ian Evans, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones

Replacements: Rhys Thomas, Duncan Jones, Robert Sidoli, Alun Wyn Jones, Michael Phillips, Ceri Sweeney, Sonny Parker

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