Ospreys prop Aaron Jarvis is the only uncapped player named in a 35-man Wales squad for the autumn Tests against Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia next month. Caretaker coach Rob Howley, in charge while Warren Gatland prepares to head up the 2013 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, has named six players who were not involved in the summer tour Down Under, including fit-again Cardiff Blues centre Jamie Roberts. Scarlets pair Rob McCusker and Tavis Knoyle also return to the fold alongside Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar, who had an outstanding game in Sunday's Heineken Cup clash at Leicester but, as expected, there is no recall for London Welsh fly-half Gavin Henson. Three players - Newport Gwent Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate (ankle), Exeter prop Craig Mitchell (biceps) and Scarlets prop Rhodri Jones (shoulder) - were not considered because of injury. Howley said: "We are really pleased with the strength and depth of the squad, with some pleasing individual performances over the last three or four weeks. But we all understand and realise the skill, physicality and intensity will go up over the next five weeks. "This is one of the reasons we are going back to our training camp in Poland to sharpen minds and bodies. Argentina are first up (November 10) and, after the experience they have gained in the Rugby Championship, they will be a challenging and tough opponent, but this is a challenge we will look forward to. "We know how important momentum is going into any series, and the bigger picture is the Rugby World Cup draw at the beginning of December, and how we perform against the Pumas, Samoa, the All Blacks and the Wallabies will have a direct effect on our seeding in that draw. "We need a successful November to back up our performances at the World Cup in New Zealand and the Six Nations Grand Slam earlier this year, and we are determined to achieve it." Wales backs: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets), A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets), H Robinson (Cardiff Blues), A Beck (Ospreys), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Scarlets), D Biggar (Ospreys), J Hook (Perpignan), R Priestland (Scarlets), T Knoyle (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues). Forwards: S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), R Bevington (Ospreys), P James (Bath), A Jarvis (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Toulon), A Jones (Ospreys), R Hibbard (Ospreys), K Owens (Scarlets), M Rees (Scarlets), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), L Charteris (Perpignan), I Evans (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys), R McCusker (Scarlets), A Shingler (Scarlets), J Tipuric (Ospreys), J Turnbull (Scarlets), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt). |
