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Team News: Wales squad named for bronze play-off

Team News: Wales squad named for bronze play-off
© PA Photos
Warren Gatland announces his team to take on Australia for Rugby World Cup third-place.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has named his side to take on Australia for the Rugby World Cup bronze medal on Friday.

Paul James replaces Adam Jones in the front row after the Osprey tore his calf against France, while Gethin Jenkins is named as captain in place of the banned Sam Warburton.

Bradley Davies comes in for Alun Wyn Jones in the second row, while in the loose forwards Toby Faletau moves to openside to cover Warburton, Dan Lydiate remains at blindside and Ryan Jones fills in at number eight.

The half-back pairing of Mike Phillips and James Hook remains, as does the back three of Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Shane Williams, who plans to retire from international rugby after this match.

"We are sticking with the majority of the side which has put together a string of performances for us so far in this tournament," said Gatland.

"The one change which wasn't forced, in the second row, is based on the fact that Alun Wyn Jones ran himself into the ground when we had 14 men against France."

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny, George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones, Toby Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, Paul James, Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins (c)

Replacments: Lloyd Burns, Ryan Bevington, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Lloyd Williams, Stephen Jones, Scott Williams

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