Post by Taxigirl on Nov 7, 2003 10:02:55 GMT
Sun 9 Nov | 1000 GMT | Brisbane | Quarter-final
England and Wales will meet in a re-match of the 1987 World Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
On that occasion, at Brisbane's Ballymore ground as opposed to the Suncorp Stadium, the men in red won 16-3 in a match many described as the worst of the tournament.
England, 16 years on, will be confident of reversing that result and turning on the style.
Clive Woodward's men have won the five previous meetings between the teams, racking up 209 points in the process.
For this latest challenge, Woodward would have had the luxury of picking a full-strength team but for Richard Hill's continued absence with a hamstring strain.
Hill's place in the back-row goes to Lewis Moody.
The only change to the team that beat South Africa in the pool stages sees Jason Leonard come in at loose-head prop in place of Trevor Woodman.
Leonard will win a world record-equalling 111th cap and fly-half Jonny Wilkinson his 50th.
Wales, bouyed by an impressive performance against New Zealand in their final pool match, have made four changes to their side with Ospreys duo Jonathan Thomas and Shane Williams included.
Williams will start on the right wing in place of Gareth Thomas, who moves to full-back.
Exciting flanker Thomas replaces Cardiff's Martyn Williams, who is suffering from a shoulder problem.
Iestyn Harris forms a new midfield partnership with Mark Taylor, outside fly-half Stephen Jones.
As well as 111 being the magic number for Leonard, it will also be the 111th match between the sides.
Wales hold a slight advantage with 50 wins to 48, including that attritional Ballymore bore in 1987.
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England: J Lewsey; J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen, J Wilkinson, M Dawson; J Leonard, S Thompson, P Vickery, M Johnson (capt), B Kay, L Moody, N Back, L Dallaglio.
Replacements: D West, T Woodman, S Shaw, J Worsley, K Bracken, M Catt, I Balshaw.
Wales: G Thomas; M Jones, M Taylor, I Harris, S Williams; S Jones, G Cooper; I Thomas, R McBryde, A Jones; B Cockbain, R Sidoli; D Jones, C Charvis (capt), J Thomas.
Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, G Llewellyn, M Williams, D Peel, C Sweeney, K Morgan.
Leonard set for record
Jason Leonard will win a world record-equalling 111th cap in the World Cup quarter-final against Wales on Sunday.
Coach Clive Woodward has drafted the Harlequins veteran into a side that shows 10 changes from the team that beat Uruguay in their final pool match.
Woodward has recalled all his big-name players as the tournament reaches the crucial knock-out phase.
Flanker Richard Hill remains sidelined by injury, but his absence apart, Woodward has named his strongest team.
Hill was one of three players not considered for selection, along with fly-half Paul Grayson and forward Martin Corry, and his place on the blind-side goes to Lewis Moody.
"Richard is more frustrated about this injury than anyone," Woodward said of Hill.
"We still think that he will be fit for next week, if we are still here. He is just about there but not quite."
Josh Lewsey also makes the cut despite Iain Balshaw's strong showing in recent matches.
Balshaw, stetchered off against Uruguay with a sprained ankle, is named as a replacement.
He is joined on the bench by Mike Catt, who received a head injury in training on Wednesday, and squad new boy Simon Shaw.
Lock Shaw only arrived in Australia at the start of the week in place of Danny Grewcock, who withdrew with a broken hand sustained in the victory over Uruguay.
Matt Dawson won the vote for the scrum-half's berth, ahead of Kyran Bracken, and will be back-up kicker to Jonny Wilkinson.
England's fly-half will win his 50th cap at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, but that achievement will be over-shadowed by Leonard's landmark.
The 35-year-old is the only change from the team that beat South Africa 25-6 in the pool stages, coming in for Gloucester's Trevor Woodman at loose-head prop.
"It is a tremendous achievement. He is a fantastic guy to be with, and what you see is what you get with Jason," Woodward said.
"There is no sentiment involved with his selection. He is in the team on merit, and this is a tremendous accolade for him."
Leonard made his debut against Argentina in 1990, when Wilkinson was 11.
He went on to win a remarkable 40 consecutive Tests between 1990 and 1995, a sequence that also included an operation, in 1992, to repair ruptured vertebrae in his neck using bone taken from his pelvis.
He reached a century of caps in this season's Six Nations victory over France and will match French centre Philippe Sella's record of 111 international appearances on Sunday.
Leonard also has five Lions appearances to his name.
England and Wales will meet in a re-match of the 1987 World Cup quarter-final on Sunday.
On that occasion, at Brisbane's Ballymore ground as opposed to the Suncorp Stadium, the men in red won 16-3 in a match many described as the worst of the tournament.
England, 16 years on, will be confident of reversing that result and turning on the style.
Clive Woodward's men have won the five previous meetings between the teams, racking up 209 points in the process.
For this latest challenge, Woodward would have had the luxury of picking a full-strength team but for Richard Hill's continued absence with a hamstring strain.
Hill's place in the back-row goes to Lewis Moody.
The only change to the team that beat South Africa in the pool stages sees Jason Leonard come in at loose-head prop in place of Trevor Woodman.
Leonard will win a world record-equalling 111th cap and fly-half Jonny Wilkinson his 50th.
Wales, bouyed by an impressive performance against New Zealand in their final pool match, have made four changes to their side with Ospreys duo Jonathan Thomas and Shane Williams included.
Williams will start on the right wing in place of Gareth Thomas, who moves to full-back.
Exciting flanker Thomas replaces Cardiff's Martyn Williams, who is suffering from a shoulder problem.
Iestyn Harris forms a new midfield partnership with Mark Taylor, outside fly-half Stephen Jones.
As well as 111 being the magic number for Leonard, it will also be the 111th match between the sides.
Wales hold a slight advantage with 50 wins to 48, including that attritional Ballymore bore in 1987.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
England: J Lewsey; J Robinson, W Greenwood, M Tindall, B Cohen, J Wilkinson, M Dawson; J Leonard, S Thompson, P Vickery, M Johnson (capt), B Kay, L Moody, N Back, L Dallaglio.
Replacements: D West, T Woodman, S Shaw, J Worsley, K Bracken, M Catt, I Balshaw.
Wales: G Thomas; M Jones, M Taylor, I Harris, S Williams; S Jones, G Cooper; I Thomas, R McBryde, A Jones; B Cockbain, R Sidoli; D Jones, C Charvis (capt), J Thomas.
Replacements: M Davies, G Jenkins, G Llewellyn, M Williams, D Peel, C Sweeney, K Morgan.
Leonard set for record
Jason Leonard will win a world record-equalling 111th cap in the World Cup quarter-final against Wales on Sunday.
Coach Clive Woodward has drafted the Harlequins veteran into a side that shows 10 changes from the team that beat Uruguay in their final pool match.
Woodward has recalled all his big-name players as the tournament reaches the crucial knock-out phase.
Flanker Richard Hill remains sidelined by injury, but his absence apart, Woodward has named his strongest team.
Hill was one of three players not considered for selection, along with fly-half Paul Grayson and forward Martin Corry, and his place on the blind-side goes to Lewis Moody.
"Richard is more frustrated about this injury than anyone," Woodward said of Hill.
"We still think that he will be fit for next week, if we are still here. He is just about there but not quite."
Josh Lewsey also makes the cut despite Iain Balshaw's strong showing in recent matches.
Balshaw, stetchered off against Uruguay with a sprained ankle, is named as a replacement.
He is joined on the bench by Mike Catt, who received a head injury in training on Wednesday, and squad new boy Simon Shaw.
Lock Shaw only arrived in Australia at the start of the week in place of Danny Grewcock, who withdrew with a broken hand sustained in the victory over Uruguay.
Matt Dawson won the vote for the scrum-half's berth, ahead of Kyran Bracken, and will be back-up kicker to Jonny Wilkinson.
England's fly-half will win his 50th cap at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, but that achievement will be over-shadowed by Leonard's landmark.
The 35-year-old is the only change from the team that beat South Africa 25-6 in the pool stages, coming in for Gloucester's Trevor Woodman at loose-head prop.
"It is a tremendous achievement. He is a fantastic guy to be with, and what you see is what you get with Jason," Woodward said.
"There is no sentiment involved with his selection. He is in the team on merit, and this is a tremendous accolade for him."
Leonard made his debut against Argentina in 1990, when Wilkinson was 11.
He went on to win a remarkable 40 consecutive Tests between 1990 and 1995, a sequence that also included an operation, in 1992, to repair ruptured vertebrae in his neck using bone taken from his pelvis.
He reached a century of caps in this season's Six Nations victory over France and will match French centre Philippe Sella's record of 111 international appearances on Sunday.
Leonard also has five Lions appearances to his name.