Wales pick home-based talent

BBC Sports - Monday, October 26, 2009 5:30 PM

Craig Mitchell is the only tight-head, with no place for Scarlets prop Deacon Manu, who has been targeted by Fiji.

DWAYNE Peel is the only non-Wales based player in coach Warren Gatland's 29-man squad for the November Test series.

The Sale scrum-half will miss the first game against New Zealand on 7 November because of a player release row.

Craig Mitchell is the only tight-head, with no place for Scarlets prop Deacon Manu, who has been targeted by Fiji.

Sam Warburton, Jonathan Davies and Paul James keep their places but there is no room for Ian Gough or Andrew Bishop. Dan Lydiate is the only uncapped man.

Scarlets full-back Daniel Evans and Ospreys centre Jonathan Spratt miss out, despite winning first caps on the summer tour of North America when Wales' British and Irish Lions stars were absent.

South Africa tourists Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams, Alun Wyn Jones, Matthew Rees, Andy Powell, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin Stephen Jones, James Hook, Shane Williams and Leigh Halfpenny all return.

Lions Adam Jones, Lee Byrne and Mike Phillips were ruled out by injury, along with Ian Evans, John Yapp and Joe Bearman.

Ospreys back-rower Ryan Jones is retained as captain, his upsurge in form this season seeing off the challenge of Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins.

"The selection process has been relatively simple for us, generally we have gone for the incumbents in their positions at regional level," said Gatland.

"Dan Lydiate is a good example of someone who has let his form do the talking and he deserves his chance as does Sam Warburton, who impressed the coaches on tour this summer.

"Craig Mitchell keeps his place after making his debut on that tour and, as a recognised tight-head, he is definitely someone we are looking to develop.

"Both Gethin Jenkins and Paul James are in consideration as props who can play on both sides of the scrum.

"It's ironic that we will have Dwayne to train with us for three days in Test week, but that he will have to go back to Manchester on match day.

"But it is something we have long been made aware of, accepted a long time ago and have made allowances for."

\Wales open against New Zealand in Cardiff on 7 November, then face Samoa, Argentina and Australia at the Millennium Stadium on successive weekends.

New Zealand arrive after a poor season and Gatland will see the chance of a first win over the All Blacks since 1953.

He has stuck with his policy of favouring Welsh-based players, leaving the likes of props Eifion Lewis-Roberts, Ben Broster and Ceri Jones out in the cold, along with Nicky Robinson, Jamie Robinson, Lee Thomas and Gareth Delve.

Peel will not be available against the All Blacks as the match falls outside the designated international window, so Sale are under no obligation to release their player.

With Phillips injured, Gareth Cooper and Martin Roberts are left to contest the number nine jersey.

Halfpenny and James Hook are the likely candidates for Byrne's vacated full-back spot, with no place for Barry Davies.

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Backs: Dan Biggar, James Hook, Shane Williams (Ospreys); Gareth Cooper, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Tom James, Leigh Halfpenny (Blues); Martin Roberts, Stephen Jones, Jonathan Davies, Mark Jones (Scarlets); Dwayne Peel (Sale).
Forwards: Paul James, Duncan Jones, Craig Mitchell, Huw Bennett, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones (capt), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Andy Powell, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams (Blues); Matthew Rees, Dafydd Jones (Scarlets); Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate (Dragons).