Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday November 15, 6.30am
(AEDT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia).
TV: FoxSports 2 (from 6.25am)
Wales aim to end their mid-year slump with a convincing victory over Canada at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Friday.
The Six Nations champions swept all before them at the start of the year on their way to a Grand Slam under new coach Warren Gatland.
However, three successive defeats both at home and away to South Africa have left Wales in desperate need of not only a result, but also a performance that will lift morale and confidence with the daunting prospect of New Zealand and Australia still to come later this month.
They will be fully expected to deliver both against an inexperienced Canadian team still smarting from a humiliating 55-0 defeat to Ireland in Limerick last week, though Wales admit this is a 'must-win' game following those defeats to the world champion Springboks.
Gatland said: "We've got a chance to put defeat against South Africa behind us and try to build some momentum, but the expectation will be there for us to perform.
"Canada will be hurting from their defeat against the Irish and we're expecting a bit of a backlash. But for these players there's a great opportunity and if I was a player selected against Canada I would think there's a good chance I'll be playing against the All Blacks if I play well."
Much responsibility will lie on the shoulders of experienced campaigners such as captain Ryan Jones, British Lion Tom Shanklin and fit again wing Mark Jones in a shadow Wales team that shows 12 changes from last weekend.
However Gatland has warned his players that places are up for grabs ahead of the Tests with the All Blacks and Wallabies.
Gatland said: "This game offers a great chance for many of the players to go and make a mark for themselves, especially with New Zealand coming the week after. It's a great incentive and great motivation for them.
"The players must go out there, put their hand up and put us under pressure as coaches.
"Obviously there are a couple of experienced players that we've left out of this game that would feel that they're going to get the nod to start against New Zealand, but the pleasing thing is that it's the younger players who are making the most of their opportunities."
Canada came close to upsetting Wales in the opening game of last year's World Cup in Nantes, France, before falling away in the final 20 minutes, though are once again blooding new players in the build up to 2011.
Cannucks coach, New Zealander Kieran Crowley, has made two changes to his pack with lock Tyler Hotson and blindside flanker Jebb Sinclair both making rare starts as they aim to recover from the defeat in Ireland.
"That loss has dented our pride but we are determined to bounce back," he said.
"We only have eight professional players so a lot of young guys are on tour for the first time. They're not at the standard of international rugby yet but we want to give them the opportunity to see high level performance, take the experience on board and learn.
"Then the next time we meet up next May against Wales the players will have confidence and we won't have to start from scratch."
Wales: Morgan Stoddart; Leigh Halfpenny, Tom Shanklin, Andrew Bishop, Mark Jones; James Hook, Martin Roberts; Ryan Jones (capt), Robin Sowden-Taylor, Dafyyd Jones; Luke Charteris, Ian Gough; Rhys Thomas, Richard Hibbard, John Yapp. Res: Matthew Rees, Eifion Roberts, Alun-Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Dwayne Peel, Dan Biggar, Jamie Roberts
Canada: James Pritchard; Ciaran Hearn, Bryn Keys, Ryan Smith, Justin Mensah-Coker; Ander Monro, Ed Fairhurst; Aaron Carpenter, Adam Kleeberger, Jebb Sinclair; Josh Jackson, Tyler Hotson; Jon Thiel, Pat Riordan (capt), Kevin Tkachuk. Res: Mike Pletch, Frank Walsh, Mike Burak, Sean Michael Stephen, Morgan Williams, Matt Evans, Dean van Camp
Past five enounters:
Canada 17 Wales 42, Nantes, 2007
Wales 61 Canada 26, Cardiff, 2006
Canada 3 Wales 60, Toronto, 2005
Canada 10 Wales 41, Melbourne 2003
Wales 32 Canada 21, Cardiff, 2002
AFP
