Wales v Australia, Millennium Stadium, November 6
Williams misses out against settled Wallabies
ESPNscrum Staff
November 4, 2010
Wales' James Hook races away from the Italian defence at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, March 20, 2010
James Hook is back at fullback for Wales © Getty Images
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Veteran flanker Martyn Williams has been dropped for Wales' showdown with Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

The Cardiff Blues openside, Wales' most-capped forward, has lost his berth to regional team-mate Sam Warburton, who starts alongside Dragons flanker Dan Lydiate and Ospreys utility Jonathan Thomas in the back-row. Thomas fills in for injured skipper Ryan Jones at No.8, a position in which he has impressed so far this season.

James Hook has been seconded at fullback in place of the injured Lee Byrne while impressive Dragons flyer Will Harries deputises for Leigh Halfpenny on the wing. Hook's move leaves experienced Blues midfielder Tom Shanklin to partner Andrew Bishop in the centre.

Australia coach Robbie Deans has named an unchanged starting line-up. The Kiwi has kept faith in the side that saw off the All Blacks in Hong Kong last weekend, with winger James O'Connor set to take on the kicking duties following his match-winning try and conversion.

Matt Giteau has passed on the kicking tee but starts at inside-centre, with Quade Cooper and Will Genia again named at halfback. Flanker David Pocock gets another shot at Wales after terrorising them in last year's 33-12 victory and he is joined in the back-row by Rocky Elsom and Ben McCalman, who is the only member of the side without experience of the Millennium Stadium's unique atmosphere.

Wales: J Hook (Ospreys); W Harries (Newport Gwent Dragons), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets, capt), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys).

Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), D Jones (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), D Biggar (Ospreys), C Czekaj (Cardiff Blues)

Australia: K Beale (NSW Waratahs); J O'Connor (Western Force), A Ashley-Cooper (Brumbies), M Giteau (Brumbies), D Mitchell (NSW Waratahs); Q Cooper (Queensland Reds), W Genia (Queensland Reds); B Robinson (NSW Waratahs), S Moore (Brumbies), B Alexander (Brumbies), M Chisholm (Brumbies), N Sharpe (Western Force), R Elsom (Brumbies, capt), D Pocock (Western Force), B McCalman (Western Force)

Replacements: S Faingaa (Queensland Reds), J Slipper (Queensland Reds), D Mumm (NSW Waratahs), R Brown (Western Force), L Burgess (NSW Waratahs), B Barnes (NSW Waratahs), L Turner (NSW Waratahs)

Referee: Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Assistant Referees: Chris Pollock (NZ), Peter Allan (Sco)
TMO: Graham Hughes (Eng)

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