Proctor back from the wilderness
November 20, 2001

Wayne Proctor has returned from the international wilderness to solve the Welsh injury crisis ahead of their clash with struggling World Champions Australia at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

The Llanelli wing, who won the last of his 38 caps more than three years ago, must have thought he had played his last match for Wales.

But with six wing-men on the sidelines, 29-year-old Proctor is recalled to the right wing with Gareth Thomas switching to the left.

Proctor is one of three enforced changes from the 51-7 victors over Tonga last weekend. Jamie Robinson wins his first full cap replacing Allan Bateman in the centre and Spencer John gets a start at loosehead prop, taking over from Iestyn Thomas.

"It's not an ideal situation for us to be in," said coach Graham Henry. "Experience is essential when meeting opposition of this quality. This is why we have attempted to restore some balance behind the scrum. We've just got to get on with it."

Wales have not beaten Australia since the third-place play-off in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, and the last time they won on home soil was way back in 1981.

Wales: K Morgan (Swansea); W Proctor (Llanelli), J Robinson (Cardiff), I Harris (Cardiff), G Thomas (Bridgend); S Jones (Llanelli), R Howley (Cardiff), S John (Cardiff), R McBryde (Llanelli), D Morris (Swansea), I Gough (Newport), A Moore (Swansea), C Charvis (Swansea), B Sinkinson (Neath), S Quinnell (Llanelli, captain).
Replacements: B Williams (Neath), D Jones (Neath), C Wyatt (Llanelli), G Thomas (Bath), D Peel (Llanelli), A Marinos (Newport), R Williams (Cardiff).

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