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Jenkins hits milestone as Allen starts

14th November 2013


Cardiff Blues prop Gethin Jenkins will win his 100th cap for Wales on Saturday - in a side to face Argentina which includes uncapped centre Cory Allen and a total of six players from Blues in the squad.

Jenkins will become only the fourth Welsh player to reach the milestone (Stephen Jones-104, Martyn Williams-100, Gareth Thomas-100) and he will feature alongside his regional team-mate Allen to take on the Pumas in the second Dove Men Series match of the Autumn.  

The 20-year-old, who featured for Wales Under 20 and Sevens sides in 2012/13, replaces the injured Jonathan Davies in the midfield.

Jenkins will face Argentina for the sixth time this weekend and will feature in the front-row alongside Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard and Rhodri Jones (Scarlets) who replaces the injured Adam Jones. 

Bradley Davies (Blues) and Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) continue their partnership in the second-row.

In the back-row Ospreys flanker Justin Tipuric comes into the side for the injured Dan Lydiate.  Lydiate injured his ankle in the defeat to the Springboks and has been ruled out of the second autumn tie.  Tipuric will play at openside flanker with captain Sam Warburton (Blues) switching to blindside. 

The duo are joined by Toby Faletau (Dragons), reuniting the back-row which faced England in the final RBS 6 Nations game earlier this year, which saw Wales retain the Championship in dramatic style at the Millennium Stadium.

The back-three is the same that started the game against South Africa last time out with George North (Northampton Saints) and Liam Williams (Scarlets) on the wing and Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), who passed the 300 point-haul for Wales last weekend, at full-back.

Wales team:

Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Cory Allen (Blues), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Unattached); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Bradley Davies (Blues), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Blues – Capt.), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Toby Faletau (Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Paul James (Bath), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Blues), James Hook (Perpignan), Ashley Beck (Ospreys)