32 Wednesday,February 4 southwalesguardian.co.uk SIX NATIONS THEBIG 2009 KICK OFF! Favourites tagfor

WALES unsurprisingly startas on tour in the summer and in the clear favourites forthis year’s Autumn Series. Six Nations as theyset out on “It’sadecision thatwedebated their quest to become the first long and hardand the result is side in 11 years to win back-to- reallydifficult, it probably boiled backGrand Slams. down to the fact thatMikePhillips With keyplayers backfrom has playedmorerugbythan injury,the likes of since the autumn, and AndyPowell in sensational butitdoesn’t mean thatthe door is form and youngsters Leigh always going to be shut forhim or Halfpennyand Andrew Bishop anyone. looking to securetheir places in “We’ve tried to keep the squad the squad, it is little wonder why relatively similar to the last 6 the bookies have firmlyestab- Nations campaign, partofthat lished ’sside as philosophyistokeepeverything the team to beat. nice and tight and everyone in the Murrayfield, and Paris squad feeling thereisanopportu- will hold no fears forthe squad nity to playfor Wales and also while the English and Irish will makeitdifficult forpeople to come hardlybecounting the days until into the squad -makeplayers real- their visits to . ly earnthe right.” Gatland himself has voiced how While all the signs arepointing pleased he is with the squad but to another successful campaign, admits the first game,whichtakes the fact aLions tour beckons place in Murrayfield on Sunday, ensures thatthe English, Scottish could make-or-break the cam- and Irish players will have plenty paign. to prove. “Thereare afew important play- And with Gatland, Shaun ers backfrominjury, Edwards and RobHowley forming is backwith us and the likes of partofthe Lions coaching staff, MikePhillips, and whobetter to shine against than have been Wales. unavailabletousfor some time Italyimproveonanannual nowsowethink they aregoing to basis while MarcLievremont’stin- reallytry to strengthen the kering with the Frenchsquad squad,” he said. makes them predictably unpre- “Wehad avery harddecision to dictable. make at scrum-half,but were But all eyes will be on Gatland’s greatlyimpressed by the perfor- men this weekend as the nation mances of MikePhillips last year ponders whether the side is strong during the 6Nations and felt enough to stepuptothe challenge has done well both of shining as the team to beat.

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