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CARDIFF - Wales rugby coach Warren Gatland has named a record 13 Ospreys players in his team to face England in the Six Nations opener on Sunday (NZT).
The New Zealander has turned to the Liberty Stadium for inspiration as Wales look to end their 20-year losing run at Twickenham.
The Ospreys qualified this month for the Heineken Cup quarterfinals for the first time after a pool campaign that included victory over Gloucester.
Gatland hailed that win as the "most complete performance" from a Welsh team since his appointment in November and has rewarded a staggering 13 of the side with a starting role against England, the biggest representation from a single club for Wales.
Cardiff provided 10 of the team who held England 3-3 in 1948, also at Twickenham.
"I don't look at where players are from when I'm selecting the team, I pick on form and who I believe can do the job and I believe these guys can," Gatland said.
"We've only had limited preparation time so we've taken into consideration certain combinations and partnerships.
"I learned from my time with Ireland that trying to find a balance in numbers between the provinces is not always the best way to go. Munster were the best side in Ireland at the time and should have been represented as such in the national team."
Among those Ospreys partnerships are inside backs Mike Phillips and James Hook with Dwayne Peel injured and out-of-form Stephen Jones named on the bench.
Gavin Henson has been handed a Twickenham debut in an Ospreys backline that includes Shane Williams, Lee Byrne and Sonny Parker, who was given the nod ahead of Cardiff centre Tom Shanklin.
Llanelli Scarlets wing Mark Jones and Cardiff Blues flanker Martyn Williams are the only members of the starting team not from the Liberty Stadium.
Williams, 32, will win his 77th cap after being convinced by Gatland to return for Wales after announcing his international retirement after the World Cup.
Williams packs down alongside new Wales captain Ryan Jones and Jonathan Thomas. Duncan Jones, Huw Bennett and Adam Jones will transfer their regional partnership to Wales for the first time as will locks Alun Wyn Jones and veteran Ian Gough.
"This is not just a game, there's a lot at stake, national pride and bragging rights between the two countries. We're looking forward to the challenge," Gatland sdaid.
Wales
Lee Byrne, Shane Williams Sonny Parker, Gavin Henson, Mark Jones, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones (captain), Martyn Williams, Jonathan Thomas, Ian Gough, Alun Wyn Jones, Adam Jones, Huw Bennett, Duncan Jones.
Reserves: Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Ian Evans, Alix Popham, Gareth Cooper, Stephen Jones, Tom Shanklin.
- REUTERS
