Proctor gets surprise call-up

Jamie Robinson will partner Iestyn Harris in midfield

Wales v Australia at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Sunday 25 November, live on BBC2, kick-off 1500 GMT.

Wales coach Graham Henry has been forced to make three changes to the team that started against Tonga for Sunday's match against Australia.

Cardiff duo Jamie Robinson and Spencer John, who both made an impact as replacements on Saturday, will start against the world champions.

They replace the injured pair of Allan Bateman (hamstring) and Iestyn Thomas (broken toe).

But the biggest surprise of all sees Llanelli's Wayne Proctor replacing Anthony Sullivan on the wing.

By selecting Wayne we have involved someone with a wealth of experience

Wales coach Graham Henry

It will be Proctor's first international start for three years. He won the last of his 38 caps against Zimbabwe in June 1998.

He answers an injury crisis which sees six other wing-men on the sidelines including Dafydd James, Shane Williams and Sullivan in the casualty room.

Proctor has not been capped under Henry, but the New Zealander believes the 29-year-old is the right man for the job.

"It's not an ideal situation for us to be in when we are preparing to face the world champions," Henry said.

"Experience is essential when meeting opposition of this quality. This is why we have attempted to restore some balance behind the scrum.

"You have to protect and nurture young talent and by selecting Wayne we have involved someone with a wealth of rugby experience.

"We've just got to get on with it and we are looking forward to measuring ourselves against the best team in the world.

"We want to build on last weekend's record victory over Tonga and it will be to our advantage to have another week together."

Gareth Thomas moves from the right wing to play on the left to accommodate Proctor.

With John and Robinson promoted off the bench, Henry has also drafted in Neath prop Duncan Jones and Newport centre Andy Marinos among the substitutes.

Proctor returns from the international wilderness

Both players have produced impressive recent performances for Wales 'A', displays which underpinned their elevation into the senior squad.

Wales have not tasted victory against Australia for 14 years 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.

This will be the Wallabies' first return to the Millennium Stadium since they lifted the World Cup two years ago, beating Wales in the quarter-finals.

But they go into Sunday's clash with two defeats under their belts against England and France, and they have not lost three matches on the trot since 1995.

Rupert Moon, who has been volunteering as Wales' 'water-boy' during recent international matches, has become the country's player development officer.

The former Wales scrum-half will receive £12,000 for the part-time post.

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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, capt).
Reps: B Williams (Neath), D Jones (Neath), C Wyatt (Llanelli), G Thomas (Bath), D Peel (Llanelli), A Marinos (Newport), R Williams (Cardiff).