Rugby World Cup 2011: Priestland out

Rhys PRIESTLAND has lost his fitness battle for Wales’ Rugby World Cup semi-final clash against France at Eden Park on Saturday.

Scarlets’ fly-half Priestland injured his shoulder during the quarter-final victory over Ireland in Wellington last weekend. He will be replaced in the team by James Hook, with Wales coach Warren Gatland otherwise retaining the team that accounted for Ireland.

Wales: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Perpignan), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Replacements: L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), P James (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), S Jones (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets).