Wales coach Warren Gatland has made five changes to his side to face Samoa on Friday as he gives more players the chance to impress ahead of next year’s Six Nations (Wales 3/1 to win 2010 Six Nations outright).

Following last weekend’s 19-12 defeat to New Zealand last weekend, Gatland is hoping his side respond with a victory against the south-sea islanders ahead of upcoming Tests with Argentina and Australia.

Scrum-half Dwayne Peel, fly-half Dan Biggar, winger Tom James, flanker Sam Warburton and hooker Huw Bennett have been called up into the starting line-up, with Gareth Cooper, Stephen Jones, Shane Williams, Martyn Williams and Matthew Rees making way.

Not only will the quintet hope to earn a chance to start against the Pumas and Wallabies, but they will also be keen to impress the management ahead of the Six Nations and, in the longer term, the 2011 World Cup (Wales 16/1 to win the World Cup outright).

Gatland said: “Elsewhere we have maintained a consistency in selection and we will be looking to put a performance in on Friday night that will help create the momentum to finish off this series with wins, and build on what we achieved for large parts of the game against New Zealand.”

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