Ian Evans, one of the most highly-rated players in Wales, was selected for the World Cup squad despite not having played for 10 months after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction. The athletic lock and lineout general was born in South Africa, where his parents were working, but returned to Wales when he was five. Evans was an unused replacement during the 2005 autumn series, but made a remarkable international debut in Argentina the following summer, galloping in for a try from 60 metres.