Sullivan 'shocked' summons

Wales create rugby union history on Saturday when they play Argentina at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. For the first time in the history of the modern game two born-and-bred rugby league players will start a game of union.

In the wake of Iestyn Harris's much publicised selection came news yesterday that his Cardiff club-mate Anthony Sullivan would also be in the starting line-up after Shane Williams failed a fitness test and pulled out having taken no part at all in the morning training.

The Neath wing Williams had been suffering from an ankle injury and had only ever been rated as 50-50 to make the side. Confirmation of his withdrawal set up a little bit of rugby history with the inclusion of the 33-year-old Sullivan, who said yesterday: "I am still in a state of shock.

"I was shocked enough last week when I was called into the squad. No one had mentioned to me that I was in with a chance. Now all I want to do is get out there and play. I certainly won't be nervous.

"You can waste a lot of energy being nervous. I have played in enough big games to know that I will be able to focus purely on the game."

Gloucester confirmed yesterday that Cristian Stoica, the Italian international centre they signed from Narbonne in the summer, has left Kingsholm having played just a handful of Premiership and Parker Pen Shield matches. Stoica has returned to France, this time to play for Castres.