THE Welsh rugby factory, made famous for producing outside halves by the Max Boyce song, looks to be producing more forwards these days.

Llanelli flanker Dafydd Jones made an impressive debut in the 58-14 win over Fiji and team-mate Vernon Cooper (pictured) is the latest model to roll off the production line to win his first cap against Canada today.

"The production line is coming along quite nicely," quipped Cooper. "It helps having quite a few Scarlets in the pack as well, so I'll feel quite at home."

Cooper will be one of seven Llanelli players in the side alongside wing Mark Jones, fly half Stephen Jones, scrum half Dwayne Peel, prop Iestyn Thomas, hooker Robin McBryde and flanker Jones.

But while a home debut is every player's dream, Cooper admits he would love a crack at the New Zealand All Blacks next Saturday.

Llanelli's famous 9-3 win over the 1973 All Blacks is nearly thirty years old and it would mean a lot for the 25-year-old to face them.

He said: "I could barely put that it into words. Obviously it would be huge to go out there against one of the best teams in the world at home as well in front of a capacity crowd, that would be an awesome experience."

But Cooper knows that Pontypridd lock Robert Sidoli is waiting in the wings and is likely to start against the All Blacks, though coach Steve Hansen has said that places are still very much up for grabs.

Either way, Cooper is just glad to be starting his first international after sitting out Wales' wins over both Romania and Fiji.

He said: "Robert has had a huge couple of games, he has really come on in leaps and bounds and I'm sure he'll be favourite to start against the All Blacks. Whatever I can get out of the Canada game will be a bonus.

"It's been a long two and a half weeks as the only uncapped player left in the squad and as time goes on you think he might give the team to play New Zealand a run out against Canada, but Steve did say I would be involved in some way and I am just pleased to be starting."

Cooper was forced out of Wales' development tour of North America in summer 2000 with a shoulder injury and got into the Wales A squad before a fractured leg forced him out, but his time has finally arrived.