Wales v England: Teams

Henson: starts for Wales

Gavin Henson will get the chance to press his claim for World Cup selection when he starts for Wales in Saturday's clash with England at the Millennium Stadium.

The 29-year-old, who is currently without a club after brief stints with both Saracens and Toulon, missed out on the tournaments in both 2003 and 2007 but coach Warren Gatland has left the door open by naming Henson in midfield alongside Cardiff's Jamie Roberts, who switches to outside centre.

There are three other changes made by Gatland from the side that lost the reverse fixture 23-19 at Twickenham last weekend.

James Hook is drafted in at full-back to replace Morgan Stoddart, who suffered a broken leg during the defeat to England and will now miss the World Cup.

In the pack, Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Lloyd Burns is handed a first Test start, and his club-mate, lock Luke Charteris, takes over from Bradley Davies in the second row.

"We need the win this weekend - it's as simple as that," said Gatland.

"We've told the players that, for us to be regarded as contenders at the Rugby World Cup, we need to beat England at home this weekend, to send out that message to everyone that we are contenders."

He added: "We have retained the majority of the side who travelled to London last week and told them that we want more of the same.

"There are one or two players we have brought in to have a look at but the reason we have deliberately not made wholesale changes is that we need to win this game and we believe these are the players who can do that."

Scarlets' Rhys Priestland continues at fly-half while flanker Sam Warburton will again captain the side in the absence of Matthew Rees, who is suffering with a neck problem which could scupper his own World Cup hopes.

Gatland has also named young forwards Josh Turnbull and Justin Tipuric on the bench, but ex-captain Ryan Jones is ruled out because of a calf problem.

Changes for England

Meanwhile, England will field a near full-strength side, with coach Martin Johnson making wholesale changes to last weekend's starting line-up.

Mike Tindall, who led the side during the RBS Six Nations tournament, takes over as captain once more after Lewis Moody was sidelined with an injured knee.

Sale wing Mark Cueto and London Irish loosehead prop Alex Corbisiero are the only two players retained.

England had been due to field their first-choice back three - Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and Cueto - before Ashton was ruled out after rolling his ankle in training.

Ashton's injury opened the door for Matt Banahan to start and Delon Armitage to come onto the bench.

Toby Flood reclaims the fly-half jersey from Jonny Wilkinson while Richard Wigglesworth gets his chance to press his World Cup selection claims at scrum-half. Tindall will be partnered by Shontayne Hape in midfield.

In the pack, Hendre Fourie will make only his second Test start at openside flanker and his performance will be watched particularly closely by the England management given Moody's injury.

Tom Wood and Nick Easter complete the back row while Courtney Lawes has recovered from a neck injury to start at lock alongside Louis Deacon.

Corbisiero limped off last Saturday with a calf problem but he is fit to pack down alongside tighthead Dan Cole and hooker Steve Thompson.

"Last weekend's match was hugely competitive and we expect more of the same as we prepare to travel to the Millennium Stadium," said Johnson.

"We took a lot out of Saturday's game and this weekend gives the selected players their opportunity and a chance for us to improve our overall performance."

Wales: 15 J Hook, 14 G North, 13 J Roberts, 12 G Henson, 11 Shane Williams, 10 R Priestland, 9 M Phillips, 8 T Faletau, 7 S Warburton (captain), 6 D Lydiate, 5 AW Jones, 4 L Charteris, 3 C Mitchell, 2 L Burns, 1 P James.
Replacements: 16 H Bennett, 17 R Bevington, 18 J Turnbull, 19 J Tipuric, 20 T Knoyle, 21 Scott Williams, 22 A Brew.

England: 15 B Foden, 14 M Banahan, 13 M Tindall (captain), 12 S Hape, 11 M Cueto, 10 T Flood, 9 R Wigglesworth, 8 N Easter, 7 H Fourie, 6 T Wood, 5 C Lawes, 4 L Deacon, 3 D Cole, 2 S Thompson, 1 A Corbisiero.
Replacements: 16 L Mears, 17 M Stevens, 18 T Palmer, 19 J Haskell, 20 D Care, 21 C Hodgson, 22 D Armitage.