Tuesday 18th September 2007
Fly-half Stephen Jones will take over as captain of a Wales side featuring 10 personnel changes for the Pool B clash with Japan at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday.
Jones is at the helm for the eighth time in his career in the absence of the injured Gareth Thomas, who is ruled out for the next two weeks with a rib cartilage injury, and the Scarlets fly-half is just one kick away from converting his 100th international try.
In the backs, Kevin Morgan returns at full-back, Dafydd James comes onto the wing, Jamie Robinson will partner James Hook in the centre and Mike Phillips gets a run at scrum-half.
Up front, Alix Popham regains the number eight jersey with Jonathan Thomas switching to blindside flanker and Colin Charvis gets the nod ahead of Martyn Williams on the openside.
Will James comes into the second row alongside Alun-Wyn Jones, who retains his place, while hooker Rhys Thomas will be propped by Chris Horsman and Duncan Jones.
The five players to remain in the side from Saturday's defeat to the Wallabies are Stephen Jones, Charvis, Jonathan Thomas, Alun-Wyn Jones and Shane Williams, who will win his 50th cap against Japan.
Williams boasts a Welsh record of 14 tries - four in one match - against the Japanese and will lead the team out ahead of captain Stephen Jones in celebration of becoming the 19th member of the nation's exclusive 50-Cap Club.
Wales lock Ian Evans - named on the bench - has not played any rugby in 10 months after suffering injuries to his shoulder and then his collarbone, but believes he is as prepared as ever to make his return to the field.
"Physically and mentally I am probably in the best shape I can be in. I'm in the squad and it has been a long road to travel but I am finally going to get there in the end," said Evans.
The Ospreys lock, who has been training hard with the rest of the Welsh World Cup squad, is relishing the opportunity to wear the Welsh number five jersey once again.
"Alun-Wyn has been playing out of his boots at the moment but my target is clearly to reclaim the number five jersey. He knows I am not going to give it up without a fight," added Evans.
If Wales can win their remaining pool games they are likely to face South Africa in the quarter-finals.
Wales: 15 Kevin Morgan, 14 Dafydd James, 13 Jamie Robinson, 12 James Hook, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones (c), 9 Michael Phillips, 8 Alix Popham, 7 Colin Charvis, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Will James, 3 Chris Horsman, 2 Thomas Rhys Thomas, 1 Duncan Jones
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Ian Evans, 19 Martyn Williams, 20 Gareth Cooper, 21 Ceri Sweeney, 22 Tom Shanklin
Date: Thursday, September 20
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 20:00 (19:00 GMT)
Referee: Joël Jutge
Touch judges: Mark Lawrence, Craig Joubert
Television match official: Christophe Berdos
Assessor: Bob Francis
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