Wales team for the England game

Wales blood a new cap in the Gloucester lock Will James. Wales have other changes forced on them by the loss of Gavin Henson and Ryan Jones to injury, both of the being set to miss the Rugby world Cup as well. Colin Charvis starts at open side with Alun Wyn Jones on the blind. The halfbacks are Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Cooper, with James Hook on the bench. The front row is Chris Horsman, Huw Bennett and Iestyn Thomas, with Rob Sidoli partnering 30-year-old debutant James in the second row. Blues wing Tom James will also win his first cap if he comes off the bench.

Gavin Henson (Achilles) has joined Ryan Jones (shoulder) in being ruled out of the World Cup because of injury. Although he could get a recall if he recovers in time and one of the squad is injured.

After Twickenham, Wales will play Argentina on the 18 August and France on the 26 August at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, but squads must be submitted by 14 August.

Wales’ opening World Cup match will be against Canada on 9 September at the La Beaujoire Stadium, Nantes.

The squad will return to Cardiff for Millennium Stadium games against Australia 15 September and Japan 20 September, with the final pool game against Fiji in Nantes 29 September.

Wales team at Twickenham on Saturday is:

L Byrne (Ospreys), A Brew (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Thomas (Cardiff Blues, capt), D James (Llanelli Scarlets), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), G Cooper (Gloucester), I Thomas (Llanelli Scarlets), H Bennett (Ospreys), C Horsman (Worcester), W James (Gloucester), R Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), A W Jones (Ospreys), C Charvis (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), R Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), T R Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), A Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), T James (Cardiff Blues).

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