Williams’ return to fitness as France ring changes

WALES have been given a major boost ahead of their opening Six Nations clash against world champions England with former skipper Martyn Williams declared fit to start.

The Cardiff flanker will win his 50th cap in Saturday's meeting at the Millennium Stadium, replacing an injured Colin Charvis.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock drafted last season's Wales U21 captain Richie Pugh into his squad after Charvis was laid low by a foot problem.

But Williams has recovered from disc trouble in his neck and will pack down in a side showing three changes plus one positional switch from the side edged out by New Zealand just over two months ago.

Williams' Cardiff colleague, lock Robert Sidoli, earns a recall at the expense of 92 times-capped veteran Gareth Llewellyn, while Tom Shanklin moves from wing to centre as deputy for neck injury victim Sonny Parker, and Newport Gwent Dragons' Hal Luscombe is handed the number 14 jersey.

Uncapped Cardiff prop John Yapp is included among the replacements, together with hugely-experienced Llanelli Scarlets hooker Robin McBryde, who has failed to dislodge Gloucester's Mefin Davies from the starting line-up.

"Martyn comes into the side as a more than able replacement for Colin," said Ruddock. "His experience as a Lion, and 49 caps for Wales, will be important.

"His availability is a huge boost because it retains the blend of what we wanted in the team, in terms of an experienced open-side flanker who can provide a quality link between backs and forwards as we attempt to continue development of a high-tempo game."

Meanwhile, French coach Bernard Laporte has championed Les Bleus' strength in depth after the Six Nations champions unveiled a new-look starting line-up for the opening match of their title defence against Scotland.

The absence of back-row regulars Olivier Magne, Serge Betsen and Imanol Harinordoquy through injury has handed Julien Bonnaire, Sebastien Chabal and Patrick Tabacco, who will play at number eight, a chance to impress.

The half-back pairing is also new for the Scotland clash. Clermont-Auvergne scrum-half Pierre Mignoni, whose experience saw him get the nod over Biarritz's Dimitri Yachvili, returns to international duty for the first time since the 2002 Six Nations.

He will be paired also for the first time at international level with Castres fly-half Yann Delaigue.

Delaigue is expected to take over kicking duties for France with Damien Traille as his deputy.

"We said after November that we wanted to find new solutions," said Laporte. "Before the autumn series we had an established kicker (Frederic Michalak) and other established players who had been good for eight matches before experiencing problems in November.

"Now there is more competition, which will boost the spirits and every player's motivation."

WALES (v. England, Cardiff, Saturday): G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Shanklin (Cardiff), Henson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), S Williams (NS Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); Jenkins (Cardiff), Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (NS Ospreys), Cockbain (NS Ospreys), Sidoli (Cardiff), D Jones (Llanelli), M Williams (Cardiff), Owen (NG Dragons).

Replacements: McBryde (Llanelli), Yapp (Cardiff), J Thomas (NS Ospreys), R Jones (NS Ospreys), Cooper (NG Dragons), Sweeney (NG Dragons), Morgan (NG Dragons).

FRANCE (v Scotland, Paris, Saturday): Elhorga (Agen); Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), Liebenberg (Stade Francais), Traille (Biarritz), Dominici (Stade Francais); Delaigue (Castres), Mignoni (Clermont Auvergne); Marconnet (Stade Francais) Servat (Stade Toulousain), de Villiers (Stade Francais), Pelous (Stade Toulousain, capt), Thion (Biarritz), Bonnaire (Bourgoin), Chabal (Sale Sharks), Tabacco (Pau).

Replacements: Bruno (Sale Sharks), Milloud (Bourgoin), Lamboley (Stade Toulousain), Nyanga (Beziers), Yachvili (Biarritz), Michalak (Stade Toulousain), Valbon (Brive).