Williams wins fitness battle

Wales captain Martyn Williams has been passed fit to face New Zealand in Hamilton on Saturday.

The Cardiff flanker had been a concern for coach Steve Hansen after turning an ankle in an accidental collision with Robin McBryde in training on Tuesday.

Williams declared himself on arrival in Hamilton this morning and he will take his place in a side showing just one change from the team beaten by Australia last week.

Llanelli flanker Dafydd Jones missed the game against the world champions because of a shoulder injury but comes in for Swansea’s 20-year-old forward Jonathan Thomas.

Jones played a major role in the Six Nations but has also been sidelined since by a six-week ban for being sent off in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Perpignan.

Thomas, who made an encouraging debut in Sydney, moves onto the bench in place of Alix Popham, who is the only one of last weekend’s 22 to miss out.

Wales: R Williams; M Jones, J Robinson, M Taylor, T Shanklin; S Jones, G Cooper; I Thomas, R McBryde, G Jenkins, G Llewellyn, R Sidoli, D Jones, M Williams (capt), C Charvis.

Replacements: M Davies, B Evans, C Wyatt, J Thomas, D Peel, C Sweeney, G Henson