Williams boost for Wales

Wales tonight received a major boost when former skipper Martyn Williams was declared fit to face world champions England.

The Cardiff Blues flanker will win his 50th cap in Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations Championship clash at the Millennium Stadium, replacing an injured Colin Charvis.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock drafted last season’s Wales Under-21 captain Richie Pugh into his squad after Charvis – a star performer during the autumn Test appointments with New Zealand and South Africa – 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 openside flanker who can provide a quality link between backs and forwards as we attempt to continue development of a high-tempo game.

“It is obviously a blow to lose Sonny Parker with the neck problem which has ruled him out of the last few Ospreys matches, but Tom is also a more than capable replacement who was already in contention to start.”

Sidoli, meanwhile, has not started a Test match since February last year, but he will now win his 21st cap after recovering from pelvic surgery and slowly regaining top form.

“Rob has very much played his way back into the team due to his performances for the Blues in recent months,” added Ruddock.

“Ultimately, we were faced with a number of welcome selection headaches, which augers well for the future as the squad continues to grow and develop.”

Wales have not beaten England in Cardiff since 1993, losing four championship matches and a 2003 World Cup warm-up game, but Ruddock is upbeat about Welsh prospects in his first Six Nations fixture at the helm.

“We believe this is the best available team, with a great blend of skill, experience and, for the first time in a while, an element of continuity and stability in selection,” he said.

“We believe this team, if it plays to its potential, is good enough to counter the obvious strengths of the England side and achieve a victory.

“The world champions look very strong, with a significant balance of youth and experience in the side.

“Much has been said about their own injury problems, but one has to say that any England team will be incredibly formidable.”

Wales will be led from full-back by Gareth Thomas, with a great deal expected from a three-quarter unit featuring such exciting talent as Neath-Swansea Ospreys pair Gavin Henson and Shane Williams.

England though, have confidence in their own ability behind the scrum, and they look to possess an edge – at least on paper – up-front.

For all their dazzling ability behind the scrum, Wales must find ways of counteracting England’s forward power, otherwise another home defeat beckons.

Wales team to play England: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Henson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Cockbain (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: McBryde (Llanelli Scarlets), Yapp (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), R Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons).