Rugby:Warren Gatland wants Wales to "send out a message" against England on Saturday that would show they mean business at the World Cup. The countries face a quickfire Millennium Stadium rematch after England triumphed narrowly at Twickenham last weekend.
“We have spoken as a group about how important it is for us to win on Saturday,” said the Wales coach, who has called up James Hook, Gavin Henson, Lloyd Burns and Luke Charteris for their first pre-tournament starts.
“If we are going to be serious contenders in this World Cup, we need to send out a message that we are good enough to beat England at home and do that next week as well (against Argentina). I don’t want us going into a World Cup with people thinking that Wales are good enough to win games, but for that to be a surprise or an upset.
“We need the win this weekend — it’s as simple as that. We have the toughest pool at the tournament, and in less than a month’s time we will be facing South Africa in our opening match.
“It is vitally important we go into that match with the sound of Welsh fans ringing in our ears, fans who have cheered us on to victories in the final two matches of our warm-up campaign against England and Argentina.”
Unlike his England counterpart Martin Johnson, Gatland has resisted the temptation to make wholesale changes, although several switches can be expected against Argentina in nine days’ time.
The versatile Hook replaces fullback Morgan Stoddart, who broke his leg at Twickenham and will miss the World Cup, with Stoddart’s Scarlets colleague Rhys Priestland continuing in the fly-half role following an accomplished showing last Saturday.
Henson’s first start against England since the 2008 RBS 6 Nations Championship sees him taking the number 12 shirt with Jamie Roberts moving to outside centre, while hooker Burns gains a full Test debut and his Newport Gwent Dragons colleague Charteris takes over from Bradley Davies in the second row.
Henson has said he needs to produce something “pretty special” as he pursues a World Cup place after missing out in 2003 and 2007, believing three other centres are currently ahead of him in the pecking order.
Gatland added: “There is a lot of competition in that position. Gavin summed it up perfectly himself in that he needs to have a good performance.”
Flanker Sam Warburton will again skipper the side in injured hooker Matthew Rees’ absence, with former Wales captain Ryan Jones ruled out because of a calf problem.
Jones and Rees apart, the other players Gatland did not consider for selection this weekend were wing Leigh Halfpenny (ankle), outhalf Stephen Jones (calf) and prop Gethin Jenkins (calf).
Wales:J Hook (Perpignan); G North (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (unattached), Shane Williams (Ospreys); R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); P James (Ospreys), L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), C Mitchell (Exeter), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Replacements:H Bennett (Ospreys), R Bevington (Ospreys), J Turnbull (Scarlets), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Knoyle (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), A Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons).
England:B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton). M Tindall (Gloucester, capt), S Hape (London Irish), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); T Flood (Leicester), R Wigglesworth (Saracens); A Corbisiero (London Irish), S Thompson (Wasps), D Cole (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), H Fourie (Sale Sharks), N Easter (Harlequins). Replacements:L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Saracens), T Palmer (Stade Francais), J Haskell (Black Rams), D Care (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Saracens), M Banahan (Bath).
Referee:Alain Rolland (Ireland).
Assistant referees:Mathieu Raynal (France) and Simon McDowell (Ireland)
