Gavin Henson has been ruled out of the World Cup due to an Achilles injury.
Centre misses last chance to prove his fitness
England v Wales, Saturday, 3.30pm, live on Sky Sports 2
Wales centre Gavin Henson has been ruled out of the World Cup after failing to make the squad for Saturday's Test against England at Twickenham.
Henson is suffering from an Achilles injury he picked up in training and Wales head coach Gareth Jenkins has confirmed that the Ospreys back is out of the running for the tournament.
"We have taken an early decision on Gavin and decided that he is no longer in contention for the Rugby World Cup squad which must be named before August 14th and so not considered him for selection against England," said Jenkins.
"We have given him every opportunity to make it and its been a tough summer for Gav in which he has worked hard.
"He's had every opportunity we could have given him, but the recent Achilles injury in particular has meant he's not been able to train at full pelt and that has reflected in his conditioning. I think we all agree he is not where he needs to be.
"We have talked to him today and he is very understanding. It was a tough call but a call that was necessary and one we had to make sooner rather than later for his sake as well as ours.
"He is disappointed, but I think he's realised he's been fighting a bit of a losing battle in the last month."
Jenkins added, however, that Henson would remain on standby in case the squad are hit by other injuries.
Changes
For the World Cup warm-up on Saturday, Jenkins has selected captain Gareth Thomas at inside centre, partnering his Cardiff Blues colleague Tom Shanklin.
Dafydd James, who missed Wales' tour of Australia through injury, is given a chance on the left wing and is joined by Aled Brew on the right. Lee Byrne fills the full back berth with Ceri Sweeney and Gareth Cooper forming the half back partnership.
Up front Will James is set to win the first cap of his career at the age of 30 and partners Rob Sidoli in the second row. Veteran back row Colin Charvis has passed a fitness test to be selected at flanker, Michael Owen is given his chance at No.8 and Alun-Wyn Jones completes the back row.
The front row is made up of Iestyn Thomas and the English-born Chris Horsman at prop with Huw Bennett at hooker. Tom James could also win his first cap if called up from the bench.
Wales team: 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), TR Thomas (Newport Gwent Dragons), A Popham (Llanelli Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys), J Hook (Ospreys), T James (Cardiff Blues)
