Gavin Henson out to stake World Cup claim

Gavin Henson has been handed his chance to push for World Cup selection when Wales face England at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.

Henson will line-up at inside centre alongside Jamie Roberts, who moves to outside centre, making a first start against England since the 2008 RBS Six Nations Championship.

The 29-year-old has said he needs to produce something "pretty special" as he pursues a World Cup place after missing out in 2003 and 2007.

Henson is one of four changes from the team beaten 23-19 by England last weekend as Wales go into their penultimate World Cup warm-up game.

The versatile James Hook replaces full-back 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 five days ago.

The other switches are up front, where Newport Gwent Dragons hooker Lloyd Burns gains a first Test start, and his club-mate, lock Luke Charteris, takes over from Bradley Davies in the second row.

Wales coach Warren Gatland has otherwise retained the team on duty at Twickenham, although there are potential opportunities off the bench for young forwards Josh Turnbull and Justin Tipuric.

Flanker Sam Warburton will again skipper the side, but former Wales captain Ryan Jones is ruled out because of a calf problem.

Gatland insists converting last week's encouraging performance into a positive result is important as they seek to build confidence for the tournament, which gets under way next month in New Zealand.

"We need the win this weekend - it's as simple as that," he said. "We've told the players that, for us to be regarded as contenders at the Rugby World Cup, we need to beat England at home this weekend, to send out that message to everyone that we are contenders.

On Henson's inclusion, 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."

Mike Tindall will captain an England side featuring 13 changes. The Gloucester centre, who captained England for the first time against Wales at the start of their Six Nations title campaign, takes over the leadership reins from the Lewis Moody.

Tindall missed last week's victory over the Welsh following his marriage to the Queen's grand-daughter Zara Phillips.He watched from the stands as 20-year-old Manu Tuilagi enjoyed a try-scoring debut in his place at outside centre.

England manager Martin Johnson has rotated his squad ahead of his final 30-man World Cup squad selection on 22 August.

Sale wing Mark Cueto and London Irish loosehead prop Alex Corbisiero are the only two players retained in the starting line-up from last week.

"Last weekend's match was hugely competitive," said Johnson. "We took a lot out of it and this weekend gives the selected players their opportunity and a chance for us to improve our overall performance."

Ben Foden and Chris Ashton join Cueto to form England's first-choice back three while Tindall will be partnered by Shontayne Hape in midfield.

Toby Flood reclaims the fly-half jersey from Jonny Wilkinson while Richard Wigglesworth gets his chance to press his World Cup selection claims at scrum-half. In the pack, Hendre Fourie will make only his second Test start at openside flanker and his performance will be watched particularly closely by the England management following Moody's knee injury last weekend. Tom Wood and Nick Easter complete the back row, while Courtney Lawes has recovered from a neck injury to start at lock alongside Louis Deacon.

Corbisiero limped off last Saturday with a calf problem, but he is fit to pack down alongside tighthead Dan Cole and hooker Steve Thompson.

Cueto's retention suggests Ugo Monye's hopes of World Cup selection have faded. Props Paul Doran-Jones and Tim Payne, scrum-half Joe Simpson and loose-forward Chris Robshaw will also have played no part in either Wales fixture.

Andrew Sheridan and Ben Youngs have not appeared either, but both are returning from summer surgery.

WALES TEAM (to play England at the Millennium Stadium, tomorrow 2.30pm): 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), AW Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain), 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 TEAM: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton); M Tindall (Gloucester, captain), S Hape (London Irish), M Cueto (Sale); 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), 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).