Sweeney out to impress Cooper targets Peel's spot

The Newcastle flanker takes the armband from Gareth Thomas, who has returned to his French club with fellow exiles Stephen Jones and Gareth Llewellyn.

Rhys Williams takes over at full-back with Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney and Hal Luscombe also joining the backs, and Tom Shanklin moving to centre.

Jon Thomas replaces Llewellyn, while Duncan Jones displaces Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins moves to tight-head.

Dragons full-back Kevin Morgan is among the replacements, the 27-year-old having been expected to replace Thomas but losing out to Williams.

Each player selected is playing for their jerseys and for a place in the starting line-up against England Wales coach Mike Ruddock

Thomas, Stephen Jones and Llewellyn are losses to the Wales squad, but the news was expected as their clubs had originally threatened to withdraw them from the opening autumn international against South Africa.

The French clubs argued that the Springboks date was a late, unsanctioned addition to the international calendar, but a row was defused when it was agreed that the players would be released from the Japan fixture instead.

Wales coach Mike Ruddock said: "One of our goals was to create cohesion in the team and in the squad as we build to the Six Nations.

"Ceri Sweeney, Gareth Cooper and Jonathon Thomas are the only players being given their first start in the series.

"That's a testament to the high value we place on a Welsh cap and the high regard in which the jersey is held within the squad.

"Each player selected is playing for their jerseys and for a place in the starting line-up against England."

And Ruddock appealed to the fans to get behind his team on Friday night.

We have to use the game against Japan as the springboard to our next Test assignment against the world champions England Wales coach Mike Ruddock

"It would be absolutely fantastic if the Millennium Stadium were forced to open the lower tier for the game," said Ruddock.

"I think they have to get advance sales of more than 40,000 to do that, so let's hope the sales keep going well and we get close to another full house.

"There is little doubt that the backing of the Welsh fans on Saturday had a huge impact on the Welsh players. The atmosphere was white hot, the best ever at the Millennium Stadium.

"The way the fans joined in with the response to the New Zealand Haka showed Gareth Thomas and his players that they weren't alone out there against the All Blacks.

"It would be great for the players who play on Friday night to experience something similar. We've made a few strides forward in this series, but it is vital we win this last game."

Wales: R Williams (Blues); H Luscombe (Dragons), G Henson (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); C Sweeney (Dragons), G Cooper (Dragons); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), M Davies (Neath RFC), G Jenkins (Blues), B Cockbain (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets), C Charvis (capt), M Owen (Dragons).
Replacements: S Jones (Dragons), A Jones (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys) / A Popham (Leeds), M Williams (Blues), D Peel (Scarlets), AN Other, K Morgan (Dragons).

Referee: Tappe Henning (South Africa)