Jones last played for Wales in the 2003 World Cup

Matthew Watkins will get his first Six Nations start in a new centre partnership with Haldane Luscombe.

Tight-head prop Adam Jones takes over from the injured Chris Horsman to partner Ospreys team-mate Duncan Jones.

Alix Popham replaces the suspended Dafydd Jones, with uncapped Gareth Delve also among the replacements.

Jones was banned for three weeks on Tuesday for stamping, and will be unavailable for the first two games.

Gareth Thomas has shrugged off knee and jaw problems to captain the side as Wales look for their first win at Twickenham since 1988.

In all coach Mike Ruddock has made five changes - four personnel and one positional - to the side that beat Australia in their last outing in November as Wales look to defend their Six Nations crown.

Winger Jones is preferred to Dafydd James and will make a remarkable comeback after missing two years with two horrendous knee injuries.

Team guide: Wales

The 26-year-old snapped his left cruciate ligament in autumn 2003, shortly after returning from the World Cup where he won the last of his 16 Wales caps in the quarter-final defeat to England.

Luscombe comes in for the retired Sonny Parker, with Watkins switching from his usual outside centre role to play at inside centre.

Scarlets' Dwayne Peel has recovered from an ankle injury and takes over from the Dragons' Gareth Cooper, who drops to the bench.

Horsman's ankle injury has ruled him out for the rest of the season, so the Jones duo have the unenviable task of standing up to Andrew Sheridan and Matt Stevens in the front row.

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Lions prop Gethin Jenkins, who started all three Tests against New Zealand, will provide cover for both props on the bench.

The Cardiff Blues man has struggled to rediscover last season's form after returning to action in December from a shoulder operation.

The second row and back row remain the same with Ian Gough and Robert Sidoli the main line-out jumpers, while Colin Charvis, Michael Owen and Martyn Williams form a familiar back row.

Grand Slam winners Brent Cockbain, Ryan Jones, Kevin Morgan and Tom Shanklin are injured, while Gavin Henson is suspended for the first two games.

Wales team to face England at Twickenham on Saturday: G Thomas (capt, Toulouse); M Jones (Scarlets), H Luscombe (Dragons), M Watkins (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (ASM Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Scarlets); D Jones (Ospreys), R Thomas (Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Dragons), R Sidoli (Blues), C Charvis (Newcastle), M Williams (Blues), M Owen (Dragons).
Replacements: M Davies (Gloucester), G Jenkins (Blues), G Delve (Bath), A Popham (Scarlets), G Cooper (Dragons), C Sweeney (Dragons), L Byrne (Scarlets).