Jon Thomas suffered a finger injury against Australia

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has been forced into a late change to face Japan at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday.

Back-row Jon Thomas withdrew after he failed to recover from a finger injury, with Martyn Williams replacing him.

Williams starts at open-side, with Colin Charvis switching to blind-side and Michael Owen coming onto the bench.

Scrum-half Mike Phillips gets his first start, with Jenkins also naming an entirely new front row from the team that faced Australia.

Interview: Wales coach Gareth Jenkins

Kevin Morgan replaces the injured Gareth Thomas at full-back, while James Hook and Jamie Robinson are the centre duo and Dafydd James gets a chance on the wing.

Alix Popham returns at number eight, while Will James replaces Ian Gough at lock.

Thomas sustained a fracture to a finger in his right hand during the match against Australia last weekend, but played through with the injury.

The hope was that the Osprey would recover in time to face Japan but that has not happened.

A number of players will be itching to get out there and make their mark on this World Cup Gareth Jenkins

"We have consulted specialist advice about Jon's injury and reached the conclusion that it would be wrong to risk him tomorrow," Jenkins said.

"We are blessed with a wealth of strength in our back-row and are able to call on two former British Lions to come into the matchday squad in Martyn and Michael Owen.

"The change of personnel should not affect the balance of our pack and we look forward to Jon returning to full training next week."

Wales will have had only five days to get over their bruising 20-32 defeat to Australia and with that in mind Jenkins has used the opportunity to give fresh legs a run against Japan.

The axis of Phillips, Stephen Jones and Hook will be of particular interest to Jenkins who has been dealt a blow with injuries to Thomas and Sonny Parker.

Rhys Thomas gets a chance to impress at hooker, with Duncan Jones and Chris Horsman either side of him.

Morgan will be looking to secure the full-back berth on a full-time basis after Gareth Thomas' injury and gets his opportunity against the Japanese.

Only Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Alun Wyn Jones and Colin Charvis keep their places in the side.

Williams wins his 50th cap for his country and is expected to lead the side out on Thursday night.

Parker (groin) and Gareth Thomas (ribs) are both likely to be out of action for two weeks, and could return for the knock-out stages of the competition.

606: DEBATE There is no excuse for the team not to perform and will look forward to another bonus point for wales Spraggy

Wales need to win all their remaining pool B games to progress through to the quarter-final stages of the 2007 World Cup.

Ian Evans completes his return from injury taking his place on the bench.

Highly rated Ospreys lock Evans has not played since dislocating a shoulder in scoring a try against Cardiff Blues on 23 December, and had his planned summer return disrupted by a collarbone injury.

Stephen Jones takes over the captaincy duties from Gareth Thomas.

"A number of players will be itching to get out there and make their mark on this World Cup, said Jenkins.

"We have the strength in a number of positions to allow us to re-assess form and grow the experience in our squad.

"The front row is a strong area for us and Duncan Jones, Chris Horsman and Rhys Thomas will be invaluable to us if we are to progress as we feel we should.

"In the second row Will James has an opportunity to show his worth and it is also a boost to be able to feature a fully fit Ian Evans on the bench.

"He will come into the fray if the opportunity arises and he is another player who could be important to us in future matches."

Meanwhile, Japan coach John Kirwan has named his team to face Wales.

Kirwan has made two changes from the defeat against Fiji with Tongan-born Christian Loamanu switching from wing to full-back instead of the injured Go Aruga. Hirotoki Onozawa comes in on the wing.

Wales: Kevin Morgan; Dafydd James, Jamie Robinson, James Hook, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Mike Phillips; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Chris Horsman, Will James, Alun Wyn Jones, Martyn Williams, Colin Charvis, Alix Popham.
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins, Ian Evans, Michael Owen, Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney, Tom Shanklin.