Wales captain Williams fit to face NZ

Wales captain Martyn Williams has recovered from an ankle injury in time to face New Zealand in Hamilton this Saturday.

Wales captain Martyn Williams has recovered from an ankle injury in time to face New Zealand in Hamilton this Saturday.

Coach Steve Hansen was concerned for his influential captain after the Cardiff flanker turned an ankle after an accidental collision with teammate Robin McBryde in training on Tuesday.

On arrival at Hamilton this morning Williams declared himself fit. There is just one change to the side which lost to Australia last week.

Dafydd Jones comes in for 20-year-old Jonathan Thomas as the Llanelli flanker made a full recovery from a shoulder injury.

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Jones played a major role in the Six Nations but has also been sidelined since by a six-week ban for being sent off in the Heineken Cup quarter-final against Perpignan.

Thomas, who made an encouraging debut in Sydney, moves onto the bench in place of Alix Popham, who is the only one of last weekend's 22 to miss out.

Wales:R Williams; M Jones, J Robinson, M Taylor, T Shanklin; S Jones, G Cooper; I Thomas, R McBryde, G Jenkins, G Llewellyn, R Sidoli, D Jones, M Williams (capt), C Charvis.

Replacements:M Davies, B Evans, C Wyatt, J Thomas, D Peel, C Sweeney, G Henson