KEY POINTS:
PORNICHET - Wales captain Gareth Thomas has won his race against time to win his 100th test cap after being named in the team to face Fiji in Pool B on Saturday.
Thomas feared his World Cup was over after he damaged rib cartilage. He missed the victory over Japan last week and looked a major doubt for this make-or-break clash.
However, the 33-year-old, who made his debut in the 1995 World Cup, came through unscathed from his first full contact training session on Tuesday and has been handed the task of leading Wales into the quarter-finals at Nantes this weekend.
His return is one of seven changes to the Wales side that crushed Japan 72-18 in Cardiff last week.
Coach Gareth Jenkins has continued with his pragmatic approach to selection, highlighted by the choice of Dwayne Peel at halfback despite calls for the more abrasive Mike Phillips to hold on to the jersey following his man-of-the-match display against Japan.
British Lions pair Tom Shanklin and Gethin Jenkins as well as Mark Jones and Matthew Rees all return.
Jenkins pulled off one surprise by naming Ian Evans in the second row ahead of Ian Gough. Evans, 22, will make his first start for Wales in nine months after returning from a series of shoulder problems. He played just under half an hour off the bench against Japan.
Chris Horsman and Alix Popham retain their places after prop Adam Jones and back-row Jonathan Thomas were ruled out through injury.
WALES
15-Gareth Thomas (captain), 14-Mark Jones, 13-Tom Shanklin, 12-James Hook, 11-Shane Williams, 10-Stephen Jones, 9-Dwayne Peel, 8-Alix Popham, 7-Martyn Williams, 6-Colin Charvis, 5-Ian Evans, 4-Alun-Wyn Jones, 3-Chris Horsman, 2-Matthew Rees, 1-Gethin Jenkins
Reserves: 16-Thomas Rhys Thomas, 17-Duncan Jones, 18-Ian Gough, 19-Michael Owen, 20-Mike Phillips, 21-Jamie Robinson, 22-Dafydd James
- REUTERS
