Henry gambles on Jones

Graham Henry will react to Welsh rugby's calamitous European Cup weekend by gambling on a makeshift full back in Saturday's Six Nations visit by England.

Stephen Jones, third-choice fly half behind Neil Jenkins and Arwel Thomas, will be named today as the last line of defence even though he has not played there for his club Llanelli all season.

His surprise selection will be one of several changes to the team beaten 23-13 by South Africa in Cardiff 10 weeks ago.

The last time Wales picked a No.10 at full back, Jenkins against England at Twickenham in February 1998 before Henry's appointment as coach, they conceded 60 points.

Jones, 23, who replaced Jenkins at stand off after the 46-12 beating by England last season, will take over from Rhys Williams, one of the Cardiff players to suffer during their grim Heineken Cup failure at Gloucester. In doing so, Jones will be the fifth player to appear at full back for Wales in the last 12 months.

The procession began with Shane Howarth's ejection after the New Zealander had been declared ineligible following an investigation into his Welsh ancestry. Since then Wales have used another converted Kiwi, Matt Cardey, Williams and Gareth Thomas, a substitute in the Springbok match.

Thomas will be back in his normal right-wing berth in a team which will still rely heavily on Cardiff and Swansea players.

Mark Taylor will be back at centre on the strength of his first match since knee surgery eight weeks ago while Cardiff prop David Young is due to regain the captaincy from Scott Quinnell.