Coach Mike Ruddock has handed 6ft 9in Newport Gwent Dragons lock Luke Charteris a first Test match start after he went on as a substitute during the 38-36 defeat against Tri-Nations champions South Africa last weekend.

And Charteris lineout colleague will be Welsh rugbys record cap holder, 35-year-old Gareth Llewellyn, who makes his 91st appearance since being selected for an international debut against New Zealand in 1989.

Neath-Swansea Ospreys lock Brent Cockbain is sidelined by a shoulder injury, while wing Shane Williams (ankle) and number eight Ryan Jones (number eight) are also ruled out.

Cardiff Blues backs Rhys Williams and Tom Shanklin both earn call-ups, featuring among six changes of personnel following the Springboks game.

Williams replaces his namesake Shane on the wing, with Tom Shanklin taking over from centre Sonny Parker, but Ruddock otherwise fields the same back division, including another appearance at inside centre for Gavin Henson.

In the pack, Cardiff Blues prop Gethin Jenkins and Ospreys hooker Mefin Davies start, together with Llewellyn and Charteris. Michael Owen, meanwhile, switches from lock to number eight instead of Ryan Jones.

And there is a place on the bench for Ospreys back-row forward Jonathan Thomas, who was unavailable to face South Africa while he served an 18-day suspension following his sending-off against Heineken Cup opponents Castres last month.

Ruddock has resisted any temptation to rest the likes of skipper Gareth Thomas, half-backs Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel, or flankers Dafydd Jones and Colin Charvis, who all start.

Wales team to play Romania at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Friday night.
G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); R Williams (Cardiff), T Shanklin (Cardiff), G Henson (Neath-Swansea), H Luscombe (Gwent); Stephen Jones (Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Llanelli); G Jenkins (Cardiff), M Davies (Neath-Swansea), A Jones (Neath-Swansea), G Llewellyn (Narbonne), L Charteris (Gwent), Dafydd Jones (Llanelli), C Charvis (Newcastle), M Owen (Gwent).
Replacements: Steve Jones (Gwent), Duncan Jones (Neath-Swansea), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea), M Williams (Cardiff), G Cooper (Gwent), C Sweeney (Gwent), S Parker (Neath-Swansea).