The Cardiff Blues flanker will win his 50th cap in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations Championship clash at the Millennium Stadium, replacing the injured Colin Charvis.

Williams has recovered from disc trouble in his neck and will pack down in a side showing three changes - plus one positional switch - from the side edged out by New Zealand just over two months ago.

Williams' Cardiff colleague, lock Robert Sidoli, earns a recall at the expense of 92 times-capped veteran Gareth Llewellyn, while Tom Shanklin moves from wing to centre as deputy for neck injury victim Sonny Parker, and Newport Gwent Dragons' Hal Luscombe is handed the number 14 jersey.

"Martyn comes into the side as a more than able replacement for Colin," said Ruddock.
"His experience as a Lion, and 49 caps for Wales, will be important.

"His availability is a huge boost because it retains the blend of what we wanted in the team, in terms of an experienced openside flanker who can provide a quality link between backs and forwards as we attempt to continue development of a high-tempo game.

"It is obviously a blow to lose Sonny Parker with the neck problem which has ruled him out of the last few Ospreys matches, but Tom is also a more than capable replacement who was already in contention to start.

"Sidoli, meanwhile, has not started a Test match since February last year, but he will now win his 21st cap after recovering from pelvic surgery and slowly regaining top form.

"Rob has very much played his way back into the team due to his performances for the Blues in recent months," added Ruddock.

"Ultimately, we were faced with a number of welcome selection headaches, which augers well for the future as the squad continues to grow and develop."

Wales team to play England in the RBS 6 Nations Championship at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, on Saturday:

G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Henson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Cockbain (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: McBryde (Llanelli Scarlets), Yapp (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), R Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons).