WALES NAME TEAM FOR ALL BLACKS MATCH:

Wales have selected Sonny Parker ahead of Gavin Henson for Saturday's Test with New Zealand in Cardiff.

Parker will partner Tom Shanklin in the midfield, with Henson on the bench after recovering from a toe infection.

Gareth Thomas has been ruled out with a knee injury so Kevin Morgan starts at full-back, but fly-half Stephen Jones returns to captain the side.

Duncan Jones and Rhys Thomas come into the pack as only the other changes to the side that started against Canada.

Loose-head prop Duncan Jones, who captained the side to victory over the Pacific Islanders earlier this month, replaces Gethin Jenkins, while Thomas is preferred to Matthew Rees at hooker.

James Hook makes way at fly-half for Stephen Jones to return for the first since he was injured against Australia in the opening match of the autumn series.

But emerging Ospreys star Hook has won a place on the bench to cover the inside centre and fly-half positions ahead of Ceri Sweeney.

Ian Gough and Ian Evans have fought off competition from Brent Cockbain to continue as the lock partnership.

Cockbain, available again after his 20-day suspension, has been released back to the Ospreys despite Wales losing lock Rob Sidoli, who was on the bench against Canada, to a shoulder injury.

Parker returned to the international stage for the first time in a year a fortnight ago after ending his international retirement to face the Pacific Islanders.

The 29-year-old duly won the man-of-the-match award for his performance in the 38-20 victory and followed that up with another outstanding performance last week against Canada.

Henson had been set to face the Canadians - and was pencilled in to face the All Blacks - before an infected toe forced him to pull out at the last minute.

But Wales coach Gareth Jenkins said Parker's form has made it impossible for him to overlook the Kiwi-born centre.

"Sonny very much played himself into the selection debate with two solid performances since coming out of retirement, against Canada and the Pacific Islanders," said Jenkins.

"He comes into an exciting back line with the kind of pace and power which can hopefully match New Zealand and enable us to take our game-plan to them."

Wales have not beaten the All Blacks for 53 years, but Jenkins claims this set of players are capable of etching their names into the history books.

"We go into this game with a huge amount of self-belief. We know we are playing the number one team in world rugby, but we also know they are human beings," he said.

Wales:
Kevin Morgan; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Sonny Parker, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones (capt), Dwayne Peel; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones.
Replacements: Mathew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Alix Popham, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Gavin Henson.