Gareth Thomas will win his 100th cap after being named in the Wales side to face Fiji in their winner takes all World Cup clash on Saturday.

Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has made seven changes to the side that beat Japan 72-18 last week, with his skipper Thomas (pictured) replacing Kevin Morgan at full-back for the game that will decide the second Pool B team to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Thomas, already Wales' most capped players and leading try scorer, becomes only the eighth player to reach the landmark of 100 caps. He missed the game with Japan after picking up a rib cartilage injury.

"No side would want to go into a game of this magnitude without its captain, it"s as simple as that," said Jenkins.

"Gareth's importance to this team cannot be understated, he's reached an historic landmark but no-one will be more focussed than him on match-day. His stature and composure on the rugby field will be invaluable to us in a game that could offer us such high rewards.

"We are within touching distance of a place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals, we need to respect what Fiji offer and maintain our focus and our professionalism throughout and there is no reason why we cannot come away with a win."

Elsewhere in the backs, Mark Jones returns on the wing for Dafydd James, who drops down to the bench, and Tom Shanklin comes in for Jamie Robinson at centre.

Shanklin will partner James Hook in the midfield with Stephen Jones retaining the number 10 jersey.

In the front row, prop Gethin Jenkins gets the nod ahead of Duncan Jones and Matthew Rees returns at hooker for Rhys Thomas.

Fit-again Ian Evans comes into the second row with Alun Wyn Jones, while Ian Gough and Michael Owen provide cover on the bench.

The 22-year-old Evans 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.

"Our success on Saturday will depend on the full squad of players we have selected, with the impact we are able to make from the bench just a crucial part of what we will be aiming to achieve," added Jenkins.

"We will be able to make a real impact if necessary with players like Michael Phillips, Michael Owen and Duncan Jones able to come on and change the game if necessary.

"But most importantly we must start well with the team selected, put in a good first 30 minutes and build our game as we know and have proved we can.

"Ian Evans showed some of the huge potential he possesses last week, he is a dynamic player who could be a world class second row of the future.

"James Hook starts at inside centre and his talent is unquestioned both inside and outside our squad, but we will be looking for him to play heads up rugby against Fiji and his partnership with Stephen Jones and Tom Shanklin will be important to us."

Wales face Fiji in Nantes in what is the third match of the day on Saturday.

Wales: 15-Gareth Thomas (capt), 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

Replacements: 16-Thomas Rhys Thomas, 17-Duncan Jones, 18-Ian Gough, 19-Michael Owen, 20-Mike Phillips, 21-Jamie Robinson, 22-Dafydd James.

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport