Tindall returns to lead from the front

Mike Tindall will captain an England side featuring 13 changes in tomorrow’s World Cup warm-up international against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.

The Gloucester centre, who captained England for the first time against Wales at the start of their Six Nations title campaign, takes over the leadership reins from Lewis Moody.

England manager Martin Johnson has rotated his squad ahead of his final 30-man World Cup squad selection on August 22.

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Sale wing Mark Cueto and London Irish loosehead prop Alex Corbisiero are the only two players retained in the starting line-up from last week’s 23-19 victory over Wales at Twickenham.

“Last weekend’s match was hugely competitive and we expect more of the same as we prepare to travel to the Millennium Stadium,” said Johnson.

“We took a lot out of Saturday’s game and this weekend gives the selected players their opportunity and a chance for us to improve our overall performance.”

Ben Foden and Chris Ashton join Cueto to form England’s first-choice back three while Tindall will be partnered by former Bradrod Bulls star Shontayne Hape in midfield.

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Toby Flood reclaims the fly-half jersey from Jonny Wilkinson while Richard Wigglesworth gets his chance to press his World Cup selection claims at scrum-half.

In the pack, former Leeds Carnegie stalwart Hendre Fourie will make only his second Test start at openside flanker.

Tom Wood and Nick Easter complete the back row while Courtney Lawes has recovered from a neck injury to start at lock alongside Louis Deacon. Corbisiero limped off last Saturday with a calf problem but he is fit to pack down alongside tighthead Dan Cole and former Leeds hooker Steve Thompson.

Wales v England, Millennium Stadium (tomorrow 2.30pm): B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton); M Tindall (Gloucester, captain), S Hape (London Irish), M Cueto (Sale); T Flood (Leicester), R Wigglesworth (Saracens); A Corbisiero (London Irish), S Thompson (Wasps), D Cole (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), H Fourie (Sale), N Easter (Harlequins). Substitutes: L Mears (Bath), M Stevens (Saracens), T Palmer (Stade Francais), J Haskell (Black Rams), D Care (Harlequins), C Hodgson (Saracens), M Banahan (Bath).

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Wales: J Hook (Perpignan); G North (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G Henson (unattached), Shane Williams (Ospreys); R Priestland (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); P James (Ospreys), L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), C Mitchell (Exeter), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), AW Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, captain), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Substitutes: H Bennett (Ospreys), R Bevington (Ospreys), J Turnbull (Scarlets), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Knoyle (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets), A Brew (Newport Gwent Dragons).

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