“It is time now we make our rugby statement. It's time now to put in a performance and to realise that winning is everything," he said. “From now to the World Cup the selections won’t change much. There will be a couple of combination changes based around opportunity and form."

WRU Audio: Gareth Jenkins on the Wales team to face Argentina

Rugby World Cup captain Gareth Thomas starts in the centre alongside fellow Grand Slam winner Tom Shanklin.

“Gareth has done particularly well when he has been picked at inside centre and we feel going forward we need to keep the combinations going. Dafydd (James) has got tremendous experience. Having experience gives the side balance."

With Shane Williams unavailable, the Scarlets provide the wing pairing with Mark Jones partnering Dafydd James, the try-scorer against England. Kevin Morgan takes over from Lee Bryne at fullback to earn his 44th cap. James Hook partners Dwayne Peel at half back.

Jenkins has made wholesale changes to the pack that were outmuscled against England, suggesting that the eight men selected to face the huge Argentinean pack will be his first-choice unit for the World Cup.

“It’s a completely different pack (to the England side) and that was always going to be the case The selection against England allowed the key players to have a couple of extra weeks training together.

"Now it’s their chance and their turn, and their responsibility to prove to everyone in Wales that they are capable of fronting up against one of the toughest packs in world rugby.

“Argentina will want to take the game up front and it’s a big test for what we consider to be our first-choice set of forwards.

The ‘hair bears’ Adam and Duncan Jones return to the front row, with Mathew Rees of the Scarlets handed the No.2 jersey. Both second rows, Ian Gough and Ian Evans represent Magners League champions the Ospreys, while Alix Popham gets the nod over Colin Charvis in the back row.

The Wales team to play Argentina at the Millennium Stadium in the Invesco Perpetual Series ’07 on Saturday August 18th, is:

Wales: Kevin Morgan (Dragons): Dafydd James (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues), Gareth Thomas (Blues, Captain), Mark Jones (Scarlets); James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Martyn Williams (Blues), Alix Popham (Scarlets)

Replacements: T Rhys Thomas (Blues), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Colin Charvis (Dragons), Mike Phillips (Ospreys), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Jamie Robinson (Blues)