England v Wales - Teams

Martin Gleeson will lead England in the Gillette Fusion international against Wales on Friday.

Keepmoat Stadium, Friday October 10, Gillette Fusion International, KO: 7.30pm, live on Sky Sports Xtra

England coach Tony Smith has selected just eight of his 24-man World Cup squad for Friday's Gillette Fusion international against Wales at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium. All 15 Leeds Rhinos and St Helens players are rested following their exertions during the Super League play-offs, while Warrington Wolves prop Adrian Morley misses out due to a stomach muscle injury. Morley, who is expected to be fit for England's World Cup opener against Papua New Guinea in Townsville on October 25, would have been a strong candidate to captain the team in the absence of the rested Jamie Peacock. Instead, the armband goes to Morley's club-mate Martin Gleeson, who will skipper a team for the first time and also start at stand-off in partnership with Salford teenager Richard Myler. "Martin is just about the most experienced person in the squad and he's been leading the team naturally in the last few weeks," said Smith. "I like to sit back and see who the natural leaders are and he's stepped up to the mark. It's a mark of his maturity and how far he's come. "I'm sure he'd be the first to admit he's had a couple of chequered markers in the past but he's well past that and thoroughly deserves the captaincy." Gleeson, 28, was once banned for betting on the outcome of a match involving his team but says he is a changed man. "It's a real honour to be appointed captain," he said. "I've never done it before but I have matured over the last couple of years and I do take a senior role on the training field.

Progression

"I see it as a natural progression and I will relish it. I just want to put in a real good performance and set the standards and hopefully take that to Australia." There are first caps for Harlequins duo Louis McCarthy-Scarsbrook and Tony Clubb, both products of the London development system, as well as the 18 year-old Myler, who is seen as a star of the future. Hull KR coach Justin Morgan has insisted that Wales will be no pushovers when they face England. Former international Morgan is currently assisting new Welsh coach John Dixon along with Iestyn Harris and Anthony Seibold. The Dragons are heading to Doncaster with a young squad, with Rhys Griffiths - the son of former coach Clive - set to win his first cap after being named on the bench. Morgan told the Wales RFL website: "It'll be a challenge because we've only had this week to prepare ourselves. "From the Welsh point of view we're disappointed not to be going to the World Cup and this game provides us with a good hit out. "We've a number of new players in the side who are keen to make an impact and where better to start. "Traditionally, Wales have always gone well against the bigger nations like Australia and England, and I know all the players are excited by the chance of playing for Wales. "We've a number of new players in the side who are keen to make an impact and where better to start against England. "It'll be a difficult game on Friday but we're going to give it a good shot." Celtic Crusaders youngsters Gil Dudson and Barrie Phillips have been called up after Bradford Bulls forward Matt James and Dewsbury Rams winger Bryn Powell both withdrew. England: S Briscoe (Hull KR); P Fox (Hull KR), M Shenton (Castleford), P Sykes (Bradford), M Calderwood (Wigan); M Gleeson (Warrington, capt), R Myler (Salford); S Fielden (Wigan), M Higham (Wigan), L McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins), G Hock (Wigan), B Westwood (Warrington), R Purdham (Harlequins)
Replacements: D Hodgson (Huddersfield), J Langley (Bradford), D Griffin (Huddersfield), T Clubb (Harlequins) Wales: Dave Halley (Bradford); Damien Gibson (Halifax), Aled James (Crusaders), Lee Williams (Crusaders), Rhys Williams (Warrington); Mark Lennon (Crusaders), Ian Watson (Leigh); Craig Kopzcak (Bradford), Sean Penkywicz (Halifax), David Mills (Hull KR, capt), Ben Flower (Crusaders), Geraint Davies (Crusaders), Andy Bracek (Warrington)
Replacements: Ian Webster (Crusaders), Rhys Griffiths (Castleford), Jordan James (Crusaders), Matt Barron (Gateshead)
In reserve: Gil Dudson (Crusaders), Barrie Phillips (Crusaders)