GAVIN Henson has backed Matthew Morgan to spark Wales' World Cup challenge – and has urged Warren Gatland to give the livewire back a starting role.

Wales will name their side for Sunday's Millennium Stadium opener against Uruguay at lunchtime today with full-back/fly-half Morgan hoping to be involved in the matchday squad.

The 23-year-old has won three caps in the role of an impact sub, exploiting tiring legs with his speed and rapid footwork.

But double Grand Slam winner Henson believes his Bristol teammate could be the perfect option to replace the injured Leigh Halfpenny at full-back with Liam Williams staying on the wing.

"Matthew has done really well to make the World Cup squad and I just hope he gets the chance to start in the big games," said the 33-year-old, who never played on rugby's biggest stage after being overlooked in 2003 and 2007, then injured in 2011.

"He is exactly the type of player that this Wales back line needs – he is creative, incisive, well-balanced and really fast with the ability to beat three defenders in a five-metre channel.

"Matthew is so hard to grab hold of when he is running but he is a playmaker as well and I think he would help take some of the pressure off Dan Biggar at 10 in terms of ball-playing skills.

"He is still learning the game and he came to Bristol from the Ospreys where they just used him to try and get them out of a hole in the final 20 minutes.

"He has played fly-half for us and is coming on with his game management but at the moment he is a primarily a full-back for Wales and he has got huge potential. I'm sure he will show that if he gets a chance."

Henson plied his trade with Bath before signing for Bristol but believes Shaun Edwards' well-marshalled defence can get the better of his talented former teammates to strike a telling blow in the group of death with England, Australia and Fiji.

Wales head to Twickenham to face the tournament hosts a week on Saturday and will aim to keep George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson under wraps.

"I think they can turn England over if they defend like they did against Ireland in Dublin (in the warm-up Test)," said Henson, who played a key role in the 2008 success at Twickenham that sparked a Grand Slam.

"Obviously they will be drawing a lot of confidence from the Six Nations win in Cardiff but I think England could get caught out by the rush defence.

"They've got a hell of an attacking back line and I played with a few of them at Bath, but you saw how Saracens dealt with George Ford in the Aviva Premiership final and I think Wales can do the same."

South Wales Argus:

Gavin Henson launched the Paddy Power ‘Message Wall’ at the St. Marys Street shop, Cardiff. Visit the shop and leave your cheeky ‘Good Luck’ message to the England team for the Rugby World Cup.