WELSH coach Steve Hansen has made sweeping changes for Wales' second World Cup clash with Tonga at Canberra Stadium on Sunday.

Iestyn Harris, Gareth Thomas and Martyn Williams, all influential figures, are omitted from the line-up as only five players remain in their positions from those who started the opening game against Canada.

There is a total of ten changes, two positional for Sunday which is a must win game for Tonga, or they will be out of the competition after yesterday's defeat against Italy.

Out go Harris, Thomas, Williams, Kevin Morgan, Ceri Sweeney, Duncan Jones, Robin McBryde and Brent Cockbain.

And in come Rhys Williams, Mark Taylor, Tom Shanklin, Stephen Jones, Iestyn Thomas, Mefin Davies, Robert Sidoli and Alix Popham.

The positional changes involve Sonny Parker, who switches from outside to inside centre and skipper Colin Charvis, who moves from number eight to openside flanker.

The players who remain as they started last time out are Mark Jones, Gareth Cooper, Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Llewellyn and Dafydd Jones.

But there is still no starting place for Chris Wyatt and Shane Williams in the first two games, though Newport-raised Llanelli lock Wyatt could go on as a replacement against Tonga.

Hansen denies he is taking a gamble by leaving out players who did so well against Canada, insisting the side was more or less settled before the opener.

"We already had the team pencilled in before the first game," admitted Hansen. "If we are going to be successful we have to use the whole squad at some stage.

"It would be difficult if we played the same people. The attitude we must have is that we are confident in the whole squad."

Hansen saw the Tongans at first hand against Italy last night and said the Welsh camp learned a lot from the experience.

"They were pretty physical and willing, though they will be a bit disappointed," he said.

"We have got up to date information on them now, it had been difficult getting footage. We'll be looking at their set piece play in particular.

"They'll probably throw everything at us because it's win at all costs for them. If they don't get any points the tournament is virtually over for them."

Hansen also accused referees of having their own agenda and went as close as he could without getting into hot water on over-zealous refereeing as well as the issuing of cards too early in the game.

"Sometimes the yellow cards are questionable, but referees are playing their own game," he said. "They have got to perform to standards set down by other people and they can get over-zealous.

"Common sense should prevail and they shouldn't send someone off after 10 minutes. There have got to be really valid reasons and sometimes man-management can do the same job."

Wales team: R Williams, M Jones, M Taylor, S Parker, T Shanklin, S Jones, G Cooper, I Thomas, M Davies, G Jenkins, G Llewellyn, R Sidoli, D Jones, A Popham, C Charvis (captain). Replacements: G Evans, I Harris, D Peel, A Jones, H Bennett, C Wyatt. Kick off 9.30am BST.