England head coach Eddie Jones has named his side for this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales.
Courtney Lawes returns to the side as blind-side flanker and is named captain.
Kyle Sinckler will make his 50th appearance for England. The prop made his debut against South Africa in November 2016. Vice-captains Ellis Genge (loose-head prop) and Luke Cowan-Dickie (hooker) join him in the front row.
Maro Itoje and Charlie Ewels are named as locks. Tom Curry (vice-captain) stays at open-side flanker and Alex Dombrandt is No. 8.
Manu Tuilagi returns from injury at inside centre and vice-captain Henry Slade is outside centre. Marcus Smith is fly half and Harry Randall is scrum half.
Jack Nowell (left) and Max Malins (right) are at wing and Freddie Steward is full back.
Ben Youngs could become England’s most-capped men’s player of all time as he is named as finisher. Youngs equalled Jason Leonard’s record of 114 caps in England’s 33-0 win away to Italy. He made his debut in March 2010 against Scotland.
Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Simmonds, George Ford and Elliot Daly complete the finishers.
Jones said: “We’ve prepared very well for this game, the squad have really come together on and off the pitch.
“Wales are a good, tough side and Six Nations champions and it will make for an exciting Test match in front of a full Twickenham crowd.
“We’ve got a talented, young, hungry squad who have trained with real intensity this week. We’re ready to go at them and can’t wait to play in front of our supporters again.
“It will also be a special match with two significant milestones for Ben and Kyle, both of who have made outstanding contributions to English rugby so far in their careers. We congratulate them and we know there is more to come ahead for them.”
The match is live on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live (4.45pm KO).
ENGLAND XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 12 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps) (VC)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 7 caps)
9. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps) (VC)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps) (VC)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
4. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
5. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 53 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps) (C)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 38 caps) (VC)
8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 6 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 63 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 76 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 17 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 5 caps)
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 114 caps)
22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 54 caps)
Wales senior men’s head coach Wayne Pivac has named his team to face England at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday 26 February (KO 4.45pm live on ITV and S4C).
Taulupe Faletau, who was recalled to the squad earlier this week following his return from injury, is selected at number 8. He features for the first time since playing against France in last year’s Guinness Six Nations.
Elsewhere in the back row Ross Moriarty switches to blind-side flanker and Taine Basham moves back to open-side flanker after an outing at blind side against Scotland.
Alex Cuthbert will win his 50th cap for Wales this weekend after being selected on the wing. Josh Adams returns from injury to start also at wing, while Liam Williams remains at fullback.
Among the replacements Leon Brown (tight-head prop) is in line to make his first appearance for Wales since last July. Kieran Hardy and Gareth Anscombe, who last featured for Wales in the autumn against Fiji and South Africa respectively, are named as half back cover. Jac Morgan is the other change to the bench from the Wales 23 versus Scotland at Principality Stadium.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac said: “We’re very pleased to have the experienced Toby Faletau back. He’s trained well during the week and got 80 minutes under his belt last week. From our point of view he brings a lot of experience so we’re very excited to have Toby back.
“I’m also really pleased for Alex Cuthbert to get fifty Tests for his country. It’s a massive achievement. And it’s also great to have Josh Adams back from injury. They are two good players. That means Louis Rees-Zammit is the unfortunate one this week that misses out. But we’ve looked at the opposition we’re playing and niggly injuries that players pick up from time to time and we think that in this particular match, the way the game will go, that Alex and Josh are the right selection.
“Clearly everyone loves playing at home and it’s a first home game of the Guinness Six Nations for England. They will be tough opposition, they always are and both teams are still in this competition so there’s a lot at stake.
“It’s a big game. We had a great result against them last year but we’re going to have to play very, very well to get the same result this year.
“We played well against Scotland, but we’ve challenged the boys to make sure that we have that same effort away from home this week.”
Wales senior men’s team to face England (Saturday 26 February, KO 4.45pm. Live on ITV and S4C)
15. Liam Williams (Scarlets – 76 caps)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 49 caps)
13. Owen Watkin (Ospreys – 28 caps)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 18 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 36 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints – 97 caps), captain
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 31 caps)
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 40 caps)
2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 25 caps)
3. Tomas Francis (Ospreys – 62 caps)
4. Will Rowlands (Dragons – 15 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 31 caps), vice-captain
6. Ross Moriarty (Dragons – 51 caps)
7. Taine Basham (Dragons – 9 caps)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath Rugby – 86 caps)
Replacements
16. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 2 cap)
17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 7 caps)
18. Leon Brown (Dragons – 20 caps)
19. Seb Davies (Cardiff Rugby – 14 caps)
20. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 1 cap)
21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 8 caps)
22. Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys – 29 caps)
23. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets – 94 caps)
