Teams
Eddie Jones welcomes back his firm favourite, Anthony Watson, from his latest injury layoff as the only change in the backline from the Ireland match. Mako Vunipola is in self-isolation following a trip abroad and will not return to the squad, and Sam Underhill misses his first England game for some time, replaced by the teak tough Mark Wilson.
Despite a lot of chatter about his fitness during the week, Dan Biggar will start for Wales and it will be interesting to see just how fit he looks in the opening exchanges. Taulupe Faletau is on the bench after Pivac concluded his playing for Bath less than seven days ago would compromise his ability to play a full 80.
Liam Williams is back, but on the wing as Wayne Pivac
is not entirely convinced by Johnny McNicholl
Most interesting selection is the return of Josh Navidi at 8. So much of what was good about Wales during Faletau’s injury horror of the past 12 months was what Navidi brought from the base of the scrum: pace, a ridiculous engine, strength over the ball and eye watering tenacity. It’s good to see him back.
England: 15- Elliot Daly; 14-Anthony Watson, 13-Manu Tuilagi, 12-Owen Farrell (capt), 11-Jonny May; 10-George Ford, 9-Ben Youngs; 1-Joe Marler, 2-Jamie George, 3-Kyle Sinckler, 4-Maro Itoje, 5-George Kruis, 6-Courtney Lawes, 7-Mark Wilson, 8-Tom Curry
Replacements: 16-Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17-Ellis Genge, 18-Will Stuart, 19-Joe Launchbury, 20-Charlie Ewels, 21-Ben Earl, 22-Willi Heinz, 23-Henry Slade
Wales: 15-Leigh Halfpenny; 14-George North, 13-Nick Tompkins, 12-Hadleigh Parkes, 11-Liam Williams; 10-Dan Biggar, 9-Tomos Williams; 1-Rob Evans, 2-Ken Owens, 3-Dillon Lewis, 4-Jake Ball, 5-Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 6-Ross Moriarty, 7-Justin Tipuric, 8-Josh Navidi
Replacements: 16-Ryan Elias, 17-Rhys Carre, 18-Leon Brown, 19-Aaron Shingler, 20-Taulupe Faletau, 21-Rhys Webb, 22-Jarrod Evans, 23-Johnny McNicholl