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Wales make 8 changes for the visit of England
By Online Editors
Wales have made eight changes to their XV that will face England on Saturday in Llanelli following their round two Autumn Nations Cup win over Georgia which snapped a six-match losing streak under Wayne Pivac.
Recalled captain Alun Wyn Jones is one of four changes to the pack that managed an 18-0 win last weekend. He takes over at lock from Seb Davies. Ryan Elias for Elliot Dee, Shane Lewis-Hughes for the concussed Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau for Aaron Wainwright at No8 are the other changes. James Botham switched to openside this week.
In the backs, Lloyd Williams will partner Dan Biggar at half-back, with Callum Sheedy dropping to the bench and Kieran Hardy missing out altogether. With the same midfield of Johnny Williams at No12 and Nick Tompkins at 13 kept in place, the other two Wales changes are in the back three.
Liam Williams is replaced at full-back by Leigh Halfpenny and with Louis Rees-Zammit switching to right wing, his left wing berth from Georgia is filled by Josh Adams. Johnny McNicholl loses out.
“Saturday is another great opportunity for us and for this squad,” said head coach Pivac. “It is another chance for us to take what we have been doing in training and take that into matchday and we are looking forward to it. We know what we need to do and we are focused on that for Saturday.”
On the bench Elliot Dee, Rhys Carre and Tomas Francis provide the front row cover with Will Rowlands and Aaron Wainwright completing the forward contingent. Rhys Webb, Callum Sheedy and Owen Watkin provide the backline cover.
WALES (vs England, Saturday)
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (28 Caps)
2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets) (16 Caps)
3. Samson Lee (Scarlets) (44 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (Scarlets) (48 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (141 Caps) (CAPT)
6. Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues) (2 Caps)
7. James Botham (Cardiff Blues) (1 Cap)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath) (79 Caps)
9. Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues) (30 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (86 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (28 Caps)
12. Johnny Williams (Scarlets) (1 Cap)
13. Nick Tompkins (Dragons) (7 Caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester) (2 Caps)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (92 Caps)
Replacements:
16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) (31 Caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues) (11 Caps)
18. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (50 Caps)
19. Will Rowlands (Wasps) (3 Caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (25 Caps)
21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys) (35 Caps)
22. Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears) (2 Caps)
23. Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (24 Caps)
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Latest Comments
I think we need to get innovative with the new laws.
Now red cards are only 20 minutes, Razor should send Finau on a head hunting mission to hospitalise their 10 with a shoulder to the chops.
Give the conspiracy theorists a win.
Go to commentsEngland played well enough to win but couldnt score when they needed to and couldnt defend a couple of X-Factor moments from Telea which was ultimately the difference. They needed to hold the ball more and make the AB's make more tackles. Territorially they were good for the first 60. Defending their lead and playing pragmatic rugby in the last 20 was silly. The AB's always had the potential to come back. England still have a long way to go, definite progress would have been shown had they won but it seems they are still stuck where they were shortly after the six nations and their tour to NZ
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