England host Wales at Twickenham Stadium tomorrow evening, in a rematch of their 2023 Summer Nations Series opener in Cardiff. Both sides continue to build towards the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Head Coaches Steve Borthwick and Warren Gatland utilising these warm-up games to identify their best squads.
Gatland has shuffled the deck for his Wales squad to travel down to London, as he makes 20 personnel changes from the side that won the opener in the Welsh capital. Only veteran fly half Dan Biggar, Exeter Chiefs’ powerhouse Christ Tshiunza and Gatland’s latest debutant Taine Plumtree are retained in the side that ran out 20-9 victors last weekend.
Likewise to Gatland, England Head Coach Steve Borthwick has made 11 changes to his match day squad. Borthwick recently named his 33-man World Cup squad, with eight players who featured in the defeat in Cardiff released back to their clubs. Gloucester winger Jonny May joins them as the ninth to depart, despite not featuring in last weekend’s loss.
The match kicks off at 5:30pm at Twickenham Stadium, and will be aired live on Amazon Prime Video for those who can’t see it in person. The match won’t cost a penny for new subscribers to Prime Video, under the 30-day free trial.
ENGLAND TEAM NEWS
England talisman Owen Farrell returns to captain the side at fly half, after watching on from the stands at the Principality Stadium. He takes over the armband from Ellis Genge, with the prop dropped to the bench ahead of his 50th England cap.
Northampton Saints loose forward Courtney Lawes has been named as vice-captain, in Genge’s absence from the starting XV. Saracens back-rower Ben Earl lines-up alongside Lawes on the openside flank, in what will be Earl’s first test match start for England. He’s joined by Saracens teammate Billy Vunipola, who makes his return from injury in the eight jersey.
Freddie Steward stars at fullback once again, with an interesting back-three duo of Henry Arundell and Elliot Daly occupying the wings. Joe Marchant will again line-up against Wales at outside centre, and is partnered up by Ollie Lawrence, in the Bath man’s first match back from injury. Jack van Poortvliet takes over from Danny Care at scrum-half, with the returning Owen Farrell selected over Marcus Smith at 10.
Will Stuart is picked to start at tight-head once again, after an impressive performance in Cardiff. Borthwick has made changes to the rest of the front row, with Joe Marler and Jamie George starting at loosehead prop and hooker. David Ribbans starts in the row alongside George Martin, with Maro Itoje out of the squad.
Despite not being selected in the 33-man Rugby World Cup squad, Sale Sharks lock Jonny Hill has been re-called for international duty, and starts on the bench. Along with Hill, Theo Dan is the only other re-occurring replacement, after his England debut last weekend.
ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE WALES: SUMMER NATIONS SERIES 2023
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
14. Henry Arundell (Racing 92, 7 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 16 caps)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 57 caps)
10. Owen Farrell © (Saracens, 106 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 79 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 77 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 67 caps)
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps)
7. Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 68 caps)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 1 cap)
17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 20 caps)
20. Jack Willis (Toulouse, 10 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 122 caps)
22. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 82 caps)
23. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 19 caps)
Speaking to the England Rugby website, Steve Borthwick said:
“We are very much looking forward to our return to Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, and the opportunity to play in front of our supporters again. England versus Wales is always a special fixture, and we are pleased to be playing the visitors again so soon.
“We’re delighted for Ellis who will win his 50th cap from the bench. He’s a brilliant professional, both on and off the field, and I’m sure Saturday will be a very proud moment for him and his family.”
On Jonny Hill’s involvement, Borthwick added: “Jonny has trained with us throughout the week, and I am pleased to be able to name him in the match day 23. I have no doubt he will provide a big impact for us off the bench.”.
WALES TEAM NEWS
Warren Gatland has again named a new captain, with back-row Jac Morgan left out of the squad. Hooker Dewi Lake is set to take up the captaincy, and lead his side out at Twickenham. There are three uncapped players ready for their Wales test match debut this Saturday, with centre Joe Roberts starting from the off in the 13 jersey.
His Scarlets teammate Kemsley Mathias is set for his debut from the bench, along with Ospreys centre Kieran Williams. In the back three, veteran flyers Liam Williams and Josh Adams replace Leigh Halfpenny and Louis Rees-Zammit, with another Scarlets newcomer in Tom Rogers replacing Rio Dyer, for his third cap.
The aforementioned debutant Joe Roberts partners up with Saracens midfielder Nick Tompkins in the centres, with the duo coming in for the George North and Max Llewellyn partnership of last weekend. The chosen halfbacks sees Owen Williams of the Ospreys set to lead the line at 10, with Cardiff scrum half Tomos Williams partnering him. They get the nod in replace of Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies, who led from the off last Saturday.
In the forwards, Gareth Thomas, captain Dewi Lake and Tomos Francis replace the recent debutants Corey Domachowski and Keiron Assiratti, with Ryan Elias out injured. Rhys David and Adam Beard partner up in the locks, with a back-row contingent of Dan Lydiate, Tommy Reffell and Taine Plumtree. The New Zealand born number eight is retained from last week, and steps up to the starting xv after his off-the-bench debut.
WALES SQUAD TO FACE ENGLAND: SUMMER NATIONS SERIES 2023
15. Liam Williams (Kubota Spears – 84 caps)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 49 caps)
13. Joe Roberts (Scarlets – uncapped)
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 27 caps)
11. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 2 caps)
10. Owen Williams (Ospreys – 7 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 46 caps)
1. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 21 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 8 caps) (Captain)
3. Tomas Francis (Provence – 71 caps)
4. Rhys Davies (Ospreys – 2 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 46 caps)
6. Dan Lydiate (Dragons – 69 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 9 caps)
8. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 1 cap)
Replacements
16. Sam Parry (Ospreys – 5 caps)
17. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – uncapped)
18. Dillon Lewis (Harlequins – 50 caps)
19. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 6 caps)
20. Taine Basham (Dragons – 11 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Scarlets – 17 caps)
22. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 108 caps)
23. Keiran Williams (Ospreys – uncapped)
Speaking of the heavily-changed squad, Gatland said to the Wales Rugby website:
“There’s an opportunity for another group of players who weren’t involved last week. There’s some great competition within the squad. I was pretty pleased with the team performance and the result last week, it wasn’t perfect but there’s a chance now for this group to go out Saturday and to put down their own marker.
“Like I said there’s some real competition and perhaps a bit of pressure on this group as well. Then we’ll look potentially what the make up of the team is the following week against South Africa.”
On the captaincy Gatland added: “I’ve been really impressed with Dewi. Like Jac (Morgan) he’s well-respected in the group, he’s got a voice and he has confidence about himself and his own ability.
“We’re in a bit of transition, so in the back of my mind I was thinking we are building not only for the next few months but also starting to think about what we need to do with the next cycle of players going forwards towards 2027.”