Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland has named his squad to face England at Twickenham Stadium this Saturday. This match is the reverse fixture, after his side recorded a 20-9 victory over Steve Borthwick’s men in Cardiff.
Gatland has once again gone early with his squad announcement, with the side confirmed to face England a day ahead of time. Borthwick will in no doubt be assessing this side, as he prepares to select a squad to make amends from the defeat at the Principality Stadium.
Gatland has shuffled the deck from the side that beat England at the Principality Stadium, with a staggering 20 total player changes confirmed this morning. Just three names return to the team-sheet, from the side that beat England in Cardiff last weekend. Taine Plumtree, Christ Tshiunza and Dan Biggar are joined by a new-look Wales squad.
Gatland has 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 the home of English rugby. There are three uncapped players ready for their Wales test match debut this Saturday, with Scarlets 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 Scarlets newcomer 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.
Exeter Chiefs flanker Christ Tshiunza drops to the bench, with veteran fly half Dan Biggar being the only returning face from last weekend’s replacements.
WALES SQUAD TO FACE ENGLAND
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)