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Navidi and Williams return to start at Twickenham

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Josh Navidi and Liam Williams will make their first appearances of Wales’ 2020 Guinness Six Nations campaign after being named in the starting XV to face England on Saturday.

Josh Navidi and Liam Williams will make their first appearances of Wales’ 2020 Guinness Six Nations campaign after being named in the starting XV to face England on Saturday.

Head coach Wayne Pivac has made four changes to the side defeated by France in Cardiff in Round Three, with Tomos Williams starting in at scrum-half and Rob Evans at prop.

Liam Williams, returning from an ankle injury, comes into an experienced back-three alongside fellow British & Irish Lions George North and Leigh Halfpenny.

Hadleigh Parkes and Nick Tompkins continue their partnership in midfield with Dan Biggar lining up alongside Tomos Williams in the half-backs.

Evans comes into the front row, making his first start for Wales since the 2019 edition of the Championship, and he will pack down alongside Ken Owens and Dillon Lewis.

Jake Ball and captain Alun Wyn Jones partner again in the second row, with Jones setting another Welsh record by becoming his country’s most capped player in the Championship with 57. In the back row Navidi returns at No.8 to link up with Ross Moriarty and Justin Tipuric.

“We’ve had a good two weeks and we are really excited about heading up to Twickenham for what will be a huge Six Nations clash,” said Pivac.

“We have had the chance to put the disappointments of the loss to France behind us and we know heading to London we need to be more clinical in attack and convert the opportunities that we are creating.

“Liam’s return to full fitness is a positive after the loss of Josh (Adams), as is the return of Josh Navidi. We have been targeting this game for both of their returns and they have trained really well so it’s a great opportunity for them on Saturday.”

On the bench Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre and Leon Brown provide the front-row cover, with Aaron Shingler and Taulupe Faletau completing the forward contingent. Rhys Webb, Jarrod Evans and Johnny McNicholl are Pivac’s options in the back-line.

Wales starting XV to face England at Twickenham on Saturday, March 7

15. Leigh Halfpenny (88 Caps) 14. George North (94 Caps) 13. Nick Tompkins (3 Caps) 12. Hadleigh Parkes (28 Caps) 11. Liam Williams (62 Caps) 10. Dan Biggar (82 Caps) 9. Tomos Williams (19 Caps) 1. Rob Evans (38 Caps) 2. Ken Owens (65 Caps) 3. Dillon Lewis (25 Caps) 4. Jake Ball (45 Caps) 5. Alun Wyn Jones (C) (137 Caps) 6. Ross Moriarty (44 Caps) 7. Justin Tipuric (75 Caps) 8. Josh Navidi (23 Caps)

Replacements

16. Ryan Elias (12 Caps) 17. Rhys Carre (7 Caps) 18. Leon Brown (9 Caps) 19. Aaron Shingler (26 Caps) 20. Taulupe Faletau (75 Caps) 21. Rhys Webb (32 Caps) 22. Jarrod Evans (6 Caps) 23. Johnny McNicholl (3 Caps)