Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes will make their first appearances of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations after being named by Eddie Jones in the England team to face Wales.
Lawes returns to the side as blindside flanker and is named captain after missing the first two rounds of action as he underwent return-to-play protocols following a head injury.
Tuilagi also missed the first two games of the Championship as he recovered from a hamstring injury he picked up in November but comes back into the midfield alongside Henry Slade.
Elsewhere, Kyle Sinckler – who made his debut for his country against South Africa in November 2016 – will make his 50th appearance for England alongside vice-captains Ellis Genge (loosehead prop) and Luke Cowan-Dickie (hooker) in the front row.
Maro Itoje and Charlie Ewels are named as locks while vice-captain Tom Curry – who captained England in Lawes’ absence – stays at openside flanker and Alex Dombrandt is No.8.
Jones has also opted to stick with Marcus Smith and Harry Randall in the half-back partnership, after the young duo impressed in England’s 33-0 victory over Italy last time out.
Jack Nowell (left) and Max Malins (right) are at wing and Freddie Steward is full-back while Ben Youngs could become England’s most-capped men’s player of all time as he is named among the replacements.
Youngs, who made his debut in March 2010 against Scotland, equalled Jason Leonard’s record of 114 caps in Rome in Round 2 and is joined on the bench by Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Nick Isiekwe, Sam Simmonds, George Ford and Elliot Daly.
Jones said: “We’ve prepared very well for this game, the squad have really come together on and off the pitch.
“Wales are a good, tough side and Six Nations champions and it will make for an exciting Test match in front of a full Twickenham crowd.
“We’ve got a talented, young, hungry squad who have trained with real intensity this week. We’re ready to go at them and can’t wait to play in front of our supporters again.
“It will also be a special match with two significant milestones for Ben and Kyle, both of who have made outstanding contributions to English rugby so far in their careers. We congratulate them and we know there is more to come ahead for them.”
England XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 12 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 45 caps) (VC)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
11. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 36 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 7 caps)
9. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps) (VC)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps) (VC)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
4. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 28 caps)
5. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 53 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 90 caps) (C)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 38 caps) (VC)
8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 6 caps)
Replacements
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 63 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 76 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 17 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 5 caps)
20. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 114 caps)
22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 79 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 54 caps)
