England will host Wales on Saturday (5:45 p.m.) during the 2nd day of the Six Nations Tournament, with the same starting XV as that launched in Italy (27-24), a full renewal not seen for more than four years .
The only change in the group announced on Thursday concerns the substitutes' bench, with the return of pillar and vice-captain Ellis Genge, forced to give up his place at the last moment in Rome after a foot injury.
The Welsh, for their part, made seven changes compared to the XV narrowly beaten (27-26) against Scotland last weekend in Cardiff.
The English N.10 jersey thus remains on the shoulders of George Ford, the 30-year-old fly-half from Bath, in competition with the young talent from Northampton, Fin Smith (21 years old, 0 selection), in the absence of Marcus Smith again package.
The XV de la Rose had never been entirely renewed from one match to the next since November 2019 and the World Cup final lost 32-12 in Japan against South Africa.
England v Wales team line-up:
Steward - Freeman, Slade, Dingwall, Daly - (o) Ford, (m) Mitchell - Underhill, Earl, Roots - Chessum, Itoje - Stuart, George (cap.), Marler .
Subs:
Dan, Genge, Cole, Coles, Cunningham-South, Care, F. Smith, Feyi-Waboso.