Wales vs England team news: Confirmed line-ups ahead of Six Nations clash
The Six Nations clash between Wales and England will go ahead after the Welsh players agreed to take the field on Saturday amid a contract dispute after an 11th-hour breakthrough.
The threat of players taking Six Nations strike action occurred as a result of a new six-year financial agreement between the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) and its four regions not being confirmed and no playing budgets finalised.
But after a meeting between officials from the WRU’s Professional Rugby Board (PRB) and players on Wednesday, WRU acting chief executive Nigel Walker confirmed the marquee Six Nations fixture will indeed be played as planned at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Wales host England in desperate need of a win having begun Warren Gatland’s second tenure as head coach with back-to-back defeats to Ireland and Scotland. Their visitors achieved their first win under their own new coach, Steve Borthwick, last time out against Italy.
When is Wales vs England?
The match takes place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off 4.45pm.
How to watch
Wales vs England will be shown live on BBC Sport. Licence-fee payers can stream live online via the BBC Sport app and website.
Team news
England flanker Tom Curry will miss the remaining Six Nations matches due to a hamstring injury after Sale Sharks director Alex Sanderson said the player will be out of action for "four to six weeks". The 24-year-old withdrew from the England squad for Saturday's Six Nations game against Wales and was replaced by his brother Ben.
Ollie Hassell-Collins is also out with a knee injury, which opens up the opportunity for Anthony Watson to make his first Engalnd start for almost two years.
For Wales, Louis Rees-Zammit could comes into the starting XV for the first time in this Six Nations among nine changes from the defeat by Scotland.
Confirmed line-ups
England: Steward; Malins, Slade, Lawrence, Watson; Farrell (c), Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Sinckler; Itoje, Chessum; Ludlam, Willis, Dombrandt.
Replacements: Walker, M Vunipola, Cole, Lawes, B Curry, Mitchell, M Smith, Arundell.
Wales: Halfpenny; Adams, Grady, Hawkins, Rees-Zammit; O Williams, T Williams; G Thomas, Owens (capt), Francis, Beard, AW Jones, Tshiunza, Tipuric, Faletau.
Replacements: Roberts, Carre, Lewis, Jenkins, Reffell, Hardy, Biggar, Tompkins
