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Wales Online
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Matthew Southcombe

England v Wales team news confirmed as Alex Cuthbert starts and Gareth Anscombe returns: Give us your verdict

Wales have stuck with Alex Cuthbert after dropping Louis Rees-Zammit to make room for the returning Josh Adams this weekend.

Wayne Pivac’s side head to Twickenham to face England and, as expected, Gloucester’s flying youngster has been left out of the team.

It represents a big show of faith in Cuthbert, who has been resurgent in recent months since joining the Ospreys, but it is not the first time Pivac has dropped a player cold like this.

George North, Adam Beard and Owen Watkin have all had the same treatment and all rediscovered their form sharpish. Pivac will be hoping the same trick works again.

Elsewhere, Taulupe Faletau goes straight back into the starting lineup after being called up to the squad on Monday. The vastly experienced No. 8 has played two games for club side Bath since returning from an ankle injury which sidelined him for seven months.

Are you happy with this Wales team? Can they beat England? Have your say and see what others think in the comments section below.

There are more changes on the bench, where Gareth Anscombe is poised to make his first appearance of the campaign, taking the place of Callum Sheedy, while Kieran Hardy replaces his Scarlets team-mate Gareth Davies. Dragons prop Leon Brown also comes onto the bench, in place of Dillon Lewis. He hasn't featured for Wales since last summer.

In the starting XV, Liam Williams completes the back three. Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin keep their places in the side, despite an impressive cameo from Jonathan Davies against Scotland. Dan Biggar and Tomos Williams continue at half-back.

Read more: Verdict on Wales team as gambles explained and Jones takes risks

A front row of Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias and Tomas Francis go again, with all three having had a fine start to the championship.

Vice-captain Adam Beard packs down with Will Rowlands at lock, while Ross Moriarty switches to blindside flanker to make room for Faletau, with Taine Basham moving back to his usual position at openside flanker.

England, meanwhile, are bolstered by the return of Courtney Lawes, who comes back into the side as captain at blindside flanker.

Jack Nowell has also been cleared to play after suffering a concussion against Italy a fortnight ago, while former Cardiff Met RFC student and Wales U20s player Alex Dombrandt starts at No. 8.

Ben Youngs could become England’s most-capped men’s player of all time if he comes on from the bench. Youngs equalled Jason Leonard’s record of 114 caps in England’s 33-0 win away to Italy. Rochelle 'Rocky' Clark, who played 137 Tests for England, is the country's most-capped rugby international overall.

England: 15. Freddie Steward, 14. Max Malins, 13. Henry Slade, 12. TBC, 11. Jack Nowell, 10. Marcus Smith, 9. Harry Randall, 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 4. Charlie Ewels, 5. Maro Itoje, 6. Courtney Lawes (capt), 7. Tom Curry, 8. Alex Dombrandt.

Replacements: 16. Jamie George, 17. Joe Marler, 18. Will Stuart, 19. Nick Isiekwe, 20. Sam Simmonds, 21. Ben Youngs, 22. George Ford, 23. Elliot Daly.

Wales: 15. Liam Williams, 14. Alex Cuthbert, 13. Owen Watkin, 12. Nick Tompkins, 11. Josh Adams, 10. Dan Biggar (capt), 9. Tomos Williams, 1. Wyn Jones, 2. Ryan Elias, 3. Tomas Francis, 4. Will Rowlands, 5. Adam Beard, 6. Ross Moriarty, 7. Taine Basham, 8. Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16. Dewi Lake, 17. Gareth Thomas, 18. Leon Brown, 19. Seb Davies, 20. Jac Morgan, 21. Kieran Hardy, 22. Gareth Anscombe, 23. Jonathan Davies.

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