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Wales Online
Sport
Ben James

Warren Gatland rips up Wales team to play England with nine changes and Dan Biggar dropped

Owen Williams will start at fly-half ahead of Dan Biggar in a much-changed Wales team for their Six Nations clash with England.

With the match going ahead after strike action was averted, Warren Gatland has made nine changes as he looks to find a winning formula following defeats to Ireland and Scotland.

Williams has never begun a game for Wales at No.10, with his last start at Test level coming in the centre back in 2017 against New Zealand. However, he is chosen to replace Biggar - who has been a constant for Wales in recent years, captaining them in two campaigns last year. Follow live updates from Gatland's press conference here.

READ MORE: England insist Wales' Principality Stadium roof be open for Six Nations clash

Ospreys man Williams is being tasked with getting Wales' backline firing, with Biggar having to make do with a spot on the replacements bench.

Cardiff centre Mason Grady, as reported by us earlier in the week, will make his Test debut in midfield alongside Joe Hawkins - with George North missing out.

Between Williams, Hawkins and Grady, there are just seven caps at Test level in that Welsh midfield - a stark contrast to the experience of Biggar and North.

Leigh Halfpenny is also in line for a first start since winning his 100th Test cap against Canada in July 2021 as he replaces Liam Williams at full-back. Having sustained a bad knee injury in that game, Halfpenny has since returned off the bench for his country against Georgia - but attempts at starting games have seen him pull out shortly before matches against New Zealand, Australia and Ireland in the last six months.

Louis Rees-Zammit also returns to give Wales a boost after missing out on the opening two games through injury, replacing Rio Dyer in the back-three.

In the pack, Gatland makes a number of changes again, having ripped up his pack for the Scotland game.

Christ Tshiunza keeps his place from Murrayfield, but there is no room for Jac Morgan or Wyn Jones in the matchday 23 as Gareth Thomas, Tomas Francis, Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau return.

POLL: Who will win Wales v England in the Six Nations? Have your say below or right here

On the bench, Bradley Roberts covers hooker, while Tommy Reffell will provide back-row cover. Kieran Hardy and Nick Tompkins also make the bench, putting them in line for their first appearances of the tournament.

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Josh Adams, Mason Grady, Joe Hawkins, Louis Rees-Zammit; Owen Williams, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Kieran Hardy, Dan Biggar, Nick Tompkins.

READ NEXT:

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How Wales' Six Nations players voted in crucial last meeting on strike action

The full transcript of Ken Owens and Nigel Walker's dramatic press conference as Wales v England dispute ended

Ospreys plan to keep hold of Joe Hawkins as English giants look to swoop

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