Jamie George returns to England lineup for Wales clash

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Six Nations: Wales v England
Kick-off: 4.45pm, Saturday. Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff. How to follow: The Irish Times liveblog will begin at 4.15pm. On TV: Live on Virgin Media One and BBC.
Jamie George has been recalled to England’s starting lineup to face Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday while Mark Wilson comes back in at blindside flanker after Courtney Lawes was forced to pull out with a late injury.
Otherwise Eddie Jones has largely stuck by the XV who beat Italy, with George Ford continuing at outhalf, Owen Farrell staying at inside-centre while Elliot Daly wins his 50th cap at fullback. Billy Vunipola also keeps his place at No8 despite admitting this week his form has been “rubbish”. The 19-year-old George Martin could make his debut off the bench.
Luke Cowan-Dickie can consider himself unlucky to drop back to the bench after impressing on his first championship start against Italy but Jones has seen fit to call on George’s experience. Lawes’ enforced injury-absence aside, the switch of hookers is the only change made to the starting XV for England’s must-win trip to Wales.
That means Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler continue as the props while Maro Itoje and Jonny Hill are again in the second row. Tom Curry is once more at blindside flanker with Ben Youngs at scrumhalf. Henry Slade is at outside-centre with Jonny May and Anthony Watson on the wings.
On the bench alongside Cowan-Dickie and Martin – who replaces the injured Jack Willis – are Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Ben Earl, Dan Robson and Max Malins. Should Martin, who can play either in the second row or at flanker, get off the bench it would represent a considerable rise for the teenager, who has made only seven appearances for Leicester Tigers.
“Wales is a really special fixture and rivalry,” said Jones. “There is a long history between the two nations and the game means a lot to both countries. We know we’ll be up against a strong Welsh challenge on Saturday, but we’ve worked really hard in training this week and have got a very good team to face it. We want to show people what we are capable of, keep building our performances and the best is yet to come from this England team.”
England: Elliot Daly (Saracens); Anthony Watson (Bath), Henry Slade (Exeter), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester); George Ford (Leicester), Ben Youngs (Leicester); Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Jamie George (Saracens), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol); Maro Itoje (Saracens), Jonny Hill (Exeter); Mark Wilson (Newcastle), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Billy Vunipola (Saracens).
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter), Ellis Genge (Leicester), Will Stuart (Bath), Charlie Ewels (Bath), George Martin (Leicester), Ben Earl (Bristol), Dan Robson (Wasps), Max Malins (Bristol).

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