Six Nations 2021: Wales are set to pair Jonathan Davies and George North at centre for England
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Jonathan Davies (left) with George North, who could win his 100th Wales cap against England
Six Nations 2021: Wales v England |
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Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 27 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT |
Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Sounds, BBC iPlayer & Radio 5 Live, BBC Sport website and app, S4C |
Wales are set to pair Jonathan Davies and George North at centre as they seek a Six Nations Triple Crown against England in Cardiff on Saturday.
Scarlets scrum-half Kieran Hardy is in line to be promoted to start ahead of regional team-mate Gareth Davies.
Wing Josh Adams could return after missing the opening victories against Ireland and Scotland because of a breach of Covid-19 rules.
Liam Williams is set to line up at full-back with Leigh Halfpenny missing.
Davies and North missed the win in Scotland earlier this month with ankle and foot injuries respectively
The pair were passed fit alongside fellow centre Johnny Williams, creating fierce competition for midfield places with Owen Watkin, Nick Tompkins and Willis Halaholo involved against Scotland.
Tompkins and Watkin started at Murrayfield, while Halaholo had an excellent debut from the bench.
Davies would line up in the more unfamiliar inside-centre position against England, although he formed the midfield partnership with North that started the Autumn Nations Cup victory against Italy in December.
North moved from the wing to start at outside centre against Ireland, scoring a try and producing an impressive all-round display with Williams inside him at 12.
Wales also had some tough calls to make among the back three, with wing Adams back in the reckoning after he was suspended following a breach of Covid-19 protocols.
Full-back Halfpenny has been going through his return-to-play protocols following concussion suffered against Scotland.
Six Nations 2021: 'We expect the very best version of England' - Humphreys
At half-back, Wales coach Wayne Pivac had to consider the impressive Murrayfield second-half cameos of Hardy and Callum Sheedy when they replaced the more experienced Gareth Davies and Dan Biggar, who is favourite to remain in the starting side against England.
Cardiff Blues scrum-half Tomos Williams has started running in training, but will not be in contention to face England following a hamstring injury.
Wales are waiting on the fitness of flanker Josh Navidi who missed the victory over Scotland with a neck injury. Aaron Wainwright started in the back-row against Scotland, with James Botham on the bench.
"We've [almost] got a full squad to choose from, which brings a headache but is also really positive," said Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.
"Selection meetings have taken a lot longer than they did a couple of months ago.
"There are some really difficult discussions going on about combinations but that's very positive. There's a lot of competition for places."
Following a torrid 2020 in which they lost seven of their 10 matches, Wales will clinch the Triple Crown if they beat England this weekend.
England, meanwhile, lost at home to Scotland for the first time since 1983 before thrashing Italy.
"A lot of players here have been through this. We understand how important the middle game of the tournament is, especially if you've won the first two," said Humphreys.
"This week is huge in all aspects and we're aware of that.
"We don't talk about it [Triple Crown]. We're all aware this is on the line but we don't need to talk about it.
"We talk about how we're going to play, how we're going to start and how we're going to go about trying to win this game."