Six Nations 2024: Warren Gatland makes seven Wales changes to face England

George North will be only the fifth Wales player to make 50 championship appearances when he takes the field against England

George North returns from injury to play for Wales against England at Twickenham on Saturday as one of seven changes to the team beaten by Scotland.

The fit-again centre will be making his 50th Six Nations appearance.

Ioan Lloyd and Tomos Williams, who helped spark last weekend's comeback in the 27-26 defeat by Scotland, are rewarded with starts.

The entire starting front-row changes with Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee and Keiron Assiratti all selected.

Flanker Alex Mann, who scored a try against Scotland, gets his first Test start.

It is a first Test start at fly-half for Lloyd while Dafydd Jenkins continues as captain.

Scrum-half Gareth Davies is dropped from the matchday squad while Owen Watkin makes way for North. Sam Costelow (neck), Leon Brown (shoulder) and James Botham (knee) are injured.

Prop Corey Domachowski and hooker Ryan Elias step down to a bench that includes uncapped Bath tight-head prop Archie Griffin.

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Cai Evans could also make his Six Nations debut as a replacement and is joined by Dragons team-mate Taine Basham and Scarlets scrum-half Kieran Hardy.

Replacement lock Will Rowlands, who missed last week following the birth of his child, is set to make his first Six Nations appearance since 2022.

Wales team to face England: Winnett; Dyer, North, Tompkins, Adams; Lloyd, Williams; G Thomas, Dee, Assiratti, Jenkins (capt), Beard, Mann, Reffell, Wainwright.

Replacements: Elias, Domachowski, Griffin, Rowlands, Basham, Hardy, Evans, Grady.

North, 31, becomes only the fifth Welshman to play 50 championship games, following Martyn Williams, Stephen Jones, Gethin Jenkins and Alun Wyn Jones.

Full-back Cameron Winnett wins only his second cap while Josh Adams escapes punishment after being singled out by Gatland for a petulant and costly penalty against Scotland.

'Critical'

Gatland said: "We've been critical and tough on ourselves this week. That first half was nowhere near the standards we expect. We simply cannot start the same way this Saturday.

"We showed in the second half against Scotland what we are capable of. Now it's about building on that performance and playing with some tempo from the off.

"We've made a few changes to the starting line-up this weekend which gives opportunities to the players coming in. We need to be accurate and keep our discipline.

"This is a massive game, not only because of the history and what it means to everyone in Wales. But it's an opportunity to get things on track a bit more.

"England are in a rebuilding phase. We'll go there with a lot of confidence we can build on that second-half and belief."

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