England men’s head coach Eddie Jones has named his team to play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday (KO 2:15pm live on Sky Sports). Gloucester Rugby’s Willi Heinz will win his second cap and is named vice-captain once again.

George Ford will captain the side again following Sunday’s 33-19 win over Wales at Twickenham Stadium.

There are three changes to the starting XV that played last weekend. Maro Itoje is named in the second row while Courtney Lawes will play at blindside flanker with Lewis Ludlam moving to openside. Ruaridh McConnochie will start his first England game after being withdrawn from the team last weekend due to injury.

Owen Farrell, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler are included in the match day 23 for the first time in this series of matches ahead of the Rugby World Cup.

Jones said:

“Our selection strategy for our second game is similar to the first, so a bit of a mix-and-match approach. We are looking at different combinations and have a particular strategy for this game.

“The game is very much about ourselves preparing for the World Cup and we are respectful that we have got such strong opposition at their home ground. We are looking forward to it.

“The squad has been progressing well this week and I think there is a realisation among the squad now that the hard work really starts, nothing has been achieved.”

England starting XV v Wales

15 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 31 caps); 14 Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped), 13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 41 caps), 12 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 5 caps), 11 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 5 caps); 10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 56 caps) C, 9 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap) VC; 1 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps), 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps); 4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 59 caps), 5 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 27 caps) ; 6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 72 caps), 7 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 1 cap), 8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 42 caps)

Finishers

16 Jamie George (Saracens, 37 caps), 17 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 59 caps), 18 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 22 caps), 19 George Kruis (Saracens, 33 caps), 20 Jack Singleton (Saracens, 1 cap), 21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps), 22 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 70 caps), 23 Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps)

Heinz to start again as Jones names England team to play Wales

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