Francis on bench for England clash

By Mark Stevens
26/11/20

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis has been named on the bench for Wales ahead of their Autumn Nations Cup clash with England at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday (4pm).

The tight-head - who notched up his 50th Test cap last time out - had started recent games against Scotland and Ireland, but did not feature in last weekend’s win against Georgia.

Instead, Samson Lee retains his place in the Welsh No.3 jersey for the visit of Eddie Jones’ side, who have won their last three games against Italy, Georgia and Ireland.

Elsewhere, captain Alun Wyn Jones returns to the starting line-up and will pack down alongside Jake Ball in the second-row behind an all-Scarlets front-row of Wyn Jones, Ryan Elias and Lee.

Cardiff Blues pair Shane Lewis-Hughes and James Botham join Taulupe Faletau in the back-row.Lloyd Williams will partner Dan Biggar at half-back with the centre pairing remaining unchanged from the victory over Georgia last weekend with Johnny Williams wearing 12 and Nick Tompkins wearing 13.

Josh Adams, Louis Rees-Zammit and Leigh Halfpenny make up the back-three.

“Saturday is another great opportunity for us and for this squad,” said head coach Wayne Pivac.“It is another chance for us to take what we have been doing in training and take that into matchday and we are looking forward it.

“We know what we need to do and we are focused on that for Saturday.”

WALES TEAM TO PLAY ENGLAND

1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets, 28 Caps)
2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets, 16 Caps)
3. Samson Lee (Scarlets, 44 Caps)
4. Jake Ball (Scarlets, 48 Caps)
5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt, 141 Caps) 
6. Shane Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff Blues, 2 Caps)
7. James Botham (Cardiff Blues, 1 Cap)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath, 79 Caps)
9. Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues, 30 Caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints, 86 Caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues, 28 Caps)
12. Johnny Williams (Scarlets, 1 Cap)
13. Nick Tompkins (Dragons, 7 Caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Gloucester, 2 Caps)
15. Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets, 92 Caps)

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons, 31 Caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Blues, 11 Caps)
18. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs, 50 Caps)
19. Will Rowlands (Wasps, 3 Caps)
20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons, 25 Caps)
21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys, 35 Caps)
22. Callum Sheedy (Bristol Bears, 2 Caps)
23. Owen Watkin (Ospreys, 24 Caps)