Wales will give key duo Biggar and North every chance to face England

0 Dan Biggar: Rib injury. Wales boss Rob Howley says key backs George North and Dan Biggar will be given “every opportunity” to feature in tomorrow’s Six Nations showdown with England.

Howley has named both players in his starting XV for England’s visit to Principality Stadium. But with Wales having just a six-day turnaround following last weekend’s win over Italy, in which Biggar took a blow to his ribs and North suffered leg bruising, they remain works in progress.

If needs be, Wales are prepared to leave any fitness decisions they might yet have to make until the day of the game.

“George hasn’t done too much this week, and Dan has done a couple of sessions,” said interim head coach Howley, who has called up props Rob Evans and Tomas Francis as his only two changes from the 33-7 victory in Rome.

“Those two players [Biggar and North] will be given every opportunity to be fit. They are two experienced and important players for us. It is a big game, and both players want to be part of that game as you would expect.”

Alex Cuthbert, who scored two tries when Wales destroyed Grand Slam-chasing England in Cardiff four years ago, would be favourite to replace Northampton wing North if any change is required, with Sam Davies taking over from his Ospreys stand-off colleague Biggar.

It would mean Davies moving off the bench – as he did to great effect at half-time in Rome – with uncapped Leicester back Owen Williams potentially joining the replacements.

Williams has been released back to Leicester for their Aviva Premiership game against Gloucester, but Howley has already spoken with Tigers

0 George North: Bruised leg.

WALES

V ENGLAND

head coach Aaron Mauger about the situation.

Sixty-two-cap No 8 Taulupe Faletau features among the substitutes for potentially his first run-out since being injured on Christmas Eve.

Wales’ starting back-row – Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty – can boast 110 more caps than England’s untried breakaway unit, with Faletau ready to enter the action at some point.

England’s back-row features Jack Clifford in place of Tom Wood. Clifford has recovered from a chest injury to make his first international appearance since last summer’s tour to Australia and is chosen ahead of the more experienced Wood, who is demoted to the bench. Wood, who has recovered from a shoulder injury, has 46 caps while Clifford, Maro Itoje and Nathan Hughes have only four backrow starts between them.

In the only other change to the starting XV that beat France last Saturday, Jack Nowell is picked on the right wing in a move that sees Jonny May also relegated to a spot among the replacements.