Chiefs quartet to face Wales

By Mark Stevens
8/2/18

Four Exeter Chiefs players have been named in Eddie Jones’ England side to face Wales on Saturday in their second NatWest 6 Nations match (kick-off 4.45pm, Twickenham Stadium).

Sam Simmonds starts the game at No.8, while props Alec Hepburn and Harry Williams, plus winger Jack Nowell, have all been named on the bench.

There are two changes to the starting line-up that beat Italy 46-15 on Sunday in Rome. Danny Care (Harlequins) starts at half back and will become England’s most capped scrum half (78), moving past 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson, while Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby) comes in for Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) at outside centre.

Following an injury to Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) Richard Wigglesworth has been named as a finisher. The 34-year-old Saracens half back last played for England in 2015.

England head coach Jones said: “The team is hugely excited about playing in front of 82,000 fans at Twickenham and we’ll be well prepared and ready to go out there and beat Wales on Saturday.

“We want to make sure our set piece is dominant, our defence is ferocious and that we are at our best against Wales this weekend.Danny Care very much deserves the honour of being the most capped England scrum half and I am sure he’ll make the most of his opportunity on Saturday.”

England Team to play Wales

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins 65 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby 29 caps)
13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 36 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens 54 caps)
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers 30 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers 41 caps)
9 Danny Care (Harlequins 77 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens 45 caps)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints 90 caps, capt)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 78 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps 48 caps)
5 Maro Itoje (Saracens 15 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints 62 caps)
7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 60 caps)
8 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs 4 caps)

16 Jamie George (Saracens 21 caps)
17 Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs 1 cap)
18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 6 caps)
19 George Kruis (Saracens 22 caps)
20 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 4 caps)
21 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens 27 caps)
22 Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors 9 caps)
23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs 24 caps)