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England's Nowell, Moon to start Wales game

England coach Eddie Jones has named Winger Jack Nowell and prop Ben Moon to start in their Six Nations clash with Wales.

England coach Eddie Jones
Coach Eddie Jones will give Jack Nowell and Ben Moon starts in England's match with Wales. (AAP)

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Source: AAP


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Winger Jack Nowell and prop Ben Moon have been included in England's starting team to face Wales in Saturday's potentially decisive Six Nations clash in Cardiff, with Joe Cokanasiga and Brad Shields on the bench for the first time in the championship.

Nowell was dropped to the bench against France, but with Chris Ashton out with a calf strain he will return to start on Saturday in the same back three as in the opening win in Dublin, with Jonny May on the left and Elliot Daly at fullback.

Moon, who has impressed Jones since making his debut in November, is in for Mako Vunipola, who has been ruled out for the rest of the tournament. Ellis Genge will provide a fiery option from the bench.

"Jack Nowell will start and Joe Cokanasiga will come onto the bench. As we saw in the autumn, Joe is a player of great potential so we're looking forward to him adding to the squad," head coach Eddie Jones said.

"Brad Shields comes in for Nathan Hughes as a finisher as we just feel like it is going to be a high work-rate game."

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With both teams having won their first two games, the Cardiff match (1645 GMT) already looks key to the title, particularly if England win it with home games against Italy and Scotland to come.

England have won their last five Six Nations games against the Welsh, but memories of their 2015 World Cup defeat at Twickenham and 30-3 humbling in Cardiff in 2013 when they were seeking a grand slam will keep their feet very much on the ground.

"Whenever you play against a Warren Gatland side you are playing against a side that is going to be very physical on the gain line," Jones added.

"They are always very fit so you have to make sure you win the gain line and then find opportunities of where you are going to attack them."

A home win would take Wales to a national record 12 successive victories, but with a final-day match against Ireland to come, there is still much to do.

ENGLAND: Elliot Daly, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs, Ben Moon, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, George Kruis, Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola. Subs: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Harry Williams, Joe Launchbury, Brad Shields, Dan Robson, George Ford, Joe Cokanasiga.


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