England v Wales: Teams
England have recalled Matt Stevens and handed Manu Tuilagi his debut for Saturday's clash with Wales at Twickenham.
Last Updated: 07/08/11 9:26am
England have recalled Matt Stevens and handed Manu Tuilagi his debut for Saturday's clash with Wales at Twickenham.
Tuilagi, a Samoan-born 20-year-old, will start at outside centre in an England side that includes prop Stevens for the first time since 2008, shortly after which he tested positive for cocaine and was banned for two years.
Leicester man Tuilagi attracted heavy criticism for his brutal attack on Northampton's Chris Ashton during last season's Premiership semi-final.
The pair have trained together since, although Ashton has been rested by coach Martin Johnson with Bath giant Matt Banahan switching from centre to wing.
Danny Care and Jonny Wilkinson make up the half-back pairing as scrum-half Ben Youngs sits out the game following a minor operation, and Delon Armitage is named at full-back.
In the pack, Alex Corbisiero and Dylan Hartley complete the front line and Lewis Moody returns to captain the side from a strong-looking back row.
Saracens lock Mouritz Botha and Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples are both primed to make their Test debuts off the bench.
Wales' most-capped
Stephen Jones will become his country's most capped player when Wales launch their World Cup warm-up schedule against England.
But centre Gavin Henson has not been included among coach Warren Gatland's matchday squad.
Scarlets fly-half Jones makes his 101st Test appearance, putting him one in front of Gareth Thomas.
Elsewhere, Gatland hands starts to full-back Rhys Priestland, 19-year-old George North on the right wing and Huw Bennett at hooker instead of an injured Matthew Rees.
Flanker Sam Warburton captains the team in Rees' absence, but Henson will have to wait to press any World Cup selection claims after Jamie Roberts was preferred at outside centre.
"These are the men in possession of the jersey at the moment and it is now up to them to hold on to it and they will only do that with a performance at Twickenham at the weekend," said Gatland.
"The stakes are high for individuals, but as a team it is also important for us to create some momentum as we head for the World Cup in New Zealand.
"We have made changes but we have some pretty established combinations coming back with Jamie Roberts returning to the midfield and Alun-Wyn (Jones) and Bradley (Davies) in the second row.
England: D Armitage (London Irish); M Banahan (Bath Rugby), M Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), R Flutey (London Wasps), M Cueto (Sale Sharks); J Wilkinson (Toulon), D Care (Harlequins); A Corbisiero (London Irish), D Hartley (Northampton Saints), M Stevens (Saracens), S Shaw (Unattached), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), L Moody (Bath Rugby, capt), J Haskell (Ricoh Black Rams).
Replacements: L Mears (Bath Rugby), D Wilson (Bath Rugby), M Botha (Saracens), T Wood (Northampton Saints), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), C Hodgson (Saracens), C Sharples (Gloucester Rugby).
Wales: R Priestland (Scarlets); G North (Scarlets), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Bayonne); P James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), C Mitchell (Exeter), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: L Burns (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Bevington (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys), T Knoyle (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets), M Stoddart (Scarlets).
