Sam Warburton will win his 50th cap as captain against England on Friday evening after Wales head coach Warren Gatland named his side 48 hours ahead of schedule this morning.
Warburton leads a side that contains two changes from the starting team that beat South Africa in their last outing, and it sees the return of Lions Richard Hibbard and George North to the starting line-up for the RBS 6 Nations tournament opener.
"We decided to name the team early to give the players the best possible chance of preparation”, said Gatland.
"It was a tough call on the two changes we have made from the side that beat South Africa, but its good to have these and other tough selection decisions and it's a strong position to be in.”
WALES (v England):
Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), George North (Northampton Saints); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys);
Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements:
Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath Rugby), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Liam Williams (Scarlets).
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