Rugby

Liam Williams returns to Wales team for England clash

The Scarlets winger has not played since Wales beat France at the Rugby World Cup

Wales’ Liam Williams will start against England. Photo: Getty Images

Thu Mar 5 2020 - 12:20

Six Nations: England v Wales

Kick-off: 4.45pm, Saturday. Venue: Twickenham. How to follow: The Irish Times liveblog will begin at 4.15pm. On TV: Live on Virgin Media and ITV.

Liam Williams will make his comeback in Wales’ Guinness Six Nations clash against England on Saturday following more than four months on the sidelines.

The Scarlets winger has not played since Wales beat Rugby World Cup quarter-final opponents France on October 20th, suffering an ankle-ligament injury during training just a few days later.

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But Wales head coach Wayne Pivac has thrust fit-again Williams back into the Test match arena, replacing an injured Josh Adams as one of four changes from the side beaten by France 12 days ago.

Scrumhalf Tomos Williams, prop Rob Evans and back-row forward Josh Navidi also start.

Williams comes in for Gareth Davies, Evans replaces Wyn Jones and Navidi takes over from number eight Taulupe Faletau.

Navidi has been recovering from a hamstring injury and last played in Cardiff Blues’ European Challenge Cup game against Leicester on January 12th.

Wing George North and fly-half Dan Biggar, meanwhile, are both fit and retain their places.

North failed a head injury assessment during the France game last month, but he has passed all return-to-play protocols and also been independently assessed by a concussion expert.

And Biggar has recovered after going off with a knee injury in his club Northampton’s loss to Saracens last weekend.

On the bench, there are roles for scrum-half Rhys Webb, prop Rhys Carre and forward Aaron Shingler, in addition to Faletau.

Wales last beat England in the Six Nations at Twickenham eight years ago, and defeat on Saturday would make it three successive losses in one tournament for the first time since 2007.

Pivac said: “We’ve had a good two weeks and we are really excited about heading up to Twickenham for what will be a huge Six Nations clash.

“We have had the chance to put the disappointments of the loss to France behind us, and we know heading to London we need to be more clinical in attack and convert the opportunities that we are creating.

“Liam’s return to full fitness is a positive after the loss of Josh (Adams), as is the return of Josh Navidi.”

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Nick Tompkins, Hadleigh Parkes, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Tomos Williams; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis; Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones (capt); Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi.

Replacements: Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre, Leon Brown, Aaron Shingler, Taulupe Faletau, Rhys Webb, Jarrod Evans, Johnny McNicholl.

Six Nations