Warburton back to lead Wales

Rugby:Wales captain Sam Warburton has been passed fit to face England at Twickenham on Saturday. The flanker was forced to pull out the Six Nations encounter against Scotland with a thigh injury.

However the nine-day break has allowed Warburton to recover to line-up against England - with the inclusion of the Cardiff Blues flanker one of three changes.

Warburton replaces Aaron Shingler in the backrow, while fit-again lock Alun Wyn Jones is preferred to Ryan Jones and hooker Ken Owens gains his first Wales start.

Owens, who made his Test debut during last autumn’s World Cup campaign, is promoted off the bench as calf muscle strains sideline both Huw Bennett and Matthew Rees.

Sale Sharks number eight Andy Powell drops off the bench and there is no place in the matchday 22 either for Shingler or lock Lou Reed.

The Wales back division is unchanged for the third successive Six Nations game, with wing George North having shrugged off an ankle injury that meant he made an early exit against Scotland.

Alun-Wyn Jones, meanwhile, has not played Test rugby since the World Cup because of a toe injury, but he now returns to win his 60th cap.

“A fit-again Alun-Wyn Jones is selected based on his World Cup form and his experience as an international lock,” Wales coach Warren Gatland said. “He gave us a selection dilemma, but it has been a great problem to have. While Ryan Jones is particularly unlucky to miss out on this occasion, this is just the kind of competition for places we have been striving for.

“Ken Owens has been waiting patiently for his chance and, while injuries elsewhere have meant he gets his opportunity this weekend, we are expecting him to take it.”

Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard, who was called into Wales’ training squad two days ago, will provide bench cover for Owens.

Meanwhile, France coach Philippe Saint-Andre has named the same side that had been due to play Ireland 10 days ago for Sunday’s clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

While Scotland present a different challenge to Ireland, Saint-Andre felt it was only fair to give the starting XV their chance after the game in Paris was postponed due to a frozen pitch.

“Nobody has done badly. Everyone is having a good preparation,” he said in comments reported by L’Equipe.

“We decided to keep the same team even though we must coach them differently. Scotland play well, keeping the ball a lot and having a lot of creativity. It will be a big test for us.”

Wales (v England):L Halfpenny; A Cuthbert, J Davies, J Roberts, G North; R Priestland, M Phillips; G Jenkins, K Owens, A Jones; A-W Jones, I Evans; D Lydiate, S Warburton (capt), T Faletau.

Replacements:R Hibbard, P James, R Jones, J Tipuric, L Williams, J Hook, S Williams.

France (v Scotland):M Medard (Toulouse); V Clerc (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont Auvergne), W Fofana (Clermont Auvergne), J Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Parra (Clermont Auvergne); J-B Poux (Toulouse), D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), N Mas (Perpignan), P Pape (Stade Francais), Y Maestri (Toulouse), T Dusautoir (Toulouse, capt), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz), L Picamoles (Toulouse).

Replacements:W Servat (Toulouse), V Debaty (Clermont Auvergne), L Nallet (Racing Metro), J Bonnaire (Clermont Auvergne), J Dupuy (Stade Francais) L Beauxis (Toulouse), M Mermoz (Perpignan).