B&I Lions veteran back for Wales
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Wales coach Warren Gatland has named the team to play England in a Six Nations Round Four encounter in Cardiff on Saturday.
Mason Grady will make his senior international debut on the weekend.
He partners Joe Hawkins in the Wales midfield.
Joining captain Ken Owens in the front row are Gareth Thomas (loosehead prop) and Tomas Francis (tighthead prop).
Veteran British and Irish Lions lock Alun Wyn Jones is named alongside Adam Beard in the second row.
In the back row, Christ Tshiunza makes his second consecutive start at blindside flank, Justin Tipuric is openside flank and Taulupe Faletau starts at No.8.
Owen Williams is named at flyhalf, with Tomos Williams at scrumhalf.
Louis Rees-Zammit returns from injury to take a place on the wing. Josh Adams (wing) and Leigh Halfpenny (fullback) complete the Wales back three.
Bradley Roberts, Rhys Carre and Dillon Lewis provide the Wales front row cover. Dafydd Jenkins and Tommy Reffell are the other forwards selected in the matchday 23.
Kieran Hardy, Dan Biggar and Nick Tompkins are the Wales replacement backs.
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Warren Gatland on the side for the clash in Cardiffπ #WelshRugby | #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/AORL36lAcX
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“There is some experience coming back into the side – with Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Alun Wyn Jones and also Leigh Halfpenny,” Gatland said.
“And then we’re mixing that with giving players an opportunity.
“Owen Williams coming in at No.10 β we need to find out about that No.10 position so Owen gets a chance.
“We’ve given Mason Grady a first cap. He’s a big lad, he’s got some really lovely rugby skills and offloading ability. He’s quick, so he’s the kind of centre that I think is going to have it all going forward.
“He’s got a good rugby head on him. He’s still pretty inexperienced so the big message to him has been ‘what’s the biggest thing you need to work on?’
“He said ‘keep talking and keep communicating’, so that’s been his focus, and I’ve been really happy with him in training.
“The message to the players has been let’s draw a line in the sand in terms of what’s been going on and focus completely on the rugby.
“We know the history of Wales and England; what that means to everyone in Wales, so we’ve got to go out there and give a good performance.
“For both teams, this is a massive game because we win on Saturday and we can get things on track a little bit more. For England, it’s a huge game because if you look at their final two games that’s a challenge too, so it’s a huge moment in this competition.”
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Mason Grady, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Louis Rees-Zammit, 10 Owen Williams, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Christ Tshiunza, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Adam Beard, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens (captain), 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Bradley Roberts, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Dafydd Jenkins, 20 Tommy Reffell, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Nick Tompkins.
Date: Saturday, February 25
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 16.45 (16.45 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
