England named an unchanged team for the first time in over four years when Steve Borthwick announced his lineup to play Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday.
The second-round match at Twickenham is set to see Borthwick keep faith with the same starting XV that featured in England’s narrow 27-24 win over Italy in Rome last weekend.
Ellis Genge was the only change to the matchday 23, with the 28-year-old prop recalled to the bench in place of Beno Obano after the England vice-captain missed the victory at the Stadio Olimpico with a foot injury.
England last fielded an unchanged starting XV at the 2019 World Cup final, when a side coached by Eddie Jones were overwhelmed 32-12 by South Africa in Yokohama.
TEAM: Wales look to North for England clash
This weekend’s match will see Jamie George captain England for the first time at Twickenham, with the hooker packing down in a front row featuring Joe Marler at loosehead prop and Will Stuart at tighthead.
England have won their last seven matches against Wales at Twickenham since a memorable 2015 World Cup pool defeat, with the Welsh having gone without a Six Nations success in southwest London since 2012.
England – 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George (c), 1 Joe Marler.
Subs: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Danny Care, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: EPA/Neil Hall/BackpagePix