Wales vs England team news: Eddie Jones makes two changes as Jack Nowell and Ben Moon start

Jones is without Mako Vunipola and Chris Ashton due to injury, while Joe Cokanasiga returns to the squad among the replacements

Eddie Jones has made two changes to his England starting line-up that will face Wales on Saturday as Jack Nowell and Ben Moon return for the Six Nations Grand Slam eliminator, and issued his latest jibe towards their opponents by claiming they face the “biggest game of their lives”.

Jones has stuck with the bulk of the side that defeated France so emphatically two weeks ago, though his hand has been forced into making changes with Mako Vunipola ruled out for the rest of the championship with an ankle injury and Chris Ashton sidelined for the weekend due to a calf issue.

As a result, Jones has promoted Exeter Chiefs loosehead prop Moon from the replacements’ bench, while Nowell returns to the starting line-up having lost his place on the wing to Ashton for the rout of France.

Ellis Genge is named on the bench to cover for Moon as he returns to the matchday squad three weeks after playing a cameo role in the win over Ireland, while Jones’ other big selection decision has seen him go with Bath wing Joe Cokanasiga among the replacements as opposed to Ben Te’o, who misses out for the third match running.

There are two other changes to the matchday squad as Harry Williams returns as tighthead prop cover, with Jones sending home Dan Cole earlier in the week to make him available for Leicester Tigers. The other change sees Brad Shields return in favour of his Wasps back-row colleague Nathan Hughes, who misses out on the squad, as the New Zealand-born flanker is selected for the first time this championship after recovering from a side strain suffered in England training in the lead up to the Ireland opener.

After naming his side, Jones issued his latest jibe towards Warren Gatland’s side, claiming that this weekend’s encounter will be the “biggest game they are going to play in their lives”.

“England and Wales is always a big game,” said Jones. “Whenever you play against a Warren Gatland side you are playing against a side that is going to be very physical on the gain line. They are always very fit so you have to make sure you win the gain line and then find opportunities of where you are going to attack them.

“As you have read in the media, it’s all about Wales, we are playing potentially the greatest team ever. Their players are full of emotion and it’s the biggest game they are going to play in their lives. We have had a good week just focussing on ourselves and focussing on getting our preparation right.”

On selection Jones added: “Ben Moon will start and Ellis Genge will finish so we will get a great 80 minutes out of those two. It is disappointing to lose a player of the calibre of Mako Vunipola but we have two very good players who will do a great job for us.

“Jack Nowell will start and Joe Cokanasiga will come onto the bench. As we saw in the autumn Joe is a player of great potential so we are looking forward to him adding to the squad.

“Brad Shields comes in for Nathan Hughes as a finisher as we just feel like it is going to be a high work-rate game.”

England squad to face Wales:

Elliot Daly; Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Ben Moon, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Courtney Lawes, George Kruis; Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Harry Williams, Joe Launchbury, Brad Shields, Dan Robson, George Ford, Joe Cokanasiga.