London (AFP)
English coach Eddie Jones on Saturday made three changes to his starting lineup for the Wales friendly on Sunday, including winger Ruaridh McConnochie, who was due to honor his first selection.
McConnochie, 27, and runner-up in rugby sevens in Rio, was sidelined due to a hip injury, and will be replaced by his teammate at Bath Joe Cokanasiga, said the English Rugby Federation in a statement.
Another Bath player, Jonathan Joseph, replaces center Henry Slade, who has a knee injury.
The third wing line Sam Underhill, touched on a toe will also miss the first of the preparation matches at the World Cup. Eddie Jones has chosen to tip Tom Curry, already titular, from right to left of the third line and to return Lewis Ludlam right. Courtney Lawes and Manu Tuilagi integrate the match sheet as substitutes.
Welsh coach Warren Gatland was also forced to make a change to his bench, calling scrum half Aled Davies in place of Tomos Williams due to a shoulder injury, the Welsh Federation said in a statement. .
Composition of the XV of England:
Daly - Cokanasiga, Joseph, Francis, Watson - (o) Ford (cap), (m) Heinz - Curry, Vunipola, Ludlam - Ewels, Launchbury - Cole, Cowan-Dickie, Genge
Alternates: Singleton, Marler, Williams, Kruis, Lawes, Youngs, Marchant, Tuilagi
Composition of the XV of Wales:
Williams - North, Davies, Parkes, Adams - (o) Anscombe, (m) Davies - Tipuric, Moriarty, Wainwright - Jones (cape), Beard - Francis, Owens, Smith
Alternates: Dee, Jones, Lewis, Ball, Shingler, Davies, Biggar, Watkin
© 2019 AFP