Bath Rugby’s fly half George Ford has been dropped for Saracens’ Owen Farrell while blockbusting midfielder Sam Burgess takes over from the injured Jonathan Joseph and will wear 12 for his second Test start with Brad Barritt shifting to outside centre ahead of this enticing Pool A encounter.
Ford drops down to the subs bench following England’s 35-11 opening victory over Fiji while Billy Vunipola comes in at No 8 in place of Ben Morgan us is not 100 per cent fit due to a knee complaint.
Meanwhile, James Haskell and Alex Goode are both included in a 23 for the first time at this tournament, covering back row and the back three respectively.
England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We have a lot of respect for the Wales coaching team and their players.
“They are a high quality side and I am sure it will be some occasion on Saturday evening. The support at Twickenham last week was incredible with the crowd really getting behind us. We will need them again this week to lift the players against a tough Wales team.”
England to face Wales on Saturday 26 September, kick-off 8pm
15 Mike Brown (Harlequins, 40 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 12 caps)
13 Brad Barritt (Saracens, 24 caps)
12 Sam Burgess (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 17 caps)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 32 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 50 caps);
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 34 caps)
2 Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 25 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 53 caps)
4 Geoff Parling (Exeter Chiefs, 26 caps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 41 caps)
6 Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 39 caps)
7 Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 40 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 20 caps)
Replacements
16 Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 24 caps)
18 Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints, 13 caps)
19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 25 caps)
20 James Haskell (Wasps, 60 caps)
21 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 24 caps)
22 George Ford (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
23 Alex Goode (Saracens, 18 caps)
