Veteran Scarlets hooker, Robin McBryde, missed Wales’s narrow defeat to France with tonsilitis, but has recovered to reclaim his place in the starting line-up from Celtic Warrior, Mefin Davies, who moves to the bench.
McBryde is joined by Ospreys prop, Duncan Jones, who returns from a wrist injury to replace Iestyn Thomas as the Wales Coach attempts to find the right front row combination to take on England.
“Robin was originally selected for the France match and it is natural to bring him back into the side as he contributes a vast amount of experience to the front row,” said Hansen. “Duncan gives us an extra option in terms of ball carrying and he regains his place over the unfortunate Iestyn Thomas after proving his fitness.
“We’ve had a good week in preparation and are looking forward to going to Twickenham to play the World Champions.
“Any previous meetings between these two nations, including the Rugby World Cup, are irrelevant as neither of the selected teams have played each other before.”
Stephen Jones will equal Cliff Morgan’s twenty-eight appearances in the starting line-up wearing the Wales No.10 shirt (although he has also figured twice at centre and once full back).
The only player to have made more appearances as the Wales No.10 is Neil Jenkins, who has appeared sixty-five times at fly-half.
Gareth Llewellyn, assuming he comes on at some stage during the game, will become Wales’s most capped player against England. He is currently tied with Gareth Edwards and WJ ‘Billy’ Bancroft on twelve appearances against the English.
