Warren Gatland early with his Wales team to face England in Six Nations

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/feb/02/wales-team-england-six-nations-warren-gatland

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Warren Gatland has sprung the first surprise of this season’s Six Nations Championship by naming his Wales team to face England early.

Gatland has revealed his hand for Friday night’s match at the Millennium Stadium two days ahead of schedule. It contains no surprises as Wales prepare for a World Cup dress-rehearsal against opponents they crushed by a record 30‑3 scoreline the last time England visited Cardiff, two years ago.

The team, which was announced on the Welsh Rugby Union’s Twitter feed, shows just two changes from the side that toppled South Africa in November, with the wing George North and hooker Richard Hibbard both returning to action.

The captain, Sam Warburton, will win his 50th cap.

Wales

L Halfpenny (Toulon); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Racing Métro), G North (Northampton); D Biggar, R Webb (both (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), R Hibbard (Gloucester), S Lee, J Ball (both Scarlets), A-W Jones, D Lydiate (both Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons). Replacements S Baldwin (Ospreys), P James (Bath), A Jarvis (Ospreys), L Charteris (Racing Métro), J Tipuric (Ospreys), M Phillips (Racing Métro), R Priestland, L Williams (both Scarlets).