Warburton back for Wales

The flanker was forced to pull out the RBS Six Nations encounter against Scotland with a thigh injury.

However the nine-day break has allowed Warburton to recover to line up against England - with the inclusion of the Cardiff Blue star one of three changes.

Warburton replaces Aaron Shingler in the back row, while fit-again lock Alun-Wyn Jones is preferred to Ryan Jones and hooker Ken Owens gains his first Wales start.

Owens, who made his Test debut during last autumn's World Cup campaign, is promoted off the bench as calf muscle strains sideline both Huw Bennett and Matthew Rees.

Sale Sharks No.8 Andy Powell drops off the bench and there is no place in the matchday 22 either for Shingler or lock Lou Reed.

Dilemma

"A fit-again Alun-Wyn Jones is selected based on his World Cup form and his experience as an international lock," Wales coach Warren Gatland said.

"He gave us a selection dilemma, but it has been a great problem to have.

"While Ryan Jones is particularly unlucky to miss out on this occasion, this is just the kind of competition for places we have been striving for.

"Ken Owens has been waiting patiently for his chance and, while injuries elsewhere have meant he gets his opportunity this weekend, we are expecting him to take it."

Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard, who was called into Wales' training squad two days ago, will provide bench cover for Owens.

The Wales back division, though, is unchanged for the third successive Six Nations game, with wing George North having shrugged off an ankle injury that meant he made an early exit against Scotland.

Wales were forced to make a change to their bench. After assessing Perpignan fly-half James Hook's recovery from chicken pox on Thursday, it was decided to leave Hook out and go with Stephen Jones.

Wales: 15 L Halfpenny, 14 A Cuthbert, 13 J Davies, 12 J Roberts, 11 G North, 10 R Priestland, 9 M Phillips, 1 G Jenkins, 2 K Owens, 3 A Jones, 4 A-W Jones, 5 I Evans, 6 D Lydiate, 7 S Warburton (capt), 8 T Faletau.
Replacements: 16 R Hibbard, 17 P James, 18 R Jones, 19 J Tipuric, 20 L Williams, 21 S Jones, 22 S Williams.