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George North is set to win his 100th Wales cap after being named in coach Wayne Pivac's starting XV to face England in Saturday's Six Nations international at Cardiff. At 28 years and 320 days, he will surpass Australia's Michael Hopper as the youngest player to reach a century of caps for their country. North, best known as a wing, and Jonathan Davies form Wales' centre pairing after recovering from foot and ankle injuries that ruled them out of Wales' win over Scotland earlier this month. Wing Josh Adams returns after serving a two-match ban for breaching coronavirus protocols. Liam Williams has moved from wing to full-back, replacing Leigh Halfpenny, with Kieran Hardy preferred by Pivac to Gareth Davies at scrum-half. In the pack, Josh Navidi returns to Wales' back-row. Halfpenny failed a head injury assessment against Scotland 12 days ago after going off just before half-time. Pivac has made five changes and one positional switch from the side that edged Scotland 25-24 at Murrayfield. Victory against England would clinch a Triple Crown for Wales and keep alive their hopes of a Grand Slam. "Saturday is a great milestone for George," said Pivac. "It is a huge achievement at his age and we are looking forward to seeing him in action." The New Zealander added: "We've had a great two weeks leading into this game and we are looking forward to Saturday. "We continue to build and we know there is plenty left in us in terms of improvements from the opening two rounds." Wales (15-1) Liam Williams; Louis Rees-Zammit, George North, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar, Kieran Hardy; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi; Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Adam Beard; Tomas Francis, Ken Owens, Wyn Jones Replacements: Elliot Dee, Rhodri Jones, Leon Brown, Cory Hill, James Botham, Gareth Davies, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo Coach: Wayne Pivac (NZL) jdg/jw/td
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2021-02-25
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VictoryTriple Crown of Thoroughbred RacingRugby union positionsAustralia national rugby union teamScotland national rugby union teamUSA GymnasticsCapSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2Rhodri JonesWillis HalaholoKieran HardyElliot DeeJames BothamCory HillLeon Brown (baseball)Tomas FrancisJosh NavidiKen OwensJonathan Davies (rugby, born 1962)Leigh HalfpennyCallum SheedyGareth Davies (rugby player, born 1955)Louis Rees-ZammitLiam Williams (rugby player)Taulupe FaletauJosh Adams (American football)Justin TipuricGeorge NorthCardiff RFCDan BiggarAlun Wyn JonesAdam CarringtonArctic convoys of World War IIWayne PivacMurrayfield StadiumRecorded Music NZWales national rugby union teamEngland national rugby union teamSix Nations Championship2015 Grand Slam of Darts

