The second last round of the Six Nations kicks off this weekend and France is the only team still in with a Grand Slam chance.
SCHEDULE
Sunday Match 7
All times AEDT.
Ireland vs Italy - Postponed
3:45am - England vs Wales, Twickenham, LIVE on beIn Sports
Monday March 8
2am - Scotland vs France, Stade de France, Paris, LIVE on beIn Sports
ENGLAND vs WALES
Anthony Watson and Mark Wilson have both been recalled for their first England match since the World Cup final after being named by coach Eddie Jones in his side to play Wales in the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday.
Bath wing Watson has replaced Jonathan Joseph, with Wilson recalled in place of injured back-row forward Sam Underhill in the only other change to the side that beat Ireland 24-12 last time out.
The back-line is the same one that England deployed in their 32-12 defeat by South Africa in November's World Cup final in Yokohama.
Although France are the only side left in this season's Six Nations who can complete a Grand Slam, a win for England over Wales would keep them in title contention.
Jones named his side Thursday amid speculation that England's final game of the Championship, against Italy in Rome, would be postponed due to the coronavirus.
Wales are due to name their side later Thursday.
Wing Liam Williams and No.8 Josh Navidi have been included in the Wales starting line-up to face England in their Six Nations clash at Twickenham on Saturday, as the pair make a first appearance in 2020 after returning from injury.
Williams replaces the injured Josh Adams, who has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with an ankle injury, while Navidi comes in for Taulupe Faletau, who drops to the bench.
Coach Wayne Pivac has made four changes in all, restoring Tomos Williams at halfback and bolstering the front row with prop Rob Evans following the 27-23 home defeat to France last time out.
"Liam's return to full fitness is a positive after the loss of Josh (Adams), as is the return of Josh Navidi," Pivac said in a media release from Welsh Rugby.
"We have been targeting this game for both of their returns and they have trained really well so it's a great opportunity for them on Saturday.
"We have had the chance to put the disappointments of the loss to France behind us and we know heading to London we need to be more clinical in attack and convert the opportunities that we are creating."
Dan Biggar will continue in the five-eighth berth, while George North has been picked on the wing after he suffered a concussion against the French.
It means the centre partnership remains unchanged with Hadleigh Parkes alongside former England junior international Nick Tompkins.
Wales must beat England to stand any chance of retaining the Six Nations crown they won in 2019 under former coach Warren Gatland.
They have lost on their last four visits to Twickenham, with their previous success coming in a 28-25 victory in 2015.
TEAMS
England to face Wales
Joe Marler, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Courtney Lawes, Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Jonny May, Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Watson, Elliot Daly. Reserves: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Joe Launchbury, Charlie Ewels, Ben Earl, Willi Heinz, Henry Slade
Wales to face England
Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Dillon Lewis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones, Ross Moriarty, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi, Tomos Williams, Dan Biggar, Liam Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Nick Tompkins, George North, Leigh Halfpenny. Reserves: Ryan Elias, Rhys Carre, Leon Brown, Aaron Shingler, Taulupe Faletau, Rhys Webb, Jarrod Evans, Johnny McNicholl
SCOTLAND vs FRANCE
Winger Damian Penaud will return from injury to replace Teddy Thomas for France's Six Nations visit to Scotland after missing the opening three matches of the tournament with a calf injury.
Thomas was substituted after 66 minutes of the win over Wales on February 22 and Galthie opted not to include the Racing 92 winger in the squad to travel to Edinburgh.
"There are no sanctions with France, there's healthy competition. Thomas is still part of the squad," Galthie said.
"Penaud came back to training before the third match, he has been excellent in training and made his claim for this fourth match," Galthie added.
Elsewhere, prop Jefferson Poirot takes the place of Cyril Baille who sustained a shoulder injury at the Principality Stadium.
"The thought behind it was in relation to the balance of the team. We have total confidence in Jefferson Poirot's ability to add to the team," Galthie said.
Hooker Camille Chat keeps his place on the substitutes' bench despite struggling with a groin injury since the success in the Welsh capital.
"We didn't take any risk with Camille considering the little problem after the game in Cardiff. We don't feel like we are taking a particular risk," team manager Raphael Ibanez said on Friday.
"The decision about his fitness was made at the end of the week and he's part of the finishers.”
Galthie chose to keep faith with his in-form but inexperienced halves partnership of scrumhalf Antoine Dupont and flyhalf Romain Ntamack as France search for their first win at Murrayfield since 2014.
A fourth victory in this tournament for France on Sunday would ensure a tilt at a first Grand Slam since 2010.
Meanwhile, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his team for Sunday's Six Nations Test against France in Edinburgh, warning they would have to play their "best" rugby to defeat a "galvanised" French team.
Nick Haining replaces Edinburgh clubmate Magnus Bradbury at No 8, while Fraser Brown is given the nod over Stuart McInally at hooker, for his 50th cap, and Grant Gilchrist comes in for Ben Toolis at lock.
Worcester flyhalf Duncan Weir could win his first cap since Townsend took over as coach after he was named among the replacements and in the continued absence of Racing 92 playmaker Finn Russell for breaching team protocol.
Stuart Hogg captains the side from full-back, Sean Maitland and Blair Kinghorn making up the back three. Chris Harris and Sam Johnson pair up in midfield, while Ali Price and Adam Hastings are named at half-back.
Haining is joined in the backrow by Hamish Watson and Jamie Ritchie, Gilchrist and Scott Cummings packing down at lock, and Brown propped up by Zander Fagerson and Rory Sutherland in the front row.
South Africa-born centre Kyle Steyn will likely make his Scotland debut from the bench, which also features lock Sam Skinner, who missed out on last year's Rugby World Cup with a hamstring injury sustained just before the tournament.
Scotland lost their opening two games against Ireland and England before rebounding with a 17-0 win over Italy, and Townsend warned his side of a "galvanised" France team.
"This week we face a France team that looks galvanised since the World Cup, with a potential Grand Slam in their sights," the former Scotland and British and Irish Lions fly-half said.
"We have a lot of respect for their coaching team and the quality of player they possess throughout their squad, many of them just in their early stages of their international careers.
"We're going to have to deliver our best rugby of the championship in order to beat a team in such good form.
"France's victories have been built on an aggressive and well-organised defence, so the precision, decision-making and effort in our attacking game will have to be very good in order to get in behind them this weekend."
TEAMS
Scotland to face France
Rory Sutherland, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, , Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Nick Haining, Ali Price, Adam Hastings, Blair Kinghorn, Sam Johnson, Chris Harris, Sean Maitland, Stuart Hogg (c).
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Allan Dell, Willem Nel, Sam Skinner, Magnus Bradbury, George Horne, Duncan Weir, Kyle Steyn.
France to face Scotland
Jefferson Poirot, Camille Chat, Mohamed Haouas, Bernard Le Roux, Paul Willemse, Francois Cros, Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon (capt), Gregory Alldritt, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack, Gael Fickou, Arthur Vincent, Virimi Vakatawa, Damian Penaud, Anthony Bouthier.
Replacements: Camille Chat, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Demba Bamba, Romain Taofifenua, Dylan Cretin, Baptiste Serin, Matthieu Jalibert, Thomas Ramos.
