Wales star Louis Rees-Zammit switches to full-back from the wing for his Guinness Six Nations return against England.
Rees-Zammit has not played in the tournament for three years, announcing his decision to leave rugby union for an 18-month spell in the NFL on the eve of the 2024 competition.
The 25-year-old Bristol flier made his Wales comeback in the autumn, but this will be only the fourth time in 36 Test appearances that he will have started at full-back.
"I love it. It allows me to get more touches on the ball in open field, it suits my game," Rees-Zammit said.
"I much prefer it. I've played 15 in the past for Wales, but I think now I’m kind of seen as a 15 that can play on the wing.
"It just brings something different and the way Bristol play is absolutely perfect for me.
"I’ve got the licence to not do what I want, but when I’ve got the ball back there I have to make a decision and back myself."
Saturday's Six Nations opener will be the first time Rees-Zammit has played at the Allianz Stadium for Wales.
He said: "We played Quins there for Bristol a couple of months back and that was unbelievable, the crowd was insane.
"All of the boys are raring to go. There's no bigger game than Wales-England."
Wales have finished bottom of the Championship for the last two years, having failed to register a Six Nations victory since 2023.
Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake captains Wales, with Leicester’s Nicky Smith and Bath’s Archie Griffin for front-row company.
Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard pair up in the second row, with flanker Josh Macleod making his first Six Nations appearance alongside Alex Mann and Aaron Wainwright in the back row.
Tomos Williams and Dan Edwards renew their half-back partnership, Eddie James makes his second start for Wales with Ben Thomas alongside him in midfield, and Josh Adams and Ellis Mee play on the wing.
Head coach Steve Tandy said: "Wales v England is always a special game with all the history behind the fixture.
"We know they’re playing some outstanding rugby and they’re in great form. But I know how much it means to our players playing for the nation and representing Wales.
"The way the squad trained this week has been great. I want to see us get out and really attack the game on Saturday and give the best account of ourselves.
Wales: L Rees-Zammit (Bristol), E Mee (Scarlets), E James (Scarlets), B Thomas (Cardiff), J Adams (Cardiff), D Edwards (Ospreys), T Williams (Gloucester); N Smith (Leicester), D Lake (Ospreys, capt), A Griffin (Bath), D Jenkins (Exeter), A Beard (Montpellier), A Mann (Cardiff), J Macleod (Scarlets), A Wainwright (Dragons).
Reps: L Belcher (Cardiff), R Carre (Saracens), T Francis (Provence), B Carter (Dragons), T Plumtree (Scarlets), H Deaves (Ospreys), K Hardy (Ospreys), M Grady (Cardiff).
Meanwhile, British and Irish Lion Blair Kinghorn has been dropped for Scotland's Six Nations opener against Italy on Saturday with Tom Jordan taking his place.
Scotland will open their Six Nations campaign with a return to Rome for the first time since their disappointing defeat there in March 2024 and will be looking for a strong start to build on their fourth-placed finish last year.
Jordan has earned a starting berth at full-back, with Kinghorn dropped from the matchday squad by head coach Gregor Townsend.
Jamie Dobie has been handed a first Six Nations start and will line up on the wing opposite Kyle Steyn, with the Glasgow pair preferred to Edinburgh’s Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe who have both been struggling for form recently.
Graham has been named on bench but there is no place in the 23 for Scotland’s leading try-scorer Van der Merwe, who was dropped in the autumn following a dip in form since his involvement with the Lions last summer.
There was some concern over the fitness of Jack Dempsey after he suffered a foot injury but he has been selected to start at number eight.
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