London: New Zealand-born back-row Teimana Harrison is set to make his England debut after being named in the starting side to play Wales at Twickenham on Sunday.
Harrison, qualified for England through his Nottingham-born father, was one of four uncapped players included in England coach Eddie Jones’s matchday 23.
In-form Northampton loose forward Harrison replaces the rested blindside flanker Chris Robshaw, one of the mainstays of the England side that won the Six Nations with a grand slam earlier this season in what will be the team’s last match before next month’s three-Test tour of Australia.
“Teimana gets a start at six, which is a great chance for him to make a statement ahead of the tour to Australia,” said Jones of the 23 year old.
Meanwhile, the uncapped trio of Bath centre Ollie Devoto, Sale hooker Tommy Taylor and Leicester loose-head prop Ellis Genge were included as replacements in the squad announced by Jones on Friday.
England will be without players from Saracens and Exeter, who contest the Premiership final at Twickenham on Saturday.
Saracens alone provided several England grand slam winners in full-goal-kicker Owen Farrell, the Vunipola brothers, Billy and Mako, locks George Kruis and Maro Itoje and reserve full-back Alex Goode.
Sunday’s England side will see Harlequins’ Jack Clifford start at No 8 in place of Billy Vunipola, with Wasps’ Joe Launchbury and Northampton’s Courtney Lawes restored to the second row in place of Kruis and Itoje.
Harlequins wing Marland Yarde, Northampton centre Luther Burrell and Wasps loose-head prop all start in a team again captained by hooker Dylan Hartley.
Sunday’s match will be Wales’s last before their tour of New Zealand.
England beat Wales 25-21 at Twickenham in March en route to winning the Six Nations, but this weekend’s match will see them fielding a much-changed side.
Nevertheless, Australian coach Jones — England’s first overseas boss — said: “We’ve picked a side we believe can beat Wales. It’s a good mixture of experienced players and youth.
“Obviously we have a number of players missing from the squad who are taking part in the Premiership final, but this provides us with a great opportunity to expose other players to Test rugby.”
The former Australia and Japan coach added: “This will serve to strengthen the squad’s depth as we move towards the 2019 World Cup.
“Ellis Genge and Tommy Taylor have all trained well this week and deserve their spots in the 23.
“This is an important Test match and a great opportunity for us to play some positive, physical rugby.
“We are a young team learning our craft, Wales are an experienced team; it’ll be a great test for us. England versus Wales is a special occasion.”
England (15-1)
Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Luther Burrell, Marland Yarde; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Jack Clifford, James Haskell, Teimana Harrison; Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury; Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley (capt), Matt Mullan
Replacements: Tommy Taylor, Ellis Genge, Paul Hill, Dave Attwood, Matt Kvesic, Danny Care, Ollie Devoto, Elliot Daly
Wales (15-1)
Liam Williams; George North, Scott Williams, Jamie Roberts, Hallam Amos; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate (capt), Ross Moriarty; Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball; Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Rob Evans
Replacements: Kristian Dacey, Gethin Jenkins, Rhodri Jones, Josh Turnbull, James King, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe
