Wales

Wales midfielder Jonathan Davies set to play his first match in 47 weeks

The midfielder damaged his knee in the third-place play-off against New Zealand at the finals in Japan. 

He missed the entire 2019/20 campaign with Scarlets, which ended in Challenge Cup quarter-final defeat last Saturday at Toulon. But he now steps in as preparations begin for the new 2020/21 PRO14 season with Friday’s friendly against Ospreys at Parc Y Scarlets.

Mako Vunipola back for England

The prop had not been expected to be part of Eddie Jones' squad for the Twickenham encounter, having missed England's win over Ireland after travelling to Tonga to visit a seriously ill relative.

However, he is included in Jones' 34-man party as England begin preparations for the visit of Wayne Pivac's team.

Exeter Chiefs scrum-half Jack Maunder has been selected, giving Jones a third option at number nine behind Ben Youngs and Will Heinz, while wing Anthony Watson and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie were also named in the squad.

Wales 23-27 France

Wales fought back to consign 14-man Les Bleus to a heartbreaking Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat in Oita four months ago, but secured a first win in Cardiff for a decade on Saturday.

Clinical in attack and resolute in defence, thanks in no small part to former Wales defence coach Shaun Edwards, France left the Welsh's hopes of winning back-to-back Six Nations titles in tatters.

Anthony Bouthier scored his first Test try and Paul Willemse also went over in a first half that ended with Fabien Galthie's inspired side deservedly leading 19-7.

Williams ruled out for Wales

Initially selected on the bench for Saturday's clash with Ireland, the Gloucester back suffered the injury while warming up ahead of kick-off at the Aviva Stadium.

The 27-year-old - who can play at fly-half or inside centre - had to withdraw from the matchday squad in Dublin, Jarrod Evans taking his place among the replacements.

Wales confirmed on Tuesday that Williams will miss the rest of the tournament following further assessment, though they are yet to name a replacement.

North starts at centre, Navidi out

North switches to partner Hadleigh Parkes for his fifth start in midfield at international level, with uncapped wing McNicholl coming in for the defending champions' first match of the tournament under head coach Wayne Pivac.

Flanker Navidi looks set to miss the majority of the competition after suffering a hamstring injury.

Fit-again back-row Taulupe Faletau returns for his first international appearance since March 2018, while uncapped centre Nick Tompkins could make his debut off the bench.

Wales fullback Williams to rejoin Scarlets

Williams helped English side Saracens to win the Champions Cup and Premiership double last season and was part of the Wales team who won this year's Six Nations Grand Slam.

The 28-year-old is the first major player to announce his departure from Saracens after they were handed a 35-point deduction for breaching salary cap regulations and fined $10 million, a decision the club chose not to appeal.

Samoan crowd favourite Filo Paulo is back for a second stint in Wales

Samoan international Filo Paulo, the 6ft 8in lock who tips the scales at more than 19 stone, is returning to the Welsh capital for a second stint having played for the Arms Park club between 2013 and 2015. He will link up with the squad later this week.

The 32-year-old, who has 34 caps international, has also had stints at Super Rugby’s Blues, Benetton Rugby and London Irish.

Pivac calls up uncapped quintet

Versatile Scarlets back McNicholl and Cardiff Blues centre Halaholo are among five uncapped players selected by new head coach Pivac for the clash at the Principality Stadium.

Taine Basham, Shane Lewis-Hughes and Ashton Hewitt will also be hoping to don the red shirt for the first time against a Baa-baas side coached by former Wales boss Warren Gatland.

Captain Alun-Wyn Jones is among the absentees due to injury, while England-based duo Dan Biggar and Rhys Carre are unavailable as the game falls outside the Test window.

Wales v South Africa

The Six Nations champions are underdogs for the last-four showdown in Yokohama City, where they will be striving to reach the final for the first time.

Wales left it late to beat 14-man France at the quarter-final stage last weekend and must do without full-back Liam Williams (ankle) and flanker Josh Navidi (hamstring) against the Springboks.

Centre Jonathan Davies has been passed fit after a knee problem, though, and head coach Gatland is optimistic his side can defy the odds to earn a shot at the Webb Ellis Cup.

Williams out of Rugby World Cup

Wales face South Africa in Yokohama on Sunday looking to reach the World Cup final for the first time.

Davies is back in Gatland's XV after missing the narrow last-eight victory over France with a recurrence of an earlier knee injury.

However, Williams is out of this clash and the remainder of the tournament due to a training-ground injury.

Wales reported Williams had suffered the blow to his ankle in an accidental collision and a prognosis was still to be established.