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Reuters
Reuters
Sport
Mitch Phillips

Willis, Watson back in the England frame to face Wales

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Nations Cup - England Training - Twickenham Stadium, London, Britain - November 13, 2020 England's Jack Willis during training Pool via REUTERS/Paul Childs

Flanker Jack Willis, winger Anthony Watson and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie have been included in Eddie Jones's extended 25-man squad to face Wales in the Nations Cup on Saturday, but centre Ollie Lawrence will miss the game with a hip injury.

Willis made a tryscoring debut against Georgia two weeks ago but was left our of last weekend's win over Ireland. He is among a strong group of backrow options for Jones alongside Sam Underhill, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola and Ben Earl - one of whom is likely to miss out when he names his match 23 on Thursday.

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Six Nations Championship - England v Wales - Twickenham Stadium, London, Britain - March 7, 2020 England's Anthony Watson scores their first try Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers

First-choice wing Watson is back for the first time after picking up an injury in the final Six Nations game against Italy last month, while Cowan-Dickie has recovered from knee surgery and is fit for a probable place on the bench, with Jamie George starting.

A win or draw for England in Llanelli will put them top of Group A in the new competition and set up a title decider, probably against France, at Twickenham on Dec. 6 - when, subject to Thursday's government tier announcement, there could be 4,000 fans to watch the game.

England provisional squad to face Wales:

Backs

Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps)

Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps)

George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)

Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps)

Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)

Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps)

Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps)

Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)

Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps) 

Forwards

Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)

Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)

Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)

Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)

Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps)

Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)

Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps)

Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps)

Joe Marler (Harlequins, 71 caps)

Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps)

Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)

Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)

Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)

Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap)

(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Christian Radnedge)

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