Jenkins to skipper Wales in decider (From Andover Advertiser)

Jenkins to skipper Wales in decider

1:08pm Thursday 14th March 2013 in National Sport News © Press Association 2013

Gethin Jenkins will captain Wales in Saturday's RBS 6 Nations title decider against Grand Slam-chasing England at the Millennium Stadium.

The 32-year-old Toulon prop has recovered from a calf muscle injury to win his 98th cap. He replaces Paul James in the front-row and takes leadership duties instead of flanker Ryan Jones.

Jones broke a bone in his shoulder during last weekend's victory over Scotland, and he is replaced in the back-row by Justin Tipuiric, with Sam Warburton wearing Wales' number six shirt.

Wales boss Rob Howley has decided for a second successive game not to reinstall Warburton - last season's Grand Slam skipper - as captain, preferring instead to let him concentrate on his own game.

That approach worked a treat at Murrayfield five days ago when Warburton delivered a towering man-of-the-match display.

Two changes on the bench from Edinburgh see James replacing Ryan Bevington and Scarlets flanker Aaron Shingler featuring instead of a promoted Tipuric.

Wales will retain the title if they beat England by seven points - and stay ahead of them on overall try-count - or eight points and above, when try-count becomes irrelevant.

Wales team: L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues); A Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), G North (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), M Phillips (Bayonne); G Jenkins (Toulon, capt), R Hibbard (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), P James (Bath), S Andrews (Cardiff Blues), A Coombs (Newport Gwent Dragons), A Shingler (Scarlets), L Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Perpignan), S Williams (Scarlets).