Wales have been given a huge boost with the news that full-back Leigh Halfpenny has recovered from concussion and will be available for selection to face England on 23 February.
British & Irish Lion Halfpenny has not played since November but Wayne Pivac, his coach at club side Scarlets, has confirmed the 30-year-old will return to Wales training tomorrow.
After Halfpenny took part in contact training sessions with Scarlets, Pivac told Sky Sports: “To do full contact he has got to be symptom free and Leigh has been symptom free. He trained with us last Thursday and Friday and yesterday [Monday] he did everything, full contact, full tackling.
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“We had a mini-game scenario, what we call level three which is a game scenario so there is no hiding places.
“He was taking high balls, getting clattered. He did everything he needed to do. He goes back to Wales available. Warren [Gatland] will make a call on what he does from there.
“I think we are going to get a message on who, if any, are going to get released after Wales training on Wednesday.”
Mako Vunipola out of Six Nations
Both teams have 100% winning records going into the crunch clash in Cardiff. While Wales will celebrate the return of Halfpenny, England have been hit by their own injury news.
Saracens prop Mako Vunipola has been ruled out of England’s Six Nations campaign after he suffered an ankle ligament injury during the victory against France on Sunday. He is expected to be out of action for around ten weeks.
England head coach Eddie Jones said: “It is obviously very disappointing to lose Mako at this stage as he is an important player for us but it does provide an opportunity for the team to grow.”
Six Nations round three fixtures
- Saturday 23 February: France vs. Scotland (2.15pm, live on BBC); Wales vs. England (4.45pm, live on BBC and S4C)
- Sunday 24 February: Italy vs. Ireland (3pm, live on ITV)
