Flanker Mark Wilson has been selected in England's starting line-up for their crunch Six Nations clash in Wales with the Cumbrian on course for a tournament record.

Wilson, who began playing junior rugby in Penrith, will earn only his 11th international cap at the Principality Stadium on Saturday (4.45pm kick-off). 

But the 29-year-old was voted England’s man of the series for the Autumn internationals and his remarkable defensive feats have put him on course to shatter the all-time Six Nations tackling record.

In total, head coach Eddie Jones has made two changes to the starting XV that thrashed France 44-8 on February 10. Prop Ben Moon and wing Jack Nowell both start with Mako Vunipola and Chris Ashton injured.

"England against Wales is always a big game," said Jones. "[We are] intense rivals, and there is the historical context to it, but for us, it's our most important game because it is our next game and that is how we are treating it.

"As you have read in the media, it’s all about Wales, we are playing potentially the greatest team ever. Their players are full of emotion and it’s the biggest game they are going to play in their lives.

"We have had a good week, just focusing on ourselves and focusing on getting our preparation right."

Former Carlisle Rugby Club man Gary Graham, meanwhile, returns to the Scotland bench for Saturday's match in France (2.15pm kick-off).

Gary, the son of former Scotland prop George, made his debut in the Scots’ Six Nations-opening 33-20 win over Italy but didn't feature in their 22-13 home loss to Ireland. But the Stirling-born man, 26, makes Gregor Townsend's team's bench for their game at Stade de France.

Townsend has made four changes to the starting side from the team that were beaten by Joe Schmidt's Ireland last time out.

The only change to the pack sees Magnus Bradbury start in place of the injured Ryan Wilson. The other three changes come in the back division, where Glasgow Warriors playmaker Pete Horne starts at stand-off in place of Finn Russell, Blair Kinghorn replaces the injured Stuart Hogg and Glasgow Warriors centre Nick Grigg comes in for injured club-mate Huw Jones.

Townsend said: "Injuries create opportunities for others to show what they can do and, throughout the past couple of seasons, we’ve seen a number of players really step up.

"All of the players coming in started against Argentina in the summer, which ranks as one of our best-ever away performances [a 44-15 success in June].

"On top of that, there is cohesion forged through familiarity at club level – Magnus in the back-row lines up with club-mate Jamie Ritchie, and Pete Horne and Nick Grigg are either side of Sam Johnson in the backs."

Home advantage has been a defining feature of the nations’ last four meetings. And Townsend is well aware of the potency of the French on home soil.

"At home, France have played really well in the past two Championships," he said. 

"They were 16-0 up at half-time against Wales, and their previous Six Nations games before included a win over England and a last-minute defeat to the eventual Irish team that went on to win the Grand Slam. They are a very dangerous opponent, combining power, ambition and skill. 

"Their individual talent is outstanding and, when they get things right – which has predominantly been in the Six Nations at home – they’ve played with a real collective spirit and fed off the emotion of the crowd."

However, Carlisle-born Chris Harris - who qualifies to play for Scotland through his grandmother - doesn't feature in their squad. 

Penrith-born Will Addison, whose mum is from County Fermanagh, once again misses out for Ireland, too, with lower back stiffness as they visit Italy on Sunday.