Eddie Jones brings in Exeter duo Moon and Nowell for Wales Test

Exeter pair Ben Moon and Jack Nowell have been promoted to England’s starting XV for Saturday’s showdown with Wales in Cardiff, while Joe Cokanasiga is poised to make his Six Nations debut as a replacement.

Head coach Eddie Jones has promoted the two Chiefs to fill the gaps left by the enforced absence of Mako Vunipola and Chris Ashton, as the only two changes to the starting XV. 

The elder of the Vunipola brothers has been ruled out of the remainder of this championship campaign with an ankle injury, while Ashton has stayed with Sale this week to have treatment on a calf strain.

Ben Moon will replace the injured Mako Vunipola in the front row for England on Saturday

Nowell was a starting wing for England’s tournament opener in Dublin, which brought a momentous victory over title-holders Ireland. He was usurped by Ashton for the home win over France eight days later, but Jones emphasised that was a horses-for-courses selection, rather than a demotion on form grounds. Now he has been reinstated in the No 14 shirt; charged with causing havoc out wide and also aiding the breakdown effort, as a back with the attributes of an openside, according to Jones.

The space left on the bench will be filled emphatically by Bath’s giant rookie wing Cokanasiga. He made a try-scoring comeback for his club last weekend after two months out with a knee injury and – given his break-through exploits in the autumn Test series – that was evidently enough to convince Jones and his assistant coaches that the Fiji-born player is ready for Test action again.

Jack Nowell came off the bench during victory over France and starts the clash in Cardiff

If, or rather when, he is unleashed at the Principality Stadium, it will be the 21-year-old’s first appearance in the Six Nations. That is also the case with Moon, the Exeter loosehead. He has been picked to start ahead of Leicester’s Ellis Genge, to deputise for Mako Vunipola. It continues a remarkable career surge by the 29-year-old Devonian. At the start of the season, he did not appear to be on England’s radar, but Joe Marler’s retirement created a vacancy and he has taken his chance.

The only other change to the match-day 23 sees one Wasps back-rower replace another on the bench, as Brad Shields has been preferred to Nathan Hughes. The Kiwi recruit has been working his way back to full fitness after suffering a side strain and the management value his leadership, lineout prowess and defensive graft.