Howley eyes skipper hat-trick

Wales boss Rob Howley could appoint his third different captain of this season's Sx Nations campaign on Thursday.

Lock Alun-Wyn Jones is thought to be a major contender for the post vacated by an injured Ryan Jones in Saturday's title decider against Grand Slam-chasing England.

Sam Warburton, last season's Six Nations Grand Slam skipper, and prop Gethin Jenkins - if he is recalled after injury instead of Paul James - would also be in the frame.

Warburton, though, delivered a man-of-the-match display without added pressures of captaincy against Scotland last weekend, and Howley might well decide to repeat that strategy.

Justin Tipuric is expected to replace Jones, who broke a bone in his shoulder at Murrayfield, although versatile back-five forward Andrew Coombs is another option.

The Wales back division, though, is set to be unchanged for a fifth successive game, with centres Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts making a 14th championship appearance together to break the Welsh record previously held by Ray Gravell and Steve Fenwick.

And Mike Phillips will become Wales' most capped scrum-half, featuring in his 77th Test match and overtaking Dwayne Peel.

"People said me and Jamie we were too similar and could not play together, but if we set that record on Saturday it will be testament to the hard work we have done and how we've developed together," Davies said.

"Things have taken a while, but we have come a long way. We are still developing as a partnership and hopefully getting better.

"I expect they (England) will go with (Brad) Barritt and (Manu) Tuilagi because that is what they have gone with in the last couple of games. They are a strong centre pairing.

"Jamie and myself need to get our heads down and look to stop whoever comes down our channel.

"Sam Warburton showed last year how you tackle Tuilagi when he took him around the ankles. That was effective.

"We have to trust our defensive patterns and follow what we have done in the last few games, which has been hugely impressive. Not to concede a try in the last three games is a big plus for us, and we want to keep that up."

Davies, meanwhile, says it has been a case of business as usual for Wales this week, despite the huge media hype surrounding England's Cardiff visit.

A seven-point victory for Wales should be enough to secure successive championship crowns - a feat they last achieved 34 years ago - although a win by any margin or draw would thwart England's Grand Slam bid.

"Everyone will think this is more than a normal week, but we have the experience to draw on with the (2012) Grand Slam and the semi-finals of the World Cup," Davies added.

"This group of players has been used to the big-game environment, so we know what to expect and we have just got our heads down."