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Dan Biggar boost for Wales ahead of England showdown

The fly-half went off during Northampton's Gallagher Premiership victory over Sale.

Wales have issued a positive update on fly-half Dan Biggar ahead of next Saturday's Guinness Six Nations showdown against England.

Biggar went off with his knee heavily strapped just 20 minutes into Saints' Gallagher Premiership victory over Sale on Saturday.

Northampton rugby director Chris Boyd said Biggar had suffered "a tiny tweak" and his exit had been precautionary.

Dan Biggar will hope to feature in Cardiff
Dan Biggar will hope to feature in Cardiff (David Davies/PA)

Biggar trained at Wales' squad base on Monday and will train fully on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old, who has won 67 caps, is battling for the number 10 shirt with Cardiff Blues' Gareth Anscombe ahead of Wales and England putting their unbeaten Six Nations records on the line in Cardiff.

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley told WRU TV: "This morning, (Biggar) has come in, he will have some physio and he will be able to take part in training, which is a huge positive for us."

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny, who has not played since suffering concussion three months ago, is back with the Wales squad.

He was released to play for the Scarlets last weekend, but was then left out of their match-day group that took on Benetton in Italy.

"He trained with us last week and we will integrate again this week," Howley added. "Any news on selection will be taken at the end of the week."

Wales boss Warren Gatland is not due to name his starting line-up for the Principality Stadium clash until Thursday, with most interest surrounding the fly-half contest and who is picked as captain Alun Wyn Jones' second-row partner.

Wales were last crowned Six Nations champions in 2013, when they demolished England 30-3 on the tournament's final day, while their opponents on Saturday are chasing a third title of Eddie Jones' coaching reign.

Howley said: "It's the first (Six Nations) home game, and the supporters can give us a huge lift.

"We have to give something to the crowd, we understand that, but I always think playing at home in the best stadium in the world gives you a five-point start.

"Memories of 2013, second half, when the crowd get behind you and start singing, that gives a huge motivation for our players, and hopefully we will have the same experience this Saturday.

"The players are very focused, we've got a really positive mindset. We trained well this morning, and it is important that we look after how we want to play the game.

"It is important that we play the game on our terms, and also we are aware of what the landscape might be on Saturday with the amount of kicks.

"The aerial battle, like in every international, is going to be important.

"Obviously, when you analyse England in the first two games (against Ireland and France), they kicked a hell of a lot, and I think it will be no different this weekend.

"The experience we've got in our team, the number of players who have played at this level and played in big games, I think the leadership group is so important this week.

"People like Ken Owens, Alun Wyn Jones, they will take the team through this week, really, and it is important we prepare as any other game."

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