WALES boss Warren Gatland says it was not a difficult decision to recall British and Irish Lions star Jonathan Davies for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations showdown against England at Twickenham.

Davies has been sidelined from Test rugby for four months and has seen just 105 minutes of competitive action for the Scarlets since suffering a torn pectoral muscle during Wales’ opening autumn series defeat by South Africa on November 9.

But the 25-year-old centre, a key performer in the Lions’ Test series triumph against Australia last summer, returns to resume his powerful midfield partnership with Jamie Roberts.

With Davies back, George North, who deputised in the number 13 shirt against France last month, reverts to his familiar wing position, with Liam Williams dropping out.

‘‘He (Davies) has been training really hard,’’ Gatland said.

‘‘He is a world-class player, so it wasn’t difficult for us to make that call.

‘‘Jonathan has been doing a lot of training in the last five weeks. He has probably been doing too much really. In terms of being fit, he is really sharp at the moment.’’ One other change from the side that accounted for France sees fit-again lock Alun-Wyn Jones take over from Jake Ball. Jones missed the France encounter because of a foot infection.

Scarlets pair Williams and Ball are both on the bench along with Mike Phillips, as Rhys Webb retains scrum-half duties after impressing on his first Wales start when France were crushed 27-6.

‘‘I don’t think it would be fair to drop Rhys after the way he played against France and that performance,’’ Gatland said.

‘‘That was a reward for a really good display by him, but also a really good display by the team.’’ Four teams – Ireland, England, Wales and France – are currently locked on four points at the top of the Six Nations table.

Ireland’s superior points difference means they are favourites to lift the title, although their final game on Match 15 is against France in Paris.

The losers at Twickenham will effectively be out of title contention, which further raises the stakes for the 125th meeting between two fierce rivals.

The countries are locked on 56 wins each.