Sunday morning (AEDT) sees Wales host England, playing in Cardiff. Join The Roar from 3:50am (AEDT) for live scores and commentary on all the action.
England was victorious in four of the last five games between these two nations, capped off with a 14-point win. But the games are normally closer than this. In the past two years, the winning margin of other games has not exceeded five points. Today, the same may happen.
While the bookies favour a solid England win, the outcome may not be so straightforward.
Last week neither team showed much enterprise, cohesion or danger in attack for most parts of the game. Wales did play with more zest, crossing the line several times at the back end of a bummed out showing versus a waning Italy.
Today, we can expect a much more interesting match. England eked out a win against a stirring French performance. They should bounce back with a high-quality game, avoiding simple drop passes and grade-school set-piece execution. It was dreadful stuff.
One bright spot was Ben Te’o. He is the back who is claimed as the local hero from at least three counties. He scored England’s winning points two minutes after running on the field. He will play a similar finishing role today.
However, in reality it is the forwards who wins games. This week, England will again not field any reserve locks. This probably means Mario Itoje, who will start as blindside flanker, will again play 80 minutes and move into the engine room towards the end. Cool stuff, that.
Their pack is similar to last week with a minor backrow tweak, giving them a chance to redeem themselves in a passionate Cardiff stadium.
The Welsh crowd will cherish the return of Toby Faletau as a reserve. He will be the most powerful flanker in the match and should wreak havoc. This could be the reason why Eddie Jones fielded Tom Wood and James Haskell to face off with him at the end.
Front rowers Rob Evans and Tomas Francis did a good job last week and have been requested to start the game.
In the backs department, it is still uncertain if Dan Biggar or George North will play. Statistically, North delivers at least five points a game. That is often the difference a win or a loss for either team.
Wales have only lost one in of their last ten Six Nations matches, but England has won 15 in a row. Both almost ruined their record last week with disappointing execution.
Eddie Jones is doing his best to help his boys by keeping the Cardiff stadium roof open and tricking the Welsh into thinking it was a non-issue. Every little thing will count.
Prediction
Today is a big game. They will hopefully avoid school boy mistakes and play an exciting game with plenty of action. This should be a England win as they have greater depth, more star players and a great coaching team. But it would not be surprising if the Welsh pull off an upset. The last 20 minutes of each half will be a good watch. Enjoy!
Preview written by RobC.
Hello Everybody.
Guest
Did Ireland trouble the ABs?
Pinetree
Guest
Neil Back - Wouldn't worry me if England get the record. About time England achieved something with all the talent/resources they have. You have to wonder maybe on the level of NH coaches though, seems like all the NH teams are running for a SH coach, and with success as well, so don't forget to thank the Aussie E Jones for that. As an AB fan though, this just gives new motivation to achieve when all the goals seemed to be gone. Cheers, hopefully England help spur on new restoration for the ABs and the game globally, and the next AB/England game when it (eventually) comes should be an absolute cracker!
adastra32
Guest
One of the aspects of the 6N that is always mentioned in passing but doesn't seem to hit home in the SH is the really tribal nature of England vs. everyone else 'up north'. In essence, Wales and the team's supporters could lose most games in a season - and still feel massively fulfilled because they've beaten England! Especially at home and the massive intensity of the Millennium Stadium registered even with Eddie The Messiah once he experienced it yesterday. So the point is that Wales' biggest challenge is to perceive ALL opposition as they do England if they want to win or be really competitive more often. It hasn't happened yet in recent memory....
taylorman
Roar Guru
Trouble is different than beat. Most sides trouble them for most of a match.
adastra32
Guest
Woops - Scotland feisty but beaten up by the French pack.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Right now? I think they'd win. ABs have hardly played for three months and England have two caps in the last two weeks. Played in NZ ABs would probably win but even then because of injuries to England.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Let's hope they get it, it's useless on the ABs mantle. England get it, it provides a new goal, sometimes it's the only one left to chase.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
I fear for some of you boys with this level of pink faced outrage. Take my advice and seek help now before it's too late - 'that' record is drawing closer ......
Hello Everybody.
Guest
So nobody in the number 2 side thats beaten SA, Aus, Ire, Arg, Wal, Fra, Sco and everybody else would trouble NZ except "the goal kicker"? I highly doubt that and so does R.McCaw.
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Bang on mate the Welsh should have won that game, but they were their own worst enemies by non capitalisation of the go forward driving ball that they had, ~ Was Itoje playing?
Kirky
Roar Rookie
Chook mate! The Poms have just scunged over the line in their last two games so I reckon if they play like that much more and they're going to get their just desserts! The Boyos' were a better team on the day, but win they did not!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
The England team is very ordinary right now and that was a game the Welsh should have won but once again the Poms snuck over the line, ~ Their luck will run out sooner or later and your theory of them not beating the All Blacks any time soon is right on the button mate! I'd say Fast Eddie the Mouth will have a furrow on his brow about now!
Kirky
Roar Rookie
If that England team played the All Blacks at any time they'd get beaten, but if the played them right now, they'd get minced, ~ There's nothing in the last two games the English side have played that shows they'd have even a slight chance against the All Blacks, two weeks in a row and they 'scunged home' for wins! There's no player that I saw apart from the goal kicker that would trouble the Number 1 side playing the game!
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Hi Finn All Blackesque = habit of winning. Let's save the big debate for tomorrow (under GP's column). Agree that England need to improve with ball in hand in general, but let's not forget that Wales put them under huge pressure between minute 20-60. When England got hold of the ball and possession, they looked pretty dangerous. I will always back AB's against Wales, but if Wales could play like that for 80 minutes against AB's it - "IT" - could be interesting. I can see this England team threaten AB's (especially if England are full strength - they missed five regular starters against Wales). AB's are still favorites but there is no daylight between them anymore.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Oi Machooka! More than once during the Test it hit me that GP was at the stadium. So happy for him and I hope he and NB had a pint or two together (and tell us about the experience). And like you I really looking forward to read GP's wrap tomorrow. Question. Was that the same Welsh team that got played of the park against Wallabies in November? If so, Wallabies must be in rude health :)
Machooka
Roar Guru
Ha ha Neutral... you took the words right outta my mouth. Cracking contest, and also one of the best 6Ns I've seen! Can't wait for G's 'Wrap' tomorrow as he (lucky bugger) was at the game... maybe even with the Bishop? Must admit I thought along the same lines as when England played France with this game... I just knew England would get the 'W' even though they really didn't really deserve it, which is the sign of a good team coming into form. Not last week, not this week, but it's coming that's for sure. And that's 16 in a row now for England!
Pinetree
Guest
Sounds like it was a great test match worth watching. That is England's 16th consecutive win. England face Italy and Scotland for their next 2 games at Twickers, so you would think they will secure 18 wins at that stage to equal the ABs. Then England will face off against Ireland in Ireland for the record of consecutive wins for a tier 1 rugby nation. Shame they do not face the ABs at all in that entire run, but if they end up getting the record, then that is a fantastic achievement for England.
Dan in Devon
Guest
The bottom line is that with Biggar at five-eighths Wales do not look potent in attack.
Harry
Guest
Modern test match rugby at its best. England waited it out then struck. Good composure and use of the bench - the full 23 is critical and real impact off the bench. Game is becoming more and more like American football with extended phases. The ability to finish when camped in the 22 on attack is becoming more and more critical. LOL Eddie Jones comparing Cardiff Arms to Lang Park.
Oblonsky‘s Other Pun
Roar Guru
Let's be honest, the game was lost when Wales failed to put the ball out from their own tryline with 5 minutes to go. I agree with you generally about Biggar - and I think that this is what Nicholas Bishop said also? - but the fact remains that he was, from memory (please correct me if I'm wrong ?) the one who caught that brilliant try-saving intercept and ran 70m? If it wasn't for that Wales likely would have lost by a much larger margin.