Wales vs England LIVE: England travel to Cardiff in the Six Nations in the week Wales players called off strike action over contractual disputes… with the hosts still looking for a first win of the tournament
Follow Sportsmail’s live blog for the Six Nations clash between Wales and England.
Host commentator
Host commentator
Significantly quieter than Wales’, you’d imagine.
Indeed. Wow. What a noise. Especially poignant for the players, after the week – and months – of uncertainty they have faced. A special rendition of Oh Land of my Fathers. A special anthem.
Here come the sides into a cacophony of noise. They are greeted by the now-customary pyrotechnics. There have been issues with Twickenham being empty at kick-off, no such issues in Cardiff this afternoon.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are in attendance. Win-win for them today!
Not long now. Gatland and Borthwick will be dishing out their final instructions; Owens and Farrell envisaging what they’re going to say to their teams in the final huddle. The anthems will be spine-tingling.
‘Well, I think certainly this situation has been a shock to everybody. Simply to all the players, they should not have to go through that. We now need a fantastic occasion in a brilliant venue. That is what we have got,’ he tells the BBC.
On the game, he says it is a real test for his side against an ‘experienced’ Welsh pack.
There are a few empty seats still dotted about the Principality, but not many. The bars will be emptying rapidly at this stage.
In fairness, who wouldn’t immediately rush to where Bread of Heaven is being played? What a sensational hymn.
‘We won’t be using the turmoil of the week as an excuse. They have trained well. There’s been a lot of things going on behind the scenes, but we won’t make excuses,’ he says.
Ken Owens and his side need a fast start today. He looks ready.
Nigel Walker is speaking to the BBC and has outlined a few of the compromises that have been reached. He reaffirms the confirmation that the 60 cap rule has been dropped to 25, while there will now be a players’ representative on the PRB.
He says the regions have been offered the contracts – it is now up for them to sign them. He offers a warning that he will ensure they are.
Asked by host Gabby Logan if a rugby case – as well as the obvious passion case – can be made for Wales prevailing today, the former captain responds: ‘They’ll always be a passion case. But with the rugby case the biggest problem Wales have got is that when they get into the attacking zones, [they create] situations like with a five-on-three and they haven’t taken it.
‘They go for the short route. The opportunities have been there, they just haven’t taken them.’
Gatland and his coaching group will hope for some more clinical play inside the England 22 today.
The Principality is a picture and is filling up just 45 minutes out from kick-off. Warren Gatland and Steve Borthwick will both be hoping for fast starts from their sides.
Ahead of this autumn’s World Cup, it is vital that both sides at least lay down one marker in this year’s Six Nations. What better time to do it than in one of the sport’s biggest clashes?
And those shirts wont be empty for too much longer – the visitors are in the house in Cardiff.
𝐈𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞🌹
This is your ⚠️𝟏 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠⚠️#WALvENG pic.twitter.com/orJrBYr03c
A look inside the England dressing room.
You’d assume that’s about the cleanest those shirts will ever be – can’t imagine there’ll be a speck of white left unmuddied by about five minutes in.
There’s bound to be plenty of match-ups in this gigantic clash.
But Sportsmail columnist Sir Clive Woodward has highlighted the three key battle that will decide this one.
He’s highlighted the fight between the two No 10s, the midfield clash between the centres and the crucial work both sets of flankers will need to do to get their side over the line.
Take a look below to find out more.
It’s been quite the week for Wales.
This one almost didn’t happen with the hosts threatening strike action amid an ongoing stand-off with the Welsh Rugby Union over contractual disputes.
Players were left in huge clouds of uncertainty over what the future might hold with some 90 players out of contract at the end of the season
But after a crunch meeting on Wednesday evening, a breakthrough was finally reached.
For the full story and all the background on this massive story, check out the link below.
Neither side has really had a fantastic start to the competition this year.
Wales, as we know, are still yet to win in the 2023 Six Nations, having been thumped by Ireland and Scotland in their first two outings with an aggregate score of 17-69.
So not a fantastic start – but there has been plenty going on in the background, and I don’t think even the most ardent Welsh fans thought the side had a chance of challenging Ireland and France.
The same can be said for England, who also came into this competition with a new coach at the helm in the form of Borthwick.
A defeat in a close clash with Scotland will have been disappointing, but a now-routine win over Italy in their second game made for slightly more optimistic viewing, but today represents a much different challenge.
Both teams could do with a win to really kick-start their campaigns, and what better time than against your arch rivals?!
And for more on those team selections, check out the two links below.
And for the hosts – NINE changes.
Dan Biggar is dropped to the bench, George North and Liam Williams are out of the 23 entirely, and Mason Grady comes in for his debut at centre.
Backs : Leigh Halfpenny; Louis Rees-Zammit, Mason Grady, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Owen Williams; Tomos Williams
Forwards: Gareth Thomas, Ken Owens (capt), Tomas Francis; Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones’ Christ Tshiunza, Justin Tipuric; Taulupe Faletau
Replacements : Bradley Roberts, Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Kieran Hardy, Dan Biggar, Nick Tompkins
And a reminder of the teams.
First up England.
Steve Borthwick has made just the one change, with Anthony Watson coming in for his first start in almost two years, coming in for Ollie Hassell-Collins.
Backs : Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Anthony Watson; Owen Farrell (capt); Jack van Poortvliet
Forwards : Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum; Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis; Alex Dombrandt
Replacements : Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell
Not only is this one of the oldest clashes in rugby – dating as far back as 1881 – but it is also one of the most closely-fought.
In 138 meetings, England edge the record with 66 wins, while Wales have won 60 and the other 12 have been draws.
In recent history, it’s England who have dominated the tie, winning seven of the last 10, including two trips to Wales.
This afternoon’s clash will see the rivalry played out under the reign of a seventh monarch under King Charles III, after the first coming under Queen Victoria’s reign.
Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Sportsmail’s coverage of this enormous fixture in round three of the 2023 Six Nations – it’s England v Wales!
It’s one of the biggest rivalries in rugby, pitting two neighbouring nations against one another, in what promises to be a thrilling contest.
Kick-off is at 4.45pm from the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, so join us for the next hour and 45 minutes as we bring you all the latest news, stories and build-up for what should be a brilliant occasion.
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