Battle at Wembley: England vs Wales – Everything You Need to Know

England vs Wales: A Rivalry Renewed on the Rugby Field

The Background

In another Rugby World Cup warm-up clash, England and Wales are set to face each other once again. This time, the setting is Twickenham, the iconic stadium located in south-west London. The two teams are bitter rivals, and tensions will be high as they meet for the Summer Nations Series showdown. In their previous match, Wales pulled off a surprise victory over England in Cardiff, winning 20-9 with tries from Gareth Davies and George North. The win came as a much-needed morale boost for Wales, who had been struggling since Warren Gatland’s return as coach after a disastrous Six Nations campaign.

For England, it was a worrying day in Cardiff, despite dominating the opening 40 minutes and creating numerous chances. The match came just 48 hours before the announcement of the 33-man squad for the World Cup in France, and notable omissions from the squad included Henry Slade, Alex Dombrandt, Mako Vunipola, and Jonny May. With only two more warm-up fixtures against Ireland and Fiji before the World Cup, England‘s coach Steve Borthwick will be eager for his side to get back to winning ways and show that they are capable of competing on the biggest stage.

The Match Details

The England vs Wales match is scheduled to take place today, Saturday, August 12, 2023, at Twickenham Stadium. The kick-off time is set for 5:30pm BST. The match will be broadcast live on Amazon Prime Video and can also be streamed through the Amazon Prime Video app. Standard Sport’s live blog will provide comprehensive coverage of the game, featuring expert analysis from renowned rugby correspondent Nick Purewal at Twickenham.

Team News

England is expected to be close to full strength for the game, with several Premiership finalists returning to the squad, including captain Owen Farrell. All eyes will be on Billy Vunipola, who will be making his first appearance under Borthwick, as he is the only specialist No. 8 named in the squad for the World Cup. The midfield pairing will consist of Ollie Lawrence and Joe Marchant, with Henry Arundell and Elliot Daly on the wings and Freddie Steward at full-back. The front row will be formed by Joe Marler, Jamie George, and Will Stuart, while Maro Itoje will be back at lock alongside George Martin. Ben Earl and Courtney Lawes will join Vunipola in the back row.

On the other hand, Wales will field a completely different XV for their second clash with England. Scarlets center Joe Roberts will make his senior international debut in the midfield alongside Nick Tompkins. Taine Plumtree will start at No. 8, while Dewi Lake will captain the team after Jac Morgan took on the role in the previous match. Tom Rogers, who has not played for Wales in over two years, will make an appearance on the wing, with Josh Adams earning his 50th cap on the other wing. Owen and Tomos Williams will be the chosen half-back pairing, with Liam Williams at full-back. The rest of the team will consist of Gareth Thomas and Tomas Francis in the front row, Adam Beard and Rhys Davies at lock, and Dan Lydiate and Tommy Reffell completing the back row.

Prediction

England‘s back-to-back defeats at the hands of Wales, who have struggled in 2023, would be a significant blow for Borthwick’s side ahead of the World Cup. Despite dominating the first half in Cardiff and creating numerous try-scoring opportunities, England lacked a killer instinct and faded in the second half. To have any chance of winning their first global title in two decades, they need to develop a killer instinct quickly. Their upcoming match against Ireland in Dublin will be a tough test, and England could do with building some confidence before facing them. Another strong result and performance would do Wales a world of good, but with England fielding close to their first-choice XV and boosted by the returns of Farrell and others, we expect the hosts to come out on top in this fierce battle. Our prediction is an England win, by 10 points.

Head-to-Head History and Results

Last weekend’s win for Wales was their first over England since 2021, following back-to-back Six Nations losses. Wales has not won at Twickenham since the 2015 World Cup. In terms of head-to-head results, England has 67 wins, Wales has 61 wins, and the two teams have drawn 12 times.

Conclusion: What’s at Stake

The England vs Wales rugby rivalry is a storied one, filled with history, passion, and fierce competition. As the two teams prepare for the upcoming Rugby World Cup, these warm-up matches carry significant weight. Beyond national pride and the desire for victory, both sides will be looking to fine-tune their strategies, identify areas for improvement, and develop the chemistry and cohesion needed to succeed on the world stage. For England, it is not just about redeeming themselves against Wales, but also about building momentum and confidence as they face formidable opponents in the World Cup. Meanwhile, for Wales, another victory over England would be a huge boost in morale and a statement of intent. Ultimately, this match serves as a crucial opportunity for both teams to assess their strengths and weaknesses before the tournament kicks off, and to show the world that they are serious contenders for the Rugby World Cup title.