England v Wales highlights: Six Nations score and reaction as hosts cling on for dramatic win at Twickenham
England 16-14 Wales: England produce second-half comeback to dramatically edge past old rivals Wales at Twickenham
England’s ambition of making a fresh start on their return to Twickenham failed to produce the hoped-for fireworks but they at least had the resilience to dig out a 16-14 victory over Wales.
For the first time in Six Nations history, Warren Gatland’s team led at the interval in their great rival’s stronghold after storming 14-5 ahead through a penalty try and Alex Mann touch down.
But the favourites hit back when Fraser Dingwall went over in the left corner before George Ford stepped up to land the decisive penalty in the 72nd minute, rewarding a more polished second half.
Relive all the action from Twickenham in the blog below:
England v Wales talking points
England’s magnificent seven
England have a strong record against Wales at Twickenham since losing to them in 2012. Centre Scott Williams’ late try clinched a Six Nations triple crown that day, but Wales have come unstuck on five subsequent Six Nations visits.
The shining light from a Welsh perspective was their 2015 World Cup pool victory over England, but it is seven defeats on the bounce at English rugby headquarters following that 28-25 success, with England winning four Six Nations Tests, two World Cup warm-up games and a summer international.
Wales can take heart from five of those reversals being by six points or fewer, but they face a tough ask to turn things around.
There is no better place for a Welshman to win than Twickenham – Dafydd Jenkins
Dafydd Jenkins has highlighted the enormity of victory at Twickenham if Wales can end their long wait for a Six Nations away win against England.
It has only happened twice since the tournament began 24 years ago, with Exeter lock Jenkins bidding to emulate previous Wales captains Ryan Jones (2008) and Sam Warburton (2012) in toppling England on home soil.
Jenkins, the youngest Wales skipper since Sir Gareth Edwards in 1968, was a junior school pupil when Scott Williams’ late try secured a Triple Crown triumph at Twickenham during the 2012 campaign.
And he is geared up for a huge effort on Saturday after Wales showed glimpses of their potential via a spectacular second-half fightback against Scotland last weekend, even if they ultimately lost by a point from 27-0 behind.
There is no better place for a Welshman to win than Twickenham – Dafydd Jenkins
Wales have won just twice in the Six Nations at Twickenham.
Will Stuart urges England to show fighting spirit against Wales
Wales have been warned they do not hold a monopoly on passion as Will Stuart called on England to prove that fighting spirit is also part of their genetic make-up.
The rivals collide at Twickenham on Saturday with Steve Borthwick’s new-look team aiming to build on their winning start to the Guinness Six Nations against Italy in Rome.
While it is assumed England’s opponents will always play with emotional intensity, spurred on by facing the tournament’s most unpopular team, scrum coach Tom Harrison bristles at the idea that the passion flows in one direction only.
“It’s an interesting assumption to presume Wales would have an extra desire than us,” Harrison said.
Will Stuart urges England to show fighting spirit against Wales
The rivals collide at Twickenham on Saturday in the Guinness Six Nations.
Steve Borthwick reveals lift in intensity as England prepare to go on the attack against Wales
Steve Borthwick has said that England are ready to rip in to Wales at Twickenham on Saturday as he bids to get his squad’s emotional pitch right for their home Six Nations opener.
Borthwick’s side got off to a solid start in Rome last weekend, producing an encouraging showing as they bedded in a number of new starters and systems.
The arrival of Wales in southwest London always lifts the intensity, with Borthwick admitting he is having to hold his players back in training given the ferocity with which they have gone after session this week.
Steve Borthwick reveals lift in intensity as England prepare to attack Wales
Borthwick’s players have been champing at the bit in training as they prepare to take on their rivals at Twickenham
Wales team news
Wales are boosted by the return of George North, the centre back in the starting side having overcome the injury that forced him to miss out on the opening weekend. Tomos Williams and Ioan Lloyd take over as the starting half-backs after impressing off the bench against Scotland, while a returning Gareth Thomas is part of an all-new starting front row. Alex Mann gets an opportunity on the blindside after James Botham’s injury.
On the bench, young Bath prop Archie Griffin is set for a debut, while Will Rowlands is another welcome returnee having been absent last week.
Wales XV: 1 Gareth Thomas, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Keiron Assiratti; 4 Dafydd Jenkins (capt.), 5 Adam Beard; 6 Alex Mann, 7 Tommy Reffell, 8 Aaron Wainwright; 9 Tomos Williams, 10 Ioan Lloyd; 11 Rio Dyer, 12 Nick Tompkins, 13 George North, 14 Josh Adams; 15 Cam Winnett.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Will Rowlands, 20 Taine Basham; 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Cai Evans, 23 Mason Grady.
England team news
For the first time since becoming England head coach, Steve Borthwick is able to select an unchanged starting 15, with the group that secured victory in Rome named again. The lone change to the 23 comes on the bench, where Ellis Genge is fit again having been a late withdrawal against Italy.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is set to win a second cap against the country of his birth, with fellow newbies Ethan Roots, Fraser Dingwall, Chandler Cunningham-South and Fin Smith back for more having made their Test debuts at the Stadio Olimpico.
England XV: 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George (capt.), 3 Will Stuart; 4 Maro Itoje, 5 Ollie Chessum; 6 Ethan Roots, 7 Sam Underhill, 8 Ben Earl; 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 George Ford; 11 Elliot Daly, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Tommy Freeman; 15 Freddie Steward.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South; 21 Danny Care, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
How to watch England v Wales
When is England vs Wales?
England vs Wales is due to kick off at 4.45pm GMT on Saturday 10 February at Twickenham.
How can I watch it?
Viewers in the United Kingdom can watch the match live on ITV1, with coverage on the channel from 4pm GMT. A livestream will be available via the ITVX platform.
If you’re travelling abroad and want to watch major sporting events, you might need a VPN to unblock your streaming app. Our VPN round-up is here to help and includes deals on VPNs in the market. Viewers using a VPN need to make sure that they comply with any local regulations where they are, and also with the terms of their service provider.
Scotland v France getting underway
Before England take on Wales, there’s another Six Nations clash this afternoon as Scotland host France at Murrayfield.
Scotland are looking to build on their opening narrow win over Wales while France must bounce back from a Marseille humiliation against Ireland.
Harry Latham-Coyle is on hand to guide you through all the action from that one if you click below:
Scotland v France LIVE: Six Nations build-up and updates from Murrayfield
The Scots are looking to build on a winning start but will be wary of a French backlash
The man who holds the key to Wales ending their Twickenham hoodoo
If it’s possible to gain momentum – that all-important concept in elite sport – from a defeat, then Wales should be in good shape heading into the second weekend of the Six Nations.
Yes, they opened their campaign with a loss, and a first loss to Scotland in Cardiff for 22 years at that, but the roaring comeback in the second half of the 27-26 reverse at the Principality Stadium helped build a positive mood at the full-time whistle. They fell agonisingly short of the biggest successful fightback in championship history but by outscoring their opponents 26-0 from the 43rd minute onwards behind a number of stellar individual performances, the springboard is there to leap from.
However, now comes an even greater challenge as this inexperienced Wales side seeks victory over England at Twickenham Stadium – a sort of final frontier for Welsh rugby. The value of momentum will truly be put to the test as the current group aim to succeed where many of their more decorated predecessors have failed.
Luke Baker analyses what the Welsh must do to emerge triumphant at Twickenham:
The man who holds the key to Wales ending their Twickenham hoodoo
As Wales seek just a fourth Twickenham win over England since 1988, the pressure is on young fly half Ioan Lloyd
England vs Wales predictions; Six Nations betting tips, rugby odds & free bets
England got their 2024 Six Nations campaign off to a winning start but will be looking for an improved showing when they host Wales this afternoon.
Those bettors who took a very skinny price in the Six Nations odds for England last week would have had a few heart-wrenching moments when they conceded some soft tries as part of a new defensive approach under Felix Jones on the way to a 27-24 win in Rome. But as sports bettors are all too aware, it doesn’t matter how the points are obtained – only how many.
They now return to Twickenham hoping to preserve a seven-game winning streak at home to Wales that continued last summer in a hard-fought World Cup warm-up victory. Rugby betting sites are anticipating the first unchanged England XV since the 2019 World Cup final to notch up a double-digit margin win against a young and inexperienced Welsh side that has opted to reward some of their best second-half performers from last week’s almost miraculous recovery against Scotland.
There’s still work to be done on this England side before they are the finished article and that’s reflected in our England vs Wales predictions.
England vs Wales predictions; Six Nations betting tips, rugby odds & free bets
Our rugby tipster has three tips for the clash at Twickenham as England seek to back up their win in Italy
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