England vs Wales LIVE!

England trailed at half-time in the Six Nations for the second successive week after a dramatic first 40 minutes against Wales at Twickenham, but ended up pulling off their biggest-ever second-half comeback in the competition to maintain their 100 per cent start. The hosts saw Ollie Chessum sent to the sin-bin for an early yellow card in Saturday evening's second fixture in round two, with the Leicester lock harshly punished for contact to the head of Welsh tighthead prop Kieron Assiratti.

After a bright start that saw them pass up two huge chances to score deep inside the Welsh 22, things then went from bad to worse for England as they conceded a penalty try for pulling down a rolling maul just short of their own line, with Ethan Roots joining Chessum in the sin-bin to take Steve Borthwick's side temporarily down to 13 men.

England somehow hit back straightaway though through Ben Earl's monstrous run off the back of a scrum, George Ford denied a conversion chance in controversial fashion, but conceded again on the stroke of half-time through young flanker Alex Mann. Ford’s early second-half penalty cut the Welsh lead down to six points before a try from Fraser Dingwall and final crucial Ford penalty as Mason Grady was booked for a deliberate knock-on. Follow England vs Wales reaction in the Six Nations live below, featuring expert analysis from Standard Sport’s rugby correspondent Nick Purewal at Twickenham.

England vs Wales highlights

• Ford penalty gives England lead after Grady yellow

• TRY! Dingwall cuts Welsh lead to one point

• TRY! Mann scores again for Wales

• TRY! Earl hits back for 13-man England

• Penalty try! Welsh maul downed as Roots booked

• Yellow card! Ollie Chessum sin-binned early

England player ratings

19:59 , George Flood

Replacements

Theo Dan (for George, 71): 7

A bullish cameo as England edged over the line.

Ellis Genge (for Marler, 51): 7

Aggressive and confrontational in the very best of ways.

Dan Cole (for Stuart, 51): 7

Cemented the scrum as England ground home.

Alex Coles (for Chessum, 23 to 33; for Roots, 72): 6

Another promising turn from a player looking to develop well.

Chandler Cunningham-South (for Underhill, 64): 7

Another physical cameo from a young man with a major Test career ahead of him.

Danny Care (for Mitchell, 69): 7

Kept his head and levelled things out for England at the crucial time.

England player ratings

19:58 , George Flood

Forwards

Joe Marler: 8

A beast at the set-piece and around the fringes. Unfairly penalised at the scrum in the first half, before the referee cottoned on that England were in control.

Jamie George: 7

Lineout wobbled slightly but his leadership continues to grow. Another strong showing to steer England over the line.

Will Stuart: 6

Kept up his end of the bargain at the scrum but still needs to deliver more in the loose.

Maro Itoje: 8

Another ruthless showing from one of England’s most important players.

Ollie Chessum: 7

Unlucky to be sin-binned and had to contend with a head-injury check as well, but returned to bludgeon England home.

Ethan Roots: 6

Showed his inexperience at the level for his yellow card, but recovered as the game progressed.

Sam Underhill: 7

Scrapped for everything, but in truth also could not contain his excellent counterpart Tommy Reffell.

Ben Earl: 8

Bulldozed in for a fine try in another all-action performance in which he set England’s physical and emotional tone.

England player ratings

19:57 , George Flood

Backs

Freddie Steward: 9

A masterful and vital performance from the Leicester full-back, who produced two match-saving interventions in the last 10 minutes. Unrivalled under the high ball.

Tommy Freeman: 6

A quiet showing from the Saints wing, but one where he desperately battled to limit the errors.

Henry Slade: 6

Still battling to bring all his talents to bear in this new-look England team. So talented in so many ways, surely England have to find a way for the gifted centre to thrive at Test level.

Fraser Dingwall: 7

Finished his try well and took more steps forward, but will be under pressure for his place if Ollie Lawrence and Manu Tuilagi return soon.

Elliot Daly: 7

His diving catch-pass for Dingwall’s try merits this mark alone. The classy Saracens star still has levels to step through, but can always conjure moments of attacking magic.

George Ford: 8

When it mattered most, he delivered, especially with the stunning 50-22 that swung the momentum at the death.

Alex Mitchell: 7

Such a threat on the run, and just about kept his kicking game in good enough order.

Match report

19:30 , George Flood

Freddie Steward claimed the highest of high balls, then copped the nastiest of ungainly falls, writes Nick Purewal.

George Ford switched blind and booted the ballsiest of 50-22s, and two snapshot moments of ultimate quality floored a stubborn Wales at a worried Twickenham.

From the attacking lineout, Mason Grady knocked on deliberately and walked for a yellow card.

Ford slotted the facile penalty, and England claimed the lead for the first time in the match – with nine minutes to play.

England hung on to prevail 16-14, condemning Wales to a sixth-straight Six Nations loss at Twickenham.

Steve Borthwick’s men made it two wins from two, and just like their 27-24 victory over Italy in Rome last weekend, again England had to come from behind to prevail.

Click here to read the report in full

England 16-14 Wales

18:39 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

Two masterful moments from Steward and Ford ultimately inch England to victory over Wales here.

Lots of huffing, puffing, mistakes and mayhem by both sides.

But England showed just enough grit and class to come through with the win, 16-14.

England 16-14 Wales

18:38 , George Flood

Full-time

England 16-14 Wales

18:38 , George Flood

82 mins: No decision for Wales and it’s England’s lineout.

If they can successfully claim this, they should boot it straight out for the win.

Coles takes it in safely and Care chips into touch! England have won... just!

England 16-14 Wales

18:36 , George Flood

80 mins: Dyer takes in a high ball and is played in the air and into touch by Ford, demanding a whistle that isn’t initially forthcoming.

Cai Evans comes on for a late Six Nations debut for Wales.

England 16-14 Wales

18:35 , George Flood

79 mins: Steward snatches a Welsh kick and provides his own little chip as he comes barrelling through the middle, but he’s undone by the bounce of the ball and Wales just about cling on.

They have it back, but deep inside their own 22 once more.

England 16-14 Wales

18:34 , George Flood

78 mins: Wales beyond 15 phases at halfway as they try and snatch a last-gasp victory here.

England’s defence are standing firm, including a great hit from Cunningham-South.

England 16-14 Wales

18:32 , George Flood

75 mins: It’s a truly frantic finish at Twickenham being played at such a pace.

Reffell with a crucial Welsh turnover there to stop England from killing the game off.

Theo Dan and Alex Coles are on for England, scrum-half Kieran Hardy for Wales.

PENALTY! England 16-14 Wales | George Ford 72'

18:27 , George Flood

72 mins: England lead for the first time tonight and with only eight minutes left on the clock!

Wales now have it all to do with 14 men...

England 13-14 Wales

18:26 , George Flood

71 mins: It’s yellow for Grady for a deliberate knock-on.

Jamie George wanted red there, but I think that was the right decision.

Ford with a simple kick to give England the lead from the tee with less than 10 minutes to go...

England 13-14 Wales

18:25 , George Flood

71 mins: England can’t get the rolling maul working, they work the ball left and Ford tries to pick out Freeman, with the ball knocked on by Grady.

The Welsh replacement could be in trouble here...

England 13-14 Wales

18:24 , George Flood

69 mins: To bring you up to date with the Welsh changes, Mason Grady, Will Rowlands and Taine Basham are all on.

Off go Adams, Beard and Mann.

A superb 50-22 kick from Ford gives England a crucial lineout deep inside the Wales 22.

England 13-14 Wales

18:22 , George Flood

68 mins: England are a team transformed after that Dingwall try, piling on the pressure through the likes of Slade, Earl, Freeman and Chander Cunningham-South, who is on in the back row for Underhill.

Danny Care has also replaced Alex Mitchell at scrum-half.

England 13-14 Wales

18:20 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

England’s second try, through Dingwall, has the home men finally finding some rhythm.

England still trail by a point but will want to turn the screw now.

TRY! England 13-14 Wales | Fraser Dingwall 63'

18:16 , George Flood

63 mins: A first England try on his second appearance for Northampton centre Dingwall!

And what a time to get it, after Mitchell and Genge both go close.

Lovely hands from Daly to take in Ford’s pass and send a diving ball out to Dingwall, who finishes in the left corner.

Ford hooks the conversion wide! Wales still with a one-point lead.

England 8-14 Wales

18:14 , George Flood

61 mins: The Welsh scrum is seriously creaking here, debutant Griffin now the man whistled.

England kick for a lineout deep inside the 22 and they quickly move within metres of the try line...

England 8-14 Wales

18:12 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

A Rio Dyer knock-on saves England ultimately, after Slade and Daly made a mess of the new defensive system, with Cameron Winnett breaking well for Wales.

A scrum penalty then allows England to clear their lines. England desperately need a spell on the ball here.

England 8-14 Wales

18:11 , George Flood

59 mins: England win another scrum penalty in front of their own try line and clear into touch downfield.

Now they have another after a spill in the air from Adams.

Corey Domachowski is Wales’ final front-row change.

Gareth Thomas off.

England 8-14 Wales

18:10 , George Flood

56 mins: From nowhere England are sliced apart, Lloyd sending Winnett racing through.

Winnett tees up Adams, who is smashed by Freeman as he tries to pop off inside to Dyer, who can’t hold onto it.

England breathe a huge sigh of relief!

England 8-14 Wales

18:08 , George Flood

55 mins: Finally the scrum gets going and England boot clear into touch near halfway.

Bath prop Archie Griffin is on for his Wales debut, replacing Assiratti.

Gatland has also changed his hooker, bringing on Ryan Elias for Elliot Dee.

England 8-14 Wales

18:05 , George Flood

53 mins: The game is getting bogged down at the set-piece just at the moment with the latest scrum taking an absolute age to get sorted.

England have changed both of their props, with Ellis Genge and Dan Cole on for Joe Marler and Will Stuart.

England 8-14 Wales

18:04 , George Flood

51 mins: Danger for England as the speedy Dyer puts boot to ball down the left flank after a fine cross-field kick, only to be hit by Tommy Freeman as Steward then ensures that fellow full-back Winnett can’t get hold of it for what would surely have been a third Welsh try.

PENALTY! England 8-14 Wales | George Ford 48'

18:00 , George Flood

48 mins: No mistake with a simple kick from the tee by Ford.

The Welsh lead is cut down to six points with over half an hour still to play at Twickenham.

Gatland will be frustrated with what was a very soft penalty to give away.

England 5-14 Wales

17:59 , George Flood

45 mins: Wales are under heavy pressure at the start of this second half, now with a scrum just in front of their own line that is whipped away to halfway into the waiting arms of Steward, who weaves forward but slips on the greasy surface.

Tommy Reffell charges down the kick, but England were playing with an advantage there after Nick Tompkins strayed ahead of the kicker on Adams’ clearing boot.

England point to the posts for what will surely be an easy three.

England 5-14 Wales

17:55 , George Flood

44 mins: Better from England as they finally build through some phases in the 22 with ball in hand, eventually sweeping out left where Daly is put into touch by a try-saving tackle from Welsh full-back Cameron Winnett.

A crucial intervention from the Cardiff man, earning just his second cap today.

England 5-14 Wales

17:54 , George Flood

42 mins: Wales are pinged for pushing too early at the scrum and England have an early second-half penalty that they kick for touch on the edge of the Welsh 22.

A chance to set themselves up in attack nice and early here...

England 5-14 Wales

17:52 , George Flood

Back underway at Twickenham!

No changes at the interval from either Steve Borthwick or Warren Gatland.

Can England fight back here and cut out the mistakes?

England 5-14 Wales

17:51 , George Flood

Quite a stat, that!

England 5-14 Wales

17:43 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

Wales produce a try entirely based on luring England’s new blitz defence out of its shape.

Gareth Thomas tipped inside to the outstanding Tommy Reffell, who then sent Tomos Williams clear.

He flicked on one more pass, to send flanker Alex Mann home, to stun England again.

Ioan Lloyd’s conversion then ensured Wales take a 14-5 lead into half-time.

Moments of hope for England entirely undone by too many mistakes and some costly poor decisions.

England 5-14 Wales

17:37 , George Flood

Half-time

England trail at half-time in the Six Nations for the second successive week.A hugely dramatic first half at Twickenham, packed full of incident.

Another comeback needed.

TRY! England 5-14 Wales | Alex Mann 38'

17:34 , George Flood

38 mins: What a try!

A gorgeous short ball after the lineout sends Wales scampering, with more wonderful work from he influential Reffell throughout.

He tees up Tomos Williams, who races clear and makes the final pass for young back-rower Mann to score his second in as many games on his first Test start.

Lloyd adds the extras. Wales will take a nine-point lead into the break at Twickenham.

England 5-7 Wales

17:34 , George Flood

37 mins: That’s a bizarre kick from Mitchell to present an opportunity to Adams, who was criticised by Warren Gatland for a “dumb mistake” against Scotland last weekend.

Here come Wales again...

England 5-7 Wales

17:32 , George Flood

35 mins: Chessum has passed his HIA and has now returned for England, replacing Coles.

Possession changing hands frequently now as we close in on half-time.

England struggling to find any rhythm in attack.

Reffell is an artist at the breakdown.

England 5-7 Wales

17:30 , George Flood

33 mins: Wales punch a hole through midfield courtesy of George North, who smashes aside Dingwall, and look to set up another strong attacking platform, but again Felix Jones’ defence stand firm.

Lloyd’s pass for loosehead Gareth Thomas is a bit of a hospital ball and he loses possession after being cut down by a brutal tackle from Underhill.

Signature stuff from Sam!

England 5-7 Wales

17:27 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

England’s new-look defence survives a major test as Wales go through 25 phases deep in England territory.

Alex Coles interjects to steal the ball back in the end, and England clear to safety. A big plus for the hosts.

England 5-7 Wales

17:26 , George Flood

31 mins: Still the Welsh phases go on with ball in hand, but they haven’t made any progress at all.

Felix Jones will be pleased to see his defensive system working out there.

Daly eventually pumps clear after Coles’ disruption to put Wales under pressure, but that’s another great clearing kick into touch from Josh Adams.

England 5-7 Wales

17:24 , George Flood

30 mins: England’s defence is being tested sorely once again on the half-hour mark as Wales build up towards 20 phases just outside the 22.

England 5-7 Wales

17:23 , George Flood

28 mins: Should have said a few minutes ago that Roots was back and England back up to 15 men.

The hosts are living very dangerously at times at the moment.

England 5-7 Wales

17:21 , George Flood

25 mins: A messy sequence for both sides after a Dyer kick-chase deep behind England lines, with the hosts then botching the subsequent lineout.

Wales have the put-in at the scrum, but they are then whistled for engaging too early and England can clear.

England 5-7 Wales

17:18 , George Flood

22 mins: Chessum was back on to bring England up to 14 men, but he’s now going off for a HIA.

Alex Coles comes on.

Wales were quickly back on the attack there after a deep lineout kicked for after the offside call, but Ford comes in on Dyer and it’s knocked on.

England with the put-in at the scrum.

TRY! England 5-7 Wales | Ben Earl 21'

17:13 , George Flood

21 mins: Superb from England’s 13 men!

It’s a monstrous carry from the base of the scrum by Earl, who crashes through three defenders to touch down in a show of pure brute strength.

What has happened to this conversion?! Ford has moved and Wales rush out before he’s kicked it.

Didn’t we see that in the World Cup? England are furious.

But 5-7 it remains. Breathless early drama at Twickenham.

England 0-7 Wales

17:11 , George Flood

20 mins: England are looking to hit back quickly here despite having only 13 men, Itoje rushing through to hit Lloyd before he can clear and earning England a scrum five metres out from the Welsh try line.

PENALTY TRY! England 0-7 Wales

17:08 , George Flood

17 mins: This has suddenly gone very, very wrong for England as they deliberately pull down a maul that is moving quickly towards the line.

It was Roots, who joins Chessum in the bin! England down to 13 men!

England 0-0 Wales

17:07 , George Flood

17 mins: A superb kick after the scrum takes Wales to within five metres of the English line.

Here comes the lineout. Can Wales make their numerical advantage count?

England 0-0 Wales

17:06 , George Flood

14 mins: Ioan Lloyd has tried a couple of early cross-field kicks for Wales that have almost come off.

Quick confirmation that Chessum’s yellow card will remain just that, no upgrade to red.

England now scrumming without Chessum, swapping around Earl and Roots and playing with no No8 for now.

England 0-0 Wales

17:04 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

Ollie Chessum can count himself slightly unlucky to receive a yellow card for a shoulder to head shot on Kieron Assiratti.

The Leicester lock latched onto the ball in what was almost a smart challenge, but the head contact means England must operate a man light for 10 minutes.

Now the battle is to stop Wales claiming any real momentum.

England 0-0 Wales

17:03 , George Flood

12 mins: Referee James Doleman rules that meets the yellow-card threshold for Chessum!

England down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes and Wales will boom the resulting penalty into touch downfield.

That will also go up to the bunker for review to determine if any further sanction is necessary.

England 0-0 Wales

17:02 , George Flood

12 mins: Here we go then, Underhill made the initial tackle low on Assiratti.

Assiratti and Chessum were then both dipping down as the England lock came in and wrapped around the ball, though there was shoulder contact to the head.

England 0-0 Wales

17:01 , George Flood

12 mins: The TMO is struggling to find the right angles for this replay...

England 0-0 Wales

17:00 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

Henry Slade knocks on trying to crash over the tryline on a bullish line from a scrum.

England have had two extended periods in the Wales 22 but have nothing to show for it.

An encouraging start, but England have to start taking their chances.

England 0-0 Wales

17:00 , George Flood

12 mins: Assiratti is down receiving treatment and the TMO now wants to look at a hit from Ollie Chessum on the new Wales tighthead.

England 0-0 Wales

16:58 , George Flood

12 mins: Another kick from England, this time from Slade, goes into touch.

A bit of a lack of ideas from Borthwick’s men there.

England 0-0 Wales

16:57 , George Flood

10 mins: The first scrum needs a reset and it then goes down again, but Mitchell is told to play on and Slade can’t gather in a pass to give Wales possession back on their own line!

Another huge early opportunity for England goes begging.

England 0-0 Wales

16:55 , George Flood

8 mins: Strong stuff again from England before Ford puts Wales under big pressure with a kick that backs up the visitors with a lineout deep inside their own 22.

England are all over the subsequent maul, Maro Itoje in particular, and it’s dropped by Wales to hand England a turnover and a massive scrum close to the Welsh try line.

England 0-0 Wales

16:54 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

A positive start from England, who are able to make ground with every strike attack, especially on the counter.

But no points to show for it yet. And the hosts will be itching to draw first blood.

England 0-0 Wales

16:53 , George Flood

6 mins: Wales can’t make much headway after a penalty for offside, England’s new-look defence coming rushing up to meet them in contact.

Alex Mitchell chases a clever little kick downfield before Freddie Steward is forced by Josh Adams into a little boot intended for the run of Henry Slade that just runs out of play on the far side.

England have been aggressive in defence and fast-paced in attack so far here.

England 0-0 Wales

16:50 , George Flood

4 mins: No, they can’t!

I think that was Ethan Roots that lost the ball into contact there and Welsh flanker Tommy Reffell is over it in a flash to earn the pressure-relieving penalty.

Solid work from tighthead prop Keiron Assiratti on the deck too.

England 0-0 Wales

16:49 , George Flood

2 mins: Crucial defensive work from Rio Dyer to watch that ball over his shoulder and take it out of play after Ford aims a cross-field kick towards the run of Daly.

England’s carries were a bit lacklustre there, but now they have a lineout just metres out from the Welsh line.

The home crowd already in fine voice. Can they make this early pressure count?

England 0-0 Wales

16:47 , George Flood

1 min: Just the fast start England wanted after a superb quick break from Freddie Steward that has the hosts already camped deep inside the Welsh 22...

England vs Wales

16:46 , George Flood

Stirring anthems as always!

Here we go then!

New Zealand referee James Doleman blows his whistle and George Ford kicks to get us underway.

Can England finally deliver a home performance to remember?

England vs Wales

16:41 , George Flood

Here come the teams at Twickenham!

The usual pre-match pyrotechnics brightening up an otherwise grey February evening in south-west London.

The late Mike Weston, Barry John and JPR Williams will all be remembered with applause before the national anthems.

England vs Wales

16:39 , George Flood

Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham

So England return to Twickenham for the first time since being booed off after their first-ever home loss to Fiji last August.

It's a whole new era now though, or at least that's what England want to launch.

The third-place finish at the World Cup was creditable, but England are not the third-best team in the world, so have ground to make up, and fast.

Last week's 27-24 win over Italy in Rome proved slightly too frenetic.

Greater accuracy, sharper approach play and a more aggressive attitude all-round will be required today, even though this is a callow and inexperienced Wales team.

England vs Wales

16:33 , George Flood

More pre-match thoughts from Standard Sport’s Nick Purewal at Twickenham...

George North: I'm as driven as ever to succeed with Wales

16:26 , George Flood

With so many of their experienced old warhorses now retired, the return of the vastly-experienced George North from injury this afternoon is a huge boost for an otherwise inexperienced Wales team that have lost on all of their last seven visits to Twickenham.

Wales have not won here in the Six Nations at all since all the way back in 2012.

Today, North - who was in that 2012 team - earns his 119th cap and makes his 50th Six Nations appearance.

"My drive has never changed," North said on Friday.

"It is always the three feathers. The honour, the privilege and the respect I have for the jersey is something that keeps me focused every day, keeps me working every day.

"I am sure there are a fair few people who say I should have finished a few years ago, but that fight in me and that desire in me to do best by the jersey and do best by Wales has always kept me focused.

"In a four-year cycle, there is a lot of rugby to be played.

"Another World Cup (training) camp is an interesting debate and that will be a coffee with Gats, I imagine. To get to that point, I have got to go for another four years.

"Obviously, I can't promise that my body will still be in a position to fight and compete, but I am doing everything I can to be the best I can be to perform."

England vs Wales: Key battles

16:11 , George Flood

George Ford v Ioan Lloyd

Fly-half Ford pretty much already operates as an auxiliary backs coach.

He does not even turn 31 until next month, yet already boasts the experience and nous to act at the level of a top-ranking coach.

He will be desperate to make the No10 shirt his own in the coming weeks, while Lloyd is earning just his fourth cap and is only a part-time 10.

Has all the skills, but must add prudence to the attacking prowess.

England vs Wales: Key battles

16:02 , George Flood

Fraser Dingwall vs Nick Tompkins

Saracen Tompkins has developed into Wales’s all-court centre, mixing fine distribution with sufficient physicality to cut it in the Test arena.

Dingwall can do worse than look to Tompkins’s example as to how to add gainline success to a game based more on creativity and vision.

For far too long, England have failed to develop a No 12 that can thrive in covering all bases. Dingwall will hope to end that hiatus.

England vs Wales: Key battles

15:58 , George Flood

Maro Itoje vs Dafydd Jenkins

Two locks alike in mixing brawn and brains, but set vastly apart in terms of experience. Saracens star Itoje will win his 78th England cap today, while Jenkins will be claiming his 14th.

That Wales’ 21-year-old Exeter lock is already Test captain speaks volumes on his rise and further promise.

Itoje has turned from young tyro into world-class pack totem, however, and knows exactly how to unsettle, then subdue, his direct opponents.

George: England will be physical, confrontational and aggressive

15:48 , George Flood

New England skipper Jamie George knows just what to expect from a Warren Gatland team this afternoon and has pledged a new-look approach full of intensity, physicality and confrontation.

“A lot of us in this team have worked with Warren Gatland before, so we know the type of coach he is,” said George.

“There’s always a balance of analysing an opposition but also being very clear about what we want to do.

“We’re going to be very clear about what our defence is. We’re going to try to be very aggressive and confrontational.

“That’s exactly the way that our new defence coach Felix Jones wants us to be. But we also want to be aggressive and confrontational when we have the ball, too.

“To create an intimidating environment to play in at Twickenham, first and foremost we have to be the sort of team we want to be.

“And we want to be physical, we want to be confrontational, and we want to be aggressive. We don’t want to replicate other places or teams, we want to do things our way.”

England team embark upon extended Twickenham walk

15:31 , George Flood

The England team have arrived at Twickenham!

In a bid to improve the matchday experience, new captain Jamie George and other senior players have made several recommendations for change to the RFU.

One of those simple but potentially effective tweaks was a longer walk from the team bus to the stadium, so that they can spend more time among the fans.

Ford can offer X factor as England look to thrill back at Twickenham

15:18 , George Flood

The class of 2024 staged an England’s Got Talent night at their recent training camp — but now Steve Borthwick’s men must bring the X Factor to Twickenham, writes Nick Purewal.

Leicester double-act Ollie Chessum and Freddie Steward are England’s latest answer to Ant and Dec, as the squad’s new social secretaries.

The talent show helped a new group of players let off steam as well as form tighter bonds, even if some of the acts “got a bit weird”, according to captain Jamie George.

Head coach Borthwick will judge his players all he likes, but the Twickenham crowd will always have the final say.

England were booed off the pitch the last time they played at HQ, in the 30-22 defeat by Fiji in August’s final World Cup warm-up match.

Click here to read the match preview in full

Gatland fans flames over Feyi-Waboso saga

15:07 , George Flood

Warren Gatland fanned the flames over the Immanuel Feyi-Waboso situation in a recent column for the Daily Telegraph, in which he revealed the reaction from Welsh kicking coach Neil Jenkins to his decision to represent England.

“The best reaction I had was when I told Neil Jenkins about Feyi-Waboso’s decision, and he was, shall we say, very vociferous in terms of his response,” Gatland wrote.

“I can’t use the language that he used but it was basically along the lines of: ‘He was born in Cardiff and if he doesn’t want to play for Wales, then he can b***** off’.”

However, Gatland insisted this week that the inclusion of Feyi-Waboso by England did not add any extra spice to proceedings.

“We haven’t even spoken about him,” he said.

“No, it doesn’t add any extra spice. None of our tactics have mentioned his name or anything.

“There are a lot of players from both countries who are dual-qualified. Good luck to him. I hope things go well for him.”

Feyi-Waboso backed to shut out Wales criticism over England choice

14:56 , George Flood

You rarely need to add any extra spice to an England vs Wales showdown, but the presence of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in the hosts’ matchday squad today does just that.

Feyi-Waboso was born and raised in Cardiff and played age-grade rugby for Wales, but chose to represent England ahead of this Six Nations after a swift rise to prominence at Exeter.

The 21-year-old wing, who made a late debut cameo off the bench in Rome last weekend, has been backed to shut off the noise and any criticism as he looks to make a bigger impact this afternoon.

Warren Gatland previously said that Feyi-Waboso - backed for a long and fruitful international career by Steve Borthwick - had “disappointed” coaches in Wales by picking England.

Warren Gatland: I don't find Twickenham intimidating at all

14:43 , George Flood

England have spoken a lot in recent times about upping the intensity and aggression levels at Twickenham, attempting to make the old venue back into something of a fortress.

However, Welsh boss Warren Gatland insisted this week that the home of English rugby had never held any fears or trepidation as far as he was concerned.

“The first four times I went there, we won – three Premiership finals and a Heineken Cup final. I don’t find it intimidating at all!” Gatland said.

“It is great when you come in through the gates and everyone is outside and you’ve got the fans there. It is a great stadium to enter.

“I love the atmosphere, and it is even more special if you can walk away with a win. That is not easy to do.

“It is a stadium that I have loved going to. For me, it doesn’t hold any trepidation.

“For us, it is about starting well and stopping the crowd singing ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ too early. Silence them a bit – that becomes an important factor.”

England vs Wales prediction

14:33 , George Flood

It is difficult to know what to expect from these two sides, particularly Wales after such a mixed display against Scotland.

Should they play like they did in the second half for a full 80 minutes at Twickenham, there is every chance they come away with victory, but a repeat of that awful start and it could be another miserable trip to London for Warren Gatland's side.

England got the job done against Italy, though it was little more than that. A revamped squad will of course need time to fully click into gear, but it is still important that there are at least signs of an attacking edge beyond a kicking game.

It may well prove to be a scrappy affair, with confidence not particularly high in either camp, but as in Rome, we're going for England to do enough to pick up another win, even if questions remain over the performance.

England to win, by 10 points.

Seven Wales changes after Scotland thriller

14:28 , George Flood

It’s a different story altogether for Wales, with Warren Gatland making seven changes after the proverbial game of two halves against Scotland in Cardiff, losing Sam Costelow, Leon Brown and James Botham to injury.

There is a new half-back pairing in Tomos Williams and Ioan Lloyd, while George North returns from injury in midfield at the expense of Owen Watkin.

Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee and Keiron Assiratti form an entirely refreshed front row, with Alex Mann making his first Wales start at flanker after scoring in the comeback attempt in round one.

Will Rowlands, Taine Basham, Kieran Hardy and Cai Evans all come onto the bench, with Australia-born Bath prop Archie Griffin in line for a Test debut.

Wales XV: Winnett; Dyer, North, Tompkins, Adams; Lloyd, Williams; G Thomas, Dee, Assiratti; Jenkins (c), Beard; Mann, Reffell, Wainwright

Replacements: Elias, Domachowski, Griffin, Rowlands, Basham, Hardy, Evans, Grady

England name unchanged team for first time since 2019

14:20 , George Flood

Steve Borthwick sprung something of a surprise on Thursday, with England naming an unchanged XV for the first time since the 2019 World Cup final against South Africa in Yokohama.

The only alteration is on the bench, where Ellis Genge is fit to back-up Joe Marler at loosehead after being a late withdrawal in Rome last weekend with a foot problem.

Bath’s Beno Obano drops out of the squad. Otherwise it’s as you were across the board, with George Ford continuing ahead of Fin Smith at fly-half with Marcus Smith still out with a calf injury.

Fraser Dingwall and Ethan Roots are retained for their second caps, while Chandler Cunningham-South, Fin Smith and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso - who selected to play for England ahead of Wales, the country of his birth - are also primed to build on their debuts off the bench.

England XV: F Steward; T Freeman, H Slade, F Dingwall, E Daly; G Ford, A Mitchell; J Marler, J George (c), W Stuart; M Itoje, O Chessum; E Roots, S Underhill, B Earl

Replacements: T Dan, E Genge, D Cole, A Coles, C Cunningham-South, D Care, F Smith, I Feyi-Waboso

How to watch England vs Wales

14:16 , George Flood

TV channel: England vs Wales is being shown live in the UK free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 4pm.

Live stream: You can also catch a free live stream online via the ITVX app and website.

Welcome to England vs Wales live Six Nations coverage

14:14 , George Flood

The 2024 Six Nations ramps up this afternoon with a grudge match between old rivals England and Wales at Twickenham.

Steve Borthwick’s side are back on home soil for the first time since their woeful summer of 2023, looking to put on a show for the fans at ‘HQ’ having opened their campaign with a rather sluggish three-point win over Italy in Rome last weekend, when they struggled to get to grips with a new defensive system implemented by Felix Jones.

They have pledged an aggressive and confrontational approach against the so-called ‘Warrenball’ of Warren Gatland, who has stoked the flames this week by insisting that he does not find Twickenham to be intimidating in the slightest.

His young Welsh side, now devoid of so many experienced campaigners, trailed 27-0 at home to Scotland in round one, only to fight back and lose by a single point in an absolute thriller.

Kick-off today is at 4:45pm GMT, so stay tuned for live updates from across the afternoon and expert analysis from Standard Sport’s rugby correspondent Nick Purewal at Twickenham.