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Six Nations 2017: Wales vs England Preview

Wales vs England at The Principality Stadium (Sunday, February 12, 12.50am HKT)

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England travel to Cardiff for the second Six Nations match of the round knowing they will need to lift their game from last weekend if they are to defeat Wales.

What we can expect
Brutal, intense, blood-and-guts rugby as two opening weekend winners with a lot to prove meet in Cardiff. Wales will throw everything at England, then rip up the stadium’s foundations and throw the rubble at them, too.

Wales
After a painfully slow start, Rob Howley’s men won easily enough in Italy last weekend, even throwing caution to the wind for the final three minutes of the game as they, unsuccessfully, sought a try-scoring bonus point. But they have not beaten England since emphatically ending their Grand Slam hopes at the same venue (under a different name) – and under the same acting coach – four years ago. 

Matchday 23: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Jonathan Davies, Scott Williams, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Tomas Francis, Jake Ball, Alun Wyn Jones, Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty Replacements: Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee, Cory Hill, Taulupe Faletau, Gareth Davies, Sam Davies, Jamie Roberts.

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England
Master manipulator Eddie Jones has refocused attention on the Principality Stadium roof, by keeping everyone guessing whether he will opt for open or closed until the very last minute – after earlier saying he didn’t really care either way. Smart move, but it still hasn’t hidden the fact that England’s starting back row, talented though it is, was almost literally born yesterday.

Matchday 23: Mike Brown, Jack Nowell, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Ben Youngs; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje, Jack Clifford, Nathan Hughes Replacements: Jamie George, Matt Mullan, Kyle Sinckler, Tom Wood, James Haskell, Danny Care, Ben Te’o, Jonny May.

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Key battle: The back rows
How England’s rookie back row, who boast a combined total of 20 caps, copes with the 100-plus cap experience of Welsh flankers Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric, with fit-again Taulaupe Faletau on bench-warming duties, will be vital. The openside battle between Tipuric and Clifford is looking especially compelling. With Haskell and Wood on the bench England have plenty of experienced back-up to call-on, but their winning run could live or die in the first 20 or 30 minutes.

All eyes on: Dan Biggar
It’s no great surprise that Howley should opt for experience at 10 in the meltingest of melting pots that is a Wales / England Six Nations’ encounter, but there remain doubts over Biggar’s fitness, after he was substituted at halftime with a rib injury in Italy last time out. Owen Williams, who has, officially been released back to Leicester, is on standby, while Sam Davies, who made such an impact as a replacement in Rome, will step up to the starting line-up.

Prediction
It’s going to be a close encounter of the tense kind. England by 3.

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B
BeamMeUp 1 hour ago
The Springboks have something you don't have

A few comments. Firstly, I am a Bok fan and it's been a golden period for us. I hope my fellow Bok fans appreciate this time and know that it cannot last forever, so soak it all in!


The other thing to mention (and this is targeted at Welsh, English and even Aussie supporters who might be feeling somewhat dejected) is that it's easy to forget that just before Rassie Erasmus took over in 2018, the Boks were ranked 7th in the world and I had given up hope we'd ever be world beaters again.


Sport is a fickle thing and Rassie and his team have managed to get right whatever little things it takes to make a mediocre team great. I initially worried his methods might be short-lived (how many times can you raise a person's commitment by talking about his family and his love of his country as a motivator), but he seems to have found a way. After winning in 2019 on what was a very simple game plan, he has taken things up ever year - amazing work which has to be applauded! (Dankie Rassie! Ons wardeer wat jy vir die ondersteuners en die land doen!) (Google translate if you don't understand Afrikaans! 😁)


I don't think people outside South Africa fully comprehend the enormity of the impact seeing black and white, English, Afrikaans and Xhosa and all the other hues playing together does for the country's sense of unity. It's pure joy and happiness.


This autumn tour has been a bit frustrating in that the Boks have won, but never all that convincingly. On the one hand, I'd like to have seen more decisive victories, BUT what Rassie has done is expose a huge number of players to test rugby, whilst also diversifying the way the Boks play (Tony Brown's influence).


This change of both style and personnel has resulted in a lack of cohesion at times and we've lost some of the control, whereas had we been playing our more traditional style, that wouldn't happen. This is partially attributable to the fact that you cannot play Tony Brown's expansive game whilst also having 3 players available at every contact point to clear the defence off the ball. I have enjoyed seeing the Boks play a more exciting, less attritional game, which is a boring, albeit effective spectacle. So, I am happy to be patient, because the end justifies the means (and I trust Rassie!). Hopefully all these players we are blooding will give us incredible options for substitutions come next year's Rugby Championship and of course, the big prize in 2027.


Last point! The game of rugby has never been as exciting as it is now. Any of Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Argentina, Scotland, England & Australia can beat one another. South Africa may be ranked #1, but I wouldn't bet my house in them beating France or New Zealand, and we saw Argentina beating both South Africa and New Zealand this year! That's wonderful for the game and makes the victories we do get all the sweeter. Each win is 100% earned. Long may it last!


Sorry for the long post! 🏉🌍

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LONG READ Gatland defiant but Welsh rugby no nearer escape route with Springboks looming Gatland defiant but Welsh rugby no nearer escape route with Springboks looming
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